Skills Check - Frequently Asked Questions

Before you enrol in your course, you may be invited to complete a Skills Check. 

The Skills Check is an online tool that looks at your current abilities in English, Maths, and using Digital technology against the benchmark levels for your course based on the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) and Australian Digital Capability Framework (ADCF).

This is an important step in your application and enrolment process as it helps you to decide if your course is right for you, and allows us to provide additional supports if required.  

It's also a great way to explore learning supports, alternative courses or pathways so you have the best chance to graduate successfully. 

The recommended benchmarks for your course are listed on your course page on our website. 

It’s important to know for most courses, this benchmark is just a guideline and helps you to make an informed choice before you go ahead and enrol to your course.

If there is a mandatory requirement to meet a certain level for your course, such as the Diploma of Nursing (HLT54121), this will be clearly stated on your course page.

Note: If you are applying for a VET Student Loan you will need to show academic suitability. One way is by demonstrating Level 4 in both English and Maths (no level is required for Digital) by completing the Skills Check.

Unless it is an entry requirement for your qualification, as stated on your course page, it won’t stop you from enrolling - it is simply a guideline that helps you to make an informed choice before you go ahead and enrol to your course. 

The Skills Check is a great way to review your own abilities in English, Maths, and using Digital technology before you study, and explore learning supports, alternative courses or pathways so you have the best chance to graduate successfully.  

The below students are not required to complete the Skills Check:

• Students enrolling only in a skill set or stand-alone unit (i.e. unit/skill set not within a qualification)  
• Student studying a course in where AQF level 0 applies
• Non-accredited courses or training including micro-credentials  
• Higher education courses  
• Students studying ELICOS courses, or via the SEE and AMEP programs   
• Students who have completed LLND (Language, Literacy, Numeracy and Digital) screening through TAFE Queensland within the last 12 months and meet the identified LLND proficiency level for the course they wish to study. 
• Note: As using Digital Technology is a new LLND requirement from 1 July 2025, some students may only be exempt from LLN screening however will be required to undertake the new using Digital Technology module within the Skills Check.  
• Students who have completed a higher AQF qualification previously (AQF level 3 and above) 

After you apply, you will receive an email inviting you to take the Skills Check. This email will contain login access and instructions on how to complete the Skills Check. 

How to login: 

• First, go to tafeqld.edu.au/skills check  
• Here you can access the start-up guide and follow the login instructions  
• To login use your 9-digit Student Number. 
• Enter the word ‘password’ (in lowercase) (Note: this is only for first time user)  
• Check your email to follow the prompts for Multi-Factor Authenticator (MFA) to activate your account and follow the prompts to change your password.   

You do not have a time limit whilst completing the Skills Check. When planning to do a task you should allow yourself up to 60 minutes. But please do not rush. You can leave the task by exiting and come back by selecting continue. 

Make sure you complete the Skills Check on a computer, laptop or tablet – please do not compete the tasks on your mobile phone as you will not see everything on screen. 

You should use either Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome web browsers to access the Skills Check.

Skills Check contains three tasks – English, Maths and Digital Technology. 

The English initial task evaluates your proficiency in sentence structure, grammar, spelling, comprehension, vocabulary, and reading ability. It involves reading short passages and answering related questions to gauge your understanding. 

The questions increase in difficulty as you progress through the task. Please note you do not need to get every single question correct and there is a small room for errors. 

The Maths initial task evaluates your current mathematical skills, covering concepts like addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, metric measures, conversions, fractions, decimals, percentages, ratio, geometry and data. The questions increase in difficulty, and a few mistakes are acceptable. 

The Digital initial task evaluates your proficiency across the five key focus areas of information and data literacy, communication and collaboration, digital content creation, protection and safety, and technical proficiency and problem solving. The task adjusts to reflect the students ability. 

After completing each task, you’ll see your level on the results screen. You don’t need to continue and complete the diagnostic task unless instructed to. 

Once you have finished your Skills Check, your results will be available to you in the platform. Your results will also be available to our team who is handling your application or enrolment.  

Look out for an email with your results, as well as if any further steps are required.   

It’s important to know for most courses, your course benchmark levels are just a guideline and help you to make an informed choice before you go ahead and enrol to your course. 

If you don’t meet these levels you can still choose to enrol or you can contact customer service our team to discuss alternative courses or pathways so that you have the best chance in graduating successfully.

See also: Where can I find more information about supports?

The Diploma of Nursing (HLT54121) is the only course invited to complete the Skills Check that has an entry level requirement (English and Maths Level 4) which students must demonstrate to be eligible to study.  

If you don’t meet these levels our team will be in touch to discuss learning supports, alternative courses or pathways so you have the best chance in graduating successfully.  

See also: Where can I find more information about supports?

If you are applying for a VET Student Loan you must show academic suitability by either: 

• providing a copy of an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate of Education that has been awarded by an agency or authority of a State or Territory for the completion of year 12; or 
• providing evidence of the successful completion of an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Certificate IV 
• or higher qualification (where the language of instruction is English); or 
• demonstrating Level 4 in both English and Maths by completing the Skills Check.   

When completing your application, you will be asked to submit documentation around academic eligibility.  

You can find further information about the documents required on our VET Student Loans page. 

If you decide to apply for a VET Student Loan and require access to the Skills Check please contact the Customer Service team to gain access to complete the tasks.  

Your results won’t affect your ability to enrol in your course.  

However, as Level 4 in both English and Maths is the academic suitability criteria to be eligible for a VET Student Loan (VSL) you will need to make alternative payment arrangements for your course, or provide us one of the following:  

• Australian Year 12 Certificate of Education; or  
• International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP); or  
• Evidence of successful completion of an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Certificate IV or higher qualification (where the language of instruction is English), or at a level in a framework that preceded the AQF that is equivalent to level 4 or above in the AQF.  

If you have completed the Skills Check in the past, you may need to complete it again or complete individual modules, depending on the course you are applying for.

If you need to redo any part of the Skills Check again, we will support you to reset your account.

Some students, such as User Choice trainees or apprentices, may have already completed English and Maths, or similar, as part of their sign-up process. (Note: User Choice will be included to complete the Skills Check at a later date, noting their Skills Check invite will be slightly different and not at application submission stage due to the difference in processes around admission and enrolment).

Remember – at any time TAFE Queensland offers learning supports, alternative courses or pathways – available on our website or by talking to us. 

• You can browse courses similar or any level below to the one they may not have met level for.
• You can browse the Student support services page on our website to learn more and access Learning Support, LEAP resources, Studiosity, Learning Skills Centre, Counselling or Student Support Services.
• In addition, Learning Support teachers, Library Services, and individual teachers have resources and strategies in place to support learners in their class.
• The Skills Check platform also identifies further support resources, shown as Diagnostics which are accessible after completing the initial tasks.

After completing the initial tasks, you gain instant access to free online practice Maths, English and using Digital Technology courses where you can accelerate your learning.

• After completing the initial tasks, students can gain instant access to free online practice Maths, English and using Digital Technology courses where they can accelerate their learning.
• Start with the Diagnostic task to identify strengths and areas for improvement.
• Log into the Skills Check platform, select your subject, and take the Diagnostic task.
• Work at your own pace and leave questions blank if unsure - never guess answers in the Diagnostics. After completing the diagnostic task, you can commence the targeted modules identified for improvement.
• Upon start of study, students can contact their Teacher or Educator for assistance to continue developing skills at the next level.
• Teachers are also able to engage student support upon commencement if the student still requires assistance.