Queensland Core Skills Test

The Queensland Core Skills Test, commonly referred to as the QCS Test or simply QCS, was a statewide test formerly completed by all Queensland year twelve students who were eligible for an Overall Position, and was optional (but beneficial) for tertiary entrance rank students. These ranks were used to gain entrance into tertiary degrees and courses. In-school subject rankings given to students were scaled and moderated using the performance of the subject cohort at individual schools on the QCS test. The QCS test was the only statewide external exam conducted in the two senior years of secondary education (Years 11 and 12). The test was held for the final time on 3–4 September 2019, and will be replaced with external examinations as part of the new Queensland Certificate of Education system.

The QCS Test was claimed to be an achievement test grounded in the Year 12 curriculum, rather than a measure of intelligence or aptitude. Moreover, the test was aimed to be accessible to all students regardless of their subject choices, with general knowledge, vocabulary and mathematics tested only to the common Year 10 level.{{citation|url=http://www.qsa.qld.edu.au/downloads/senior/qcs_retro_12.pdf|title=Retrospective – 2012 Queensland Core Skills Test|page=102|publisher=Queensland Studies Authority|access-date=7 September 2013}} The test was held over two consecutive days late in Term 3.{{Cite news |url=http://www.news.com.au/queensland-core-skills-test-revealed/story-e6freoof-1225913971885 |title=Queensland Core Skills test revealed |author=Tanya Chilcott |access-date=27 August 2011 |date=4 September 2010 |newspaper=The Courier-Mail|publisher=News Limited }}

Format

The QCS Test comprised four papers—a two-hour writing task, a two-hour short response paper, and two one-and-a-half-hour multiple choice tests. These formed the three modes of assessment—extended writing, short response and multiple choice.

The writing task required students to write around 600 words of continuous English prose based on provided stimulus material and a set theme. This could include graphics, quotations and statistics.

The short response paper tested various skills through several numerical and 'verbal' (language-based) questions, including calculations, reading comprehension, reasoning and drawing. The two multiple choice papers required candidates to choose from four alternative answers for a variety of questions.

Results on the QCS test were returned to students as an overall grade from A to E with exit results in December.

Content tested

The test was designed by the Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority to test 49 common curricular elements, including basic skills from "recognising letters, words and other symbols" to complex skills such as "hypothesising" and "expounding a viewpoint".{{cite web|title=Common Curriculum Elements (CCEs)|url=http://www.qsa.qld.edu.au/downloads/senior/qcs_elements.pdf|publisher=Queensland Government/Queensland Studies Authority|access-date=30 August 2010}}

