ANALYSIS OF CANADIAN HIGH

SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

FEBRUARY 2024

Federation of Canadian Secondary Students / Fédération des élèves du secondaire au Canada

Authors

Ellis Kim
Allen Yun
Cathy Zhang

Editors

Frank Li
Bruce Yu
Introduction

In response to evolving technologies and fluctuating standards for students, education leaders
across Canada’s provinces and territories have identified the pressing need for academic
systems to re-evaluate high school graduation requirements.

Evidently, the landscape of education is constantly shifting, driven by advancements in fields such
as digital literacy, STEM, and the increasing importance of soft skills like critical thinking and
adaptability. As such, education leaders have been tasked with revising and updating graduation
requirements to ensure that all students are equipped with the necessary knowledge, skills, and
competencies to thrive in an ever-changing society and job market.

Recent Changes in Graduation Requirements

Across Canada
The most notable change in graduation requirements in Canada was in Alberta, regarding their
diploma exams. Diploma exams are final assessments to test students’ knowledge of a high
school course at the end of the school semester. The results of the exams are recorded
separately from course marks, putting emphasis on them for post-secondary admission decisions.
The exams are meant to allow students in Alberta to meet the general standards of education.
Until 2015, the exams were worth 50% of a students’ grade in the respective course, putting
significant stress on students. In 2015, the weighting was reduced to 30% due to pressure from
the ASBA and Alberta teachers, and later to 10-20% due to the pandemic in 2022. The weighting
was raised back to 30% in the 2023-2024 school year, though the improved graduation rates
during the pandemic elicited doubt concerning the advantages of the tests’ high weightings.

A related substantial change in graduation requirements occurred in September of 2023, when

Newfoundland and Labrador permanently cancelled similar assessments called public exams. As
well, the Northwest Territories transitioned from the Alberta curriculum to the British Columbia
curriculum starting 2024.1 The change was influenced by the observed positive change in student
performance when the exams were paused during the pandemic.2

1
Aziz, Jameel, “New NWT Graduation Requirements”, (29 March 2023), online: Yellowknife Education
District No 1 <https://www.yk1.nt.ca/_ci/p/5196>.
2
French, Janet, “Alberta school boards want province to review diploma exam program”, (2 January 2024),
online: CBC News
<https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-school-boards-want-province-to-review-diploma-exam
-program-1.7070624>.

Analysis of Canadian High School Graduation Requirements

16 February 2024 Page 2 of 10
Despite these beneficial changes, Quebec still has ministerial exams worth 50% of a student’s
grade for math, history, and science in Grade 10 and English and French in Grade 11.3 After
lowering the weighting of the exams during the pandemic, the province decided to raise them
back up to their original weighting once it was over.4 As an assessment that should be pushing
students to understand their course material, exams like the ministerial exams lead students to
instead turn to memorization. Exams should not have such a high weighting, since it puts even
the best students at risk of losing a large percentage of their final grade, regardless of how well
they understand the course.

Summary of all Provinces/Territories

Graduation Requirements

Province/ Graduation Requirement Summary

Territory

British ● B.C. Certificate of Graduation (Dogwood Diploma) is awarded once a

Columbia5 minimum of 80 credits are successfully completed
○ At least 16 credits must be at the Grade 12 level
○ At least 28 credits must be elective course credits
○ 52 credits are required from:
■ Career-Life Education (4), Career-Life Connections (4)
■ Physical and Health Education (4)
■ Science (4), Social Studies (4)
■ Math (4)
■ Language Arts (12)
■ Arts Education/Applied Design, Skills, Technologies (4)
■ Indigenous-Focused (4)
● Students must also complete three graduation assessments:
○ Grade 10 Numeracy Assessment — introduced in 2018
○ Grade 10 Literacy Assessment — introduced in 2019/20
○ Grade 12 Literacy Assessment — introduced in 2021/22
● Adult learners can combine credits earned at both secondary and
post-secondary schools towards an Adult Graduation Diploma (or choose
to pursue a regular one)

3
Alberta Diploma Review, supra note 2.
4
Kline, Amanda, “Que. ministry exams will be 50 per cent of students’ grades again”, (29 August 2023),
online: CTV News Montreal
<https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/que-ministry-exams-will-be-50-per-cent-of-students-grades-again-1.6540508>.
5
“Certificates of Graduation”, (14 November 2023), online: Government of British Columbia
<https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/support/graduation>.

