OP Fast Facts explains the basics of OPs and answers some commonly asked questions.
What is an OP?
An OP is a student’s position in a statewide rank order based on their overall achievement in QSA-approved subjects. It indicates how well a student has done in comparison to all other OP-eligible students in Queensland and is used for tertiary entrance purposes only. Students are placed in one of 25 OP bands from OP1 (highest) to OP25 (lowest).
How do I get an OP?
To get an OP you must study a certain number of Authority subjects and satisfy other requirements including completion of Year 12 and the Queensland Core Skills (QCS) Test. The basic eligibility requirement is 20 semester units of credit in Authority subjects with at least three subjects taken for four semesters. Authority subjects are based on syllabuses that have been approved and issued by the QSA.
How is my OP calculated?
OP calculations begin with the results you get in the subjects you study in Year 12. These results are reported on your Senior Statement in terms of five levels of achievement: Very High Achievement, High Achievement, Sound Achievement, Limited Achievement and Very Limited Achievement. The levels of achievement alone are too broad to calculate OPs so finer-grained comparisons of student achievement are necessary. These comparisons are provided by the subject achievement indicators (SAIs). SAIs are numbers (from 400 to 200) assigned by teachers to OP-eligible students. They show your achievement compared with the achievement of other students in each subject you study in your school.
For more information on calculating OPs see
- Calculating OPs: The basic principles (PDF, 284 kB)
Information on the calculation and use of OPs, subject achievement indicators and scaling.
More information
Last reviewed: 1 November 2012