Provincial examinations are very important tools in the evaluation of students. They were developed to ensure that Grade 10, 11, and 12 students meet consistent provincial standards of achievement in academic studies and to ensure that graduating students from all schools in the province are treated equitably when applying for admission to universities and other post-secondary institutions. Some provincial exams are mandatory, and some are optional, depending on the type of graduation program you are in.

Adult Graduation Program Students and Provincial Exams:

Students following the Adult Graduation Program have the option of writing provincial exams. If they choose not to write, the courses will be listed on their transcripts as non-provincially examinable.

Adult program students should be aware that some post-secondary institutions may require that students write provincial examinations for admission purposes.

Students 19 years and over who are enrolled in the 1995 Credit-Based Graduation program must write provincial examinations for all courses that are provincially examinable.

1995 Credit-Based Graduation Program:

(for students who entered Grade 10 prior to school-year 2004)

In order to graduate, students in the 1995 Graduation Program are required to write one exam in a Language Arts 12 course (e.g. English 12). For these students, Grade 12 exams are not optional in courses that have an exam associated with them (e.g. Biology 12, Chemistry 12).

Students in the 1995 program must write the related Grade 12 provincial exam within twelve months of completing a course. If the exam is not written within the twelve months, the student must retake the course to receive a final mark.

2004 Credit-based Graduation Program:

(for students who entered Grade 10 in 2004 or later)

In order to graduate, students are required to write a number of mandatory provincial exams.

To earn credit in specific courses, students must take five course-based provincial examinations. These include Language Arts 10 and 12 (e.g. English 10 and English 12), Science 10, Mathematics 10 (one of EMA 10, AMA 10, PMA 10), and Social Studies 11 or 12 (e.g. SS 11 or FN 12). Students may also elect to take additional Grade 12 level examinations.

Other than Language Arts 12 and BC First Nations Studies 12, students on the 2004 Graduation Program have the option of taking examinations related to specific Grade 12 level courses. Full credit may be earned for these courses whether or not the related exam is taken.

If they intend to write, students in the 2004 Graduation Program must write the related grade 12 provincial exam within three years of completing a course. If the exam is not written within three years, the student must retake the course to receive a mark, which can be blended with his or her class mark.

Students on the 2004 Graduation Program who are contemplating not writing related provincial exams should be aware that some post-secondary institutions require that students write provincial examinations for admission purposes. Before making the decision to not write, students are advised to talk to an advisor or to the post-secondary institution to which they are planning to make application.