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16 February 2024 Page 3 of 10
 Alberta6 ● Minimum of 100 credits must be earned by completing:
○ 15 English Credits
○ 15 Social Studies Credits
○ 10 Mathematics Credits
○ 10 Science Credits
○ 3 Physical Education 10 Credits
○ 3 CALM (Career & Life Management) Credits
○ 10 Option Credits (Career & Tech Studies or Fine Arts Second
Language or Physical Education)
○ 10 Credits (Any 30-Level Courses, other than English or Social)
○ Additional credits to reach a total of 100

Manitoba7 ● Minimum of 30 credits from compulsory and optional courses

○ Four diploma programs are available, each with different
compulsory and optional courses. The programs are:
■ English Program
■ French Program
■ French Immersion Program (starting September 2024)
● 15/30 of the credits must be from courses taught in
French, at least one of which must be earned in
grade 11 or 12
■ Technology Education Program
● Requirements vary for international students and students with intellectual
disabilities

New ● Old System:

Brunswick8 ○ Pass 18 out of 20 credits in Grades 11-12, in addition to 7
compulsory credits:
■ English 11 and 12
■ Math 11
■ Science
■ Modern History 11
■ Fine Arts and Life Development
○ Must pass the English Language Proficiency Assessment
● As of June 2023 (2026 grads):
○ Students must pass a minimum of 72 Credit Hours to graduate +
28 compulsory credit hours
○ Each course passed counts as 4 Credit Hours

6
“Graduation”, online: Connections for Learning <https://cfl.psd.ca/students/graduation>.
7
“Graduation Requirements for Manitoba High School Diplomas”, online: Manitoba Education and Early
Childhood Learning <https://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/policy/grad_require.html>.
8
“Handbook for Grade 9 Parents and Students”, (2022) online: Government of Newfoundland
<https://www.gov.nl.ca/education/files/Fourteenth-Edition-English-2022.pdf>.

Analysis of Canadian High School Graduation Requirements

16 February 2024 Page 4 of 10
 ○ Minimum of 20 credit hours in grade 12 courses
○ Same compulsory courses, except Humanities replaces Modern
history
○ English Proficiency still required

Newfound- ● Requires 36 credits to graduate

land and ○ At least 20 of the total credits must be obtained beyond Grade 10
Labrador9 ○ At least 8 of the total credits must be beyond Grade 11
○ At least 5 of these credits must be attained in Grade 12
○ Required credits:
■ 6 English Language Arts
■ 2 Optional Language Arts
■ 4 Mathematics
■ 4 Science
■ 4 Social Studies
■ 2 Career Education (requires 30 Career Education Hours,
basically community contribution)
■ 2 Fine Arts
■ 2 Physical Education
■ 4 Other - must satisfy 2 of the following categories:
Economic Education, French, Religious Education,
Technology Education, Family Studies

Nova ● Minimum of 18 credits (compulsory and optional), 5 of which must be

Scotia10 earned in grade 12, and no more than 7 can be earned in grade 10
● Required credits:
○ 3 language arts, one per grade level
○ 1 arts
○ 3 mathematics, one per grade level
○ 2 sciences: one from Science 10, biology, chemistry, or physics,
and one other approved science course
○ 1 other from science or technology
○ 1 physical education
○ 1 Canadian history
○ 1 global studies

9
“Policy 316 - Graduation Requirements for a New Brunswick High School Diploma”, (June 2023), online:
Government of New Brunswick
<https://www2.gnb.ca/content/dam/gnb/Departments/ed/pdf/K12/policies-politiques/e/316AA.pdf>.
10
Boulter, Chris, “Credits for Graduation Diploma”, online: Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early
Childhood Development <www.ednet.ns.ca/docs/creditsforgraduationdiplomaen.pdf>.

