OSSD Diploma Requirements
The Ontario Ministry of Education introduced new diploma requirements on September 1, 1999. If you first enrolled in Grade 9 before September 1, 1999, you must fulfill the old diploma requirements.
If you first enrolled in Grade 9 on or after September 1, 1999,
to earn an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) you must:
• earn 18 compulsory credits (courses you must take)
• earn 12 optional credits (courses you get to choose)
• complete 40 hours of community involvement activities
• complete the provincial secondary school literacy requirement
What do you need to graduate?
| Students must earn the following compulsory credits to obtain the Ontario Secondary School Diploma: | |
| 18 compulsory credits | |
4 |
English (1 credit per grade) |
3 |
Mathematics (at least 1 credit in Grade 11 or 12) |
2 |
Science |
1 |
French as a Second Language |
1 |
Canadian History |
1 |
Canadian Geography |
1 |
The Arts |
1 |
Health and Physical Education |
1/2 |
Civics |
1/2 |
Career Studies |
|
Plus ONE credit from each of these three groups:
|
|
1 |
Group 1: 1 additional credit in English or a third language, or social sciences and the humanities (family studies, philosophy, world religions), or guidance and career education, or cooperative education* |
1 |
Group 2: 1 additional credit in health and physical education, or arts, or business studies, or cooperative education* |
1 |
Group 3: 1 additional credit in science (Grade 11 or 12) or technological education (Grades 9 to 12), or cooperative education* |
| In addition to the compulsory credits, students must: | |
| ***earn 12 optional credits (courses you get to choose) | |
| ***complete 40 hours of community involvement activities | |
| ***complete the provincial literacy requirement | |
*NEW! A maximum of 2 credits in cooperative education can count
as compulsory credits.
Community Involvement Activities
As part of the diploma requirements, you have to complete a minimum of 40
hours of community involvement activities. These activities may be completed
at any time while you earn your secondary school credits.
Please refer to the ILC
Community Involvement Manual (PDF, 116KB)*. You can also request the
manual by contacting us.
Need Advice?
If you need advice about diploma requirements or choosing courses, our staff
can help. See Contact ILC.
The Provincial Secondary School Literacy Requirement
If you entered Grade 9 in the 1999 - 2000 school year or in subsequent years,
you must successfully complete the Provincial Secondary School Literacy
Requirement. The test determines whether you have acquired the reading and
writing skills considered essential for literacy. It is based on the Ontario
curriculum expectations for language and communication, particularly reading
and writing, up to and including Grade 9. You must complete the literacy
requirement in order to obtain your diploma.
If you have completed the requirements for Grade 9 (8 credits), and have
earned at least one credit through ILC, contact us for information regarding
the test. You will be instructed to contact the school board in your area
by mid-February of the year in which the Literacy Test is being conducted
for information about the dates, times, and locations. ILC will give you
a written memorandum to provide to the school board, outlining the process
that the school and the school board will follow.
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