Previous writing task topics

2019: What's Next
2018: Connection{{Cite book|title=2018 Queensland Core Skills Test WT – Paper 1|publisher=Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority|year=2018}}
2017: What Lasts{{cite news|title=Stressful QCS exams put Cairns students to the test|url=http://www.cairnspost.com.au/news/cairns/queensland-core-skills-exam-puts-cairns-students-to-the-test/news-story/8e145d95c37ad0ce63adb472d1420146|author=Alicia Nally|date=30 August 2017|newspaper=The Cairns Post}}
2016: Seeing Things{{Cite book|title=2016 Queensland Core Skills Test WT – Paper 1|publisher=Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority|year=2016}}
2015: What Feeds Us{{cite web |url=http://www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/downloads/senior/qcs_retro_15_3.pdf | title=Writing Task (WT) (Part 3 of 5)|work=Retrospective, 2015 Queensland Core Skills Test|publisher=Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority|access-date=29 August 2016}}
2014: Who Cares?{{cite report|url=https://www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/downloads/senior/qcs_retro_14_3.pdf|title=Retrospective: 2014 Queensland Core Skills Test Writing Task (WT)|publisher=Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority|date=2014|issn=1321-3938|quote=The overall concept... was Who cares}}
2013: Things Unknown{{cite web |url=http://www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/downloads/senior/qcs_retro_13_3.pdf | title=Writing Task (WT) (Part 3 of 5)|work=Retrospective, 2013 Queensland Core Skills Test|publisher=Queensland Studies Authority|access-date=4 September 2014}}
2012: Getting There{{cite web |url=http://www.qsa.qld.edu.au/downloads/senior/qcs_retro_12_3.pdf |title=Part 3: Writing Task |date=2 September 2013 |publisher=Queensland Studies Authority |access-date=2 September 2013 }}
2011: Gold{{cite web |url=http://www.qsa.qld.edu.au/downloads/senior/qcs_retro_11_3.pdf |title=Part 3: Writing Task |date=25 January 2012 |publisher=Queensland Studies Authority |access-date=22 August 2012 }}
2010: Flight{{cite web |url=http://www.qsa.qld.edu.au/downloads/senior/qcs_retro_10_3.pdf |title=Part 3: Writing Task |date=25 January 2012 |publisher=Queensland Studies Authority |access-date=22 August 2012 }}
2009: Time{{cite web |url=http://www.qsa.qld.edu.au/downloads/senior/qcs_retro_09_3.pdf |title=Part 3: Writing Task |date=25 January 2012 |publisher=Queensland Studies Authority |access-date=22 August 2012 }}
2008: Circle{{cite web |url=http://www.qsa.qld.edu.au/downloads/senior/qcs_retro_08_3.pdf |title=Part 3: Writing Task |date=25 January 2012 |publisher=Queensland Studies Authority |access-date=22 August 2012 }}
2007: Essence{{cite web |url=http://www.qsa.qld.edu.au/downloads/senior/qcs_retro_07_3.pdf |title=Part 3: Writing Task |date=25 January 2012 |publisher=Queensland Studies Authority |access-date=22 August 2012 }}
2006: Shape{{cite web |url=http://www.qsa.qld.edu.au/downloads/senior/qcs_retro_06_3.pdf |title=Part 3: Writing Task |date=25 January 2012 |publisher=Queensland Studies Authority |access-date=22 August 2012 }}
2005: Discovery{{cite web |url=http://www.qsa.qld.edu.au/downloads/senior/qcs_retro_05_3.pdf |title=Part 3: Writing Task |date=25 January 2012 |publisher=Queensland Studies Authority |access-date=22 August 2012 }}
2004: What Matters{{cite web |url=http://www.qsa.qld.edu.au/downloads/senior/qcs_retro_04_3.pdf |title=Part 3: Writing Task |date=25 January 2012 |publisher=Queensland Studies Authority |access-date=22 August 2012 }}
2003: Face{{cite web |url=http://www.qsa.qld.edu.au/downloads/senior/qcs_retro_03_3.pdf |title=Part 3: Writing Task |date=25 January 2012 |publisher=Queensland Studies Authority |access-date=22 August 2012 }}
2002: Space{{cite web |url=http://www.qsa.qld.edu.au/downloads/senior/qcs_retro_02_3.pdf |title=Part 3: Writing Task |date=25 January 2012 |publisher=Queensland Studies Authority |access-date=22 August 2012 }}
2001: Light{{cite web |url=http://www.qsa.qld.edu.au/downloads/senior/qcs_retro_01_3.pdf |title=Part 3: Writing Task |date=25 January 2012 |publisher=Queensland Studies Authority |access-date=22 August 2012 }}
2000: Work

Trivia

In 2010, a student-organised movement, fuelled by the popular social networking site Facebook, suggested that students mention Bear Grylls in the writing task or in the short response task, similar to Project Clooney '09 in the General Achievement Test.{{cite web |url=http://en-gb.facebook.com/pages/Mention-Bear-Grylls-in-the-QCS-test-2010/147427685283850 |title=Bear Grylls Facebook page |publisher=Facebook }} A similar movement was started in 2011, substituting Harry Potter for Bear Grylls.{{cite web |url=http://en-gb.facebook.com/pages/Mention-Harry-Potter-in-the-2011-QCS-Test/223548794358922 |title=Harry Potter Facebook page |publisher=Facebook }}

In 2018, some students started a movement to rename QCS to 'QCStress'.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mightyminds.com.au|title=Home » Mighty Minds|website=www.mightyminds.com.au|language=en-US|access-date=2018-09-03}}

References

External links

[https://www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/senior/qcs-test Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority QCS page]

Core Skills Test

Category:Standardised tests in Australia