Analysis of Canadian High School Graduation Requirements

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 Northwest ● Minimum of 80 credits (56 compulsory, 24 optional) (each course gives 4
Territories11 credits)
○ 1 credit is to be earned from 25 hours of volunteer work
● Diploma exam replaced by Provincial Graduation Assessments
(completion is required for graduation, not passing mark):
○ Grade 10 Numeracy Assessment
○ Grade 10 Literacy Assessment
○ Grade 12 Literacy Assessment

Nunavut12 ● Required 100 credits

○ English Language Arts (Or French) - 15 credits
○ Fine Arts - 3 credits
○ Aulajaaqtut - 10 credits
○ Physical Education - 5 credits
○ Social Studies - 10 credits
○ Nunavut Cultural Studies, Career and Technology Studies (CTS), or
○ Nunavut Early Apprenticeship Training - 10 credits
○ Mathematics - 10 credits
○ Science - 10 credits

Ontario13 ● Minimum of 30 credits from courses (18 compulsory, 12 optional)

○ At least two must be online courses (students can opt out of this
requirement)
○ Final performance tasks and exam make up 30% of the students’
mark
● Minimum of 40 volunteer hours (from community involvement activities)
● Pass the literacy requirement (OSSLT)
● Final exams and final performance tasks make up 30% of a student’s final
grade

Prince ● Minimum of 20 credits for English and French Immersion programs, 5 of

Edward which must be earned in grade 12
Island14 ○ 12 compulsory
○ 8 optional

11
“JK-12 Curriculum Renewal”, online: Education, Culture and Employment
<https://www.ece.gov.nt.ca/en/curriculumrenewal>.
12
“Graduation Requirements”, (2014) online: Government of Nunavut
<https://www.gov.nu.ca/en/education-and-schools/graduation-requirements>.
13
“High school graduation requirements”, (30 January 2024), online: Ontario Ministry of Education
<http://www.ontario.ca/page/high-school-graduation-requirements>.
14
“Requirements for High School Graduation”, (24 November 2017), online: Prince Edward Island
<https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/education-and-early-years/requirements-for-high-scho
ol-graduation>.

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16 February 2024 Page 6 of 10
 ● Minimum of 25 credits for French program, 7 of which must be earned in
grade 12
○ 15 compulsory
○ 10 optional

Quebec15 ● A minimum of 54 credits in Secondary IV and V (at least 20 of which are in

Secondary V or vocational training) must be completed to receive a
Secondary School Diploma
● Additionally, the student must pass:
○ Secondary V language of instruction
○ Secondary IV Mathematics
○ Secondary V second Language
○ Secondary IV Science and Technology or Applied Science and
Technology
○ Secondary IV History of Québec and Canada
○ Secondary IV Arts Education
○ Secondary V Ethics and Religious Culture or Physical Education
and Health
● Pass mark = 60%

Saskatch- ● 24 credits needed to graduate at the secondary level

ewan16 ● Students must obtain credits from:
○ Required courses of study that intend to provide a general
education
○ Specified areas of study that allow the student to explore their
interests
○ Electives that allow for further choice and specialization based on
individual needs

Yukon17 ● Minimum of 80 course credits

● At least 16 credits must be at the Grade 12 level
○ Includes a required Language Arts 12 and Career Life Connections
course
● 52 compulsory credits:
○ Career-Life Education (4 credits)

15
“Achievement Record”, online: Ministère de l’Éducation
<https://www.education.gouv.qc.ca/en/contenus-communs/parents-and-guardians/secondary-school-diplo
ma-and-certification-of-secondary/achievement-record>.
16
“Saskatchewan High School Credit Options”, online: Government of Saskatchewan
<https://www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/education-and-learning/credits-degrees-and-transcripts/high-scho
ol-credit-options>.
17
“Find out what you need to graduate from high school”, online: Government of Yukon
<https://yukon.ca/en/graduate-high-school>.

