Graduation Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)

30 credits required for graduation: 18 compulsory and 12 optional

18 Credits
4 English, one per grade level
3 Mathematics, at least one in grade 11 or 12
2 Science
1 French as a Second Language
1 Canadian Geography
1 Canadian History
1 Arts
1 Health and Physical Education
0.5 Civics
0.5 Career Studies
1 an additional English credit
or a third language
or a Social Sciences and Humanities credit
or an additional Canadian and World Studies credit
or Guidance and Career Education
or Cooperative Education
1 a Business Studies credit
or an additional credit in Health and Physical Education
or an additional credit in the Arts
or Guidance and Career Education
or Cooperative Education
1 a Grade 11 or 12 Science
or a credit in Technological Education
or Guidance and Career Education
or Cooperative Education

Plus 12 optional credits and the successful completion of the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) or successful completion of the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC), plus 40 hours of community involvement.

Additional Graduation Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)

EQAO Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT)

The Ontario Ministry of Education has mandated that the Ontario Secondary Literacy Test (OSSLT) be given to grade 10 students province-wide to determine if they can successfully demonstrate the reading and writing skills that apply to all subject areas in the provincial curriculum up to the end of grade 9. The OSSLT is held in March, and is 2.5 hours in length. The OSSLT is designed, and its implementation is supervised, by the Ontario Education and Accountability Office (EQAO).

Receiving an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) depends on passing the OSSLT. Students who are not successful on the test are able to attempt it again, in a future administration, or enrol in the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC).*

Students with special needs may be permitted accommodations, provided they have an Individual Education Plan (IEP). Students enrolled in ESL / ELD programs may be permitted accommodations, or they may be deferred so that they write the OSSLT once they have a reasonable chance of success. Policies and guidelines regarding accommodations, deferrals, and exemptions will be provided by EQAO.

* Please note: Enrolment in the OSSLC is limited to students who have written and have been unsuccessful on the OSSLT at least once.

Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC)

Students who have written the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test at least once and have not been successful may take the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC). Upon successful completion of the course, a student is deemed to have met the literacy requirements necessary to achieve an OSSD.

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