Prep Starting Age QLD Calculator

This calculator works out when your child can start Prep in Queensland based on their date of birth, and shows the exact year they are eligible. You enter your child’s birth date, and you get back the Prep starting year and the date range for that intake. It uses the Queensland cutoff date of 30 June, meaning children must be 5 by that date to start Prep that year.

Formula

The Queensland Prep eligibility rule is simple: a child must turn 5 years old on or before 30 June in the year they start Prep. The formula used in this calculator is:

Prep Year = Birth Year + 1 (if born after 30 June)

Prep Year = Birth Year (if born on or before 30 June)

For example, a child born on 15 March 2020 turns 5 on 15 March 2025, which is before 30 June 2025, so they start Prep in 2025.

A child born on 1 August 2020 turns 5 on 1 August 2025, which is after 30 June 2025, so they must wait until 2026 to start Prep.

Worked Example

Using the default birth date of 15 March 2020:

1. Birth year = 2020
2. Birth month = March (month 3)
3. Is March after June? No (3 ≤ 6), so Prep year = 2020
4. Eligible date range: 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020

The calculator shows Prep starting year: 2020 and Eligible date range: 1 Jul 2019 to 30 Jun 2020. This matches the rule: the child turns 5 on 15 March 2025, so they start Prep in the 2025 school year, which begins in late January 2025.

How the Queensland Prep System Works

Queensland follows a single cutoff date for all state and most private schools: 30 June. This means:

• Children born 1 July to 30 June are in the same Prep cohort.
• Prep is not compulsory, but it is full-time and runs for the full school year (usually late January to early December).
• After Prep, children move to Year 1 the following year.

This is different from some other Australian states. For example, New South Wales uses 31 July, and Victoria uses 30 April. If you are moving between states, the eligibility year can change.

How to Use the Calculator

Simply enter your child’s date of birth in the format YYYY-MM-DD (e.g., 2019-11-05). The calculator then:

• Determines the Prep starting year based on the 30 June cutoff.
• Shows the eligible date range for that year.

If your child was born on 30 June itself, they are eligible to start that year (the rule is “on or before 30 June�). If born on 1 July, they wait a full year.

Common Questions and Misconceptions

“Can my child start Prep early if they are ready?� Generally no. Queensland schools are required to follow the cutoff. There is no provision for early entry based on readiness, except in very rare cases for gifted children, and even then it requires a formal application to the school and regional office.

“Can I delay Prep for a year?� Yes, parents can choose to delay Prep entry for their child, but this is a school-based decision. You should discuss it with the principal. Delaying is more common for boys or children with developmental concerns.

“What if my child turns 5 after 30 June?� They cannot start Prep that year. They will start the following year, turning 5 during the Prep year (or just before). For example, a child born 1 August 2020 starts Prep in 2026, turning 5 in August 2026.

Why the 30 June Cutoff Matters

The cutoff affects more than just the start date. It determines:

• Which year your child is in for all of school.
• When they become eligible for NAPLAN tests (usually Year 3, 5, 7, 9).
• When they can leave school (usually at the end of Year 10 or when they turn 16).
• When they can start kindergarten (the year before Prep).

If you are unsure, check with the school or the Queensland Department of Education website for the official wording.

Comparison with Other States

If you are moving interstate, here are the cutoffs (as of 2024):

• QLD: 30 June
• NSW: 31 July
• VIC: 30 April
• WA: 30 June
• SA: 30 April
• TAS: 1 January (but they have a different system with a single intake)

Moving between states can shift your child’s cohort. For example, a child born 15 May 2020 is eligible for Prep in 2025 in QLD (turns 5 before 30 June 2025), but in VIC they would be in the 2026 cohort (turns 5 after 30 April 2025).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the exact cutoff date for Prep in Queensland? The cutoff is 30 June. Children must turn 5 on or before 30 June in the year they start Prep.

My child was born on 1 July 2020 – when do they start Prep? They start Prep in 2026, because they turn 5 on 1 July 2025, which is after the 30 June 2025 cutoff. They will be one of the oldest in their cohort.

Is Prep compulsory in Queensland? No, Prep is not compulsory, but it is full-time and free at public schools. Most children attend, but parents can choose to keep them home until Year 1.

Can I apply for early entry to Prep? Early entry is extremely rare and only considered for exceptionally gifted children. You must apply to the school and provide evidence of advanced development. Most applications are declined.

Does the calculator work for children born in 2021 or later? Yes, the calculator works for any birth date from 2010 to 2025. Just enter the date and it will show the Prep year and range.

What if my child was born in December? They will start Prep the following year. For example, a child born 10 December 2020 turns 5 on 10 December 2025, which is after 30 June 2025, so they start Prep in 2026.

Related

• Gate Post Calculator: Size & Spacing
• GMT Calculator: Time Zone Conversion Explained
• Gasoline Gallon Equivalent Calculator

in dob | Child's date of birth | - | 2020-03-15 | 2010-01-01 | 2025-12-31
out year | Prep starting year | - | floor(year(dob) + 0 * sqrt(max(0, year(dob) - 2010))) + (month(dob) > 6 ? 1 : 0) | 0
out range | Eligible date range | - | "1 Jul " + (year(dob) + (month(dob) > 6 ? 1 : 0) - 1) + " to 30 Jun " + (year(dob) + (month(dob) > 6 ? 1 : 0)) | 0