Graduation Program

Graduation Program 1995 Requirements

2004 Requirements - Grade 10,
September 2004

Grades 11-12

Grade 10-12

52 credits (equivalent to 13, 4-credit courses) required for graduation

80 credits (equivalent to twenty 4-credit courses) required for graduation

28 of 52 credits must be in Foundation Studies, including:

Language Arts 11 (4 credits)
Language Arts 12 (4 credits)
Social Studies 11 or BC First Nations Studies 12 (4 credits)
Mathematics 11 or 12 (4 credits)
Science 11 or 12 (4 credits)
Fine Arts 11 (2 credits)
Applied Skills 11 (2 credits)
Career/Personal Planning 11 (2 credits)
Career/Personal Planning 12 (2 credits)

48 credits are Required Courses, including:

Language Arts 10 (4 credits)
Language Arts 11 (4 credits)
Language Arts 12 (4 credits)
Social Studies 10 (4 credits)
Social Studies 11 or 12 (4 credits)
Science 10 (4 credits)
Science 11 or 12 (4 credits)
Mathematics 10 (4 credits)
Mathematics 11 or 12 (4 credits)
Physical Education 10 (4 credits)
Fine Arts or Applied Skills 10, 11 or 12 (4 credits)
Planning 10 (4 credits)

4 credits for Graduation Transitions

24 credits in Selected Studies

28 credits are Elective Courses

Minimum of 16 credits of ministry developed courses at the Grade 12 level, including Language Arts 12 for 4 credits

Minimum of 16 credits at the Grade 12 level including Language Arts 12. All Ministry-authorized and Board/Authority-Authorized courses count.

CURRICULUM

Career and Personal Planning (CAPP)

To graduate, students must complete four credits in Career and Personal Planning, two in Grade 11 and two in Grade 12 as part of Foundation Studies

A new Planning 10 four credit course focused on education planning, career development, healthy decision making, financial literacy and portfolio planning is required.

As part of the Planning 10 course, students learn about and consider eight possible Focus Areas.

Students must complete 30 hours of work experience as part of the CAPP 11 and 12

Students must complete 30 hours of work experience or community service as part of Graduation Transitions.

To graduate students must complete 2 credits in Applied Skills and two credits in Fine Arts at the Grade 11 or 12 level

4 credits required in Fine Arts and/or Applied Skills at any time during Grade 10, 11 or 12. This can include 2 credits from each area.

Boards and authorities may determine which courses meet these requirements based on Ministry guidelines.

Students must be offered choice between the two areas.

Physical Education

No Graduation Program requirement

Physical Education 10 is required for all students.

To graduate, students are also required to meet a provincial standard for physical activity and be assessed in other health related areas as part of Graduation Transitions.

CHOICE AND FLEXIBILITY

Dual Credit

Limited dual credit for post secondary courses to meet graduation requirements

All public post-secondary credits will count towards graduation.

Locally Developed Courses

Only two locally developed courses (eight credits) can count toward graduation

There will be no limit to the number of Board/Authority-Authorized course credits that count as elective credits towards graduation.

The ministry will provide standards for development and introduce an approval process.

External Learning Credits

The current Graduation Program includes options for students to earn Grade 11 and 12 credits toward graduation, in addition to school courses through:
1) equivalency,
2) external credentials,
3) challenge, and
4) independent directed studies

Increased options for students to earn Grade 10, 11 and 12 credits toward graduation by recognizing other learning opportunities.

Planning 10 will promote information about and access to:
1) equivalency
2) external credentials,
3) challenge, and
4) independent directed studies

Schools will be able to offer students the independent directed studies option to a maximum of 4 credits in each Ministry or Board/Authority-Authorized course.

EXAMS

Students must take one Grade 12 provincial exam-one of four required in Language Arts 12. Their final mark is a blend of school marks and the provincial exam.

Students required to write 5 Graduation Program Exams:

• Grade 10 Language Arts (20%)
• Grade 10 Science (20%)
• Grade 10 Mathematics (20%)
• Grade 11 or 12 Social Studies (20%)
• A Grade 12 Language Arts exam (40%)

Classroom mark determines the standard for graduation in all other areas in Grade 11

Graduation Program Exam marks blended with course marks in Language Arts 10, Mathematics 10, Science 10 and Social Studies at the 11 or 12, depending on which course is chosen.

Twenty exams serve as tools for post-secondary entrance requirements and exams are mandatory if the course is taken.

Except for the Language Arts 12 exams and BC First Nations Studies 12, all other Grade 12 exams are optional.