Analysis of Canadian High School Graduation Requirements

16 February 2024 Page 7 of 10
 ○ Career-Life Connections (4 credits)
○ Physical and Health Education 10 (4 credits)
○ Science 10 (4 credits), and a Science 11 or 12 (4 credits)
○ Social Studies 10 (4 credits), and a Social Studies 11 or 12 (4 credits)
○ A Math 10 (4 credits), and a Math 11 or 12 (4 credits)
○ A Language Arts 10, 11 and a required 12 (12 credits total)
○ An Arts Education 10, 11, or 12 and/or an Applied Design, Skills, and
Technologies 10, 11, or 12 (4 credits total)
● Must pass three graduation assessments
○ The Grade 10 Numeracy Assessment
○ The Grade 10 Literacy Assessment
○ The Grade 12 Literacy Assessment

Analysis of Canadian High School Graduation Requirements

16 February 2024 Page 8 of 10
Recommendations
A beneficial set of suggestions for the educational institution to implement are as follows:

Suggestion Reason

Mandatory career education courses that
prepare students for their future workplaces
Ensures more certainty in high school students
for their post-graduate degree. Graduation
rates for students who take at least two career
education courses in the United States are
shown to be 10% higher than the national
average.18 As a result, the courses let high
school students enter the workforce earlier
and contribute to the economy.

Grade-specific numeracy and literacy tests
like in British Columbia instead of diploma or
ministry exams in Alberta or Quebec
respectively
High-stakes final examinations like the diploma
exams influence students to have lower course
content retention, have increased levels of
stress and anxiety, and focus on maximizing
grades instead of learning.19 Thus, British
Columbia’s lower-stakes tests are better for
student wellbeing while allowing them to learn
effectively. They promote understanding rather
than cramming and memorization.

Volunteer hour requirements Students who complete high school with

volunteer experience generally find
themselves to be far more prepared once they
step into job-finding in the real world. One
study conducted by the Corporation for
National and Community Service found that
having volunteer experience on a resume
boosts chances of finding a job by 27%.20
Thus, having mandatory volunteer hour
requirements allows students to get used to

18
Rix, Kate, “The Benefits of Career and Technical Education Programs for High Schoolers”, (27 December
2022), online: U.S. News
<https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/articles/the-benefits-of-career-and-technical-education-programs-f
or-high-schoolers>.
19
French, Sarah, Ashton Dickerson, and Raoul A. Mulder, “A review of the benefits and drawbacks of
high-stakes final examinations in higher education”, (1 December 2023), online: SpringerLink
<https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10734-023-01148-z>.
20
Heldt, Aaron, “The importance of Community Service in a Teen’s Life”, (21 February 2021), online: The
Bridge Teen Center
<https://thebridgeteencenter.org/news/the-importance-of-community-service-in-a-teens-life>.

Analysis of Canadian High School Graduation Requirements

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Variety of different diploma programs to tailor
to students’ needs (English, French, Tech-Ed,
FI)
Course offerings in different environments
(in-person and online, with the option to opt
out of the latter)
Varying requirements for international
students and students with intellectual
disabilities
21
“Programs for Student Success”, (9 February 2024), online: Ontario Ministry of Education
<https://www.ontario.ca/page/programs-for-student-success>.
Analysis of Canadian High School Graduation Requirements
16 February 2024
finding and taking opportunities outside of
school; mimicking the process of finding jobs
and testing out career paths.
Education in Ontario provides a plethora of
specific diploma pathways that address the
needs of minorities, students with language
barriers, students searching for job skills or
work experience, and much more. Students in
programs like these find themselves in a more
personalized high school experience.21 A
greater variety in programs like these will
provide flexibility of choice for students based
on their own interests so that they are not
forced to take unnecessary courses for them.
Offering courses in various platforms provides
flexibility based on the student’s current
situation, relieving the pressure to attend in
person under circumstances where it would be
inconvenient or uncomfortable. This may
include health concerns, long commutes, or
conflicting schedules; by offering both options,
it can be ensured that students have access to
learning in the way that best suits their
individual needs. This maintains student
engagement and helps them be better
supported in achieving academic goals21.
Creating varying requirements for these
students acknowledges and addresses the
difficulties in communication that these groups
often face while providing them with support.
By tailoring requirements to these students’
needs, educational institutions can foster a
more comfortable learning environment for
those who may struggle under their current
circumstances21. This approach ensures that all
students have the opportunity to thrive
academically, regardless of their backgrounds
or abilities.
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