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Ontario · 2026–27 school year

Ontario Education Updates: 2026–27

Ontario changed how secondary students are assessed for the 2026–27 school year, under Bill 101, the Putting Student Achievement First Act, 2026 (Royal Assent 7 May 2026), with the assessment specifics announced by Education Minister Paul Calandra in June 2026.[3][1] The change that matters most for families following EQAO results: the Grade 9 EQAO mathematics assessment now serves as the written final exam and counts toward the student's mark. Here is what's changing, by grade.

At a glance: secondary exams and attendance

For the 2026–27 year, written final exams became mandatory in core subjects, and attendance and participation are now a graded component. The weightings differ by grade:[1][2]

GradesWritten final exam (core subjects)Attendance & participation
9–1020% of the mark15% of the mark
11–1225% of the mark10% of the mark

Core subjects are English, mathematics and science. Non-core courses use a split between a written exam and a culminating project, and workplace-preparation, co-op and special education courses are exempt from the final-exam requirement.[1][2]

Why the province says it's changing this

The Ministry has pointed to recent EQAO results as the driver. In its December 2025 statement, the government said that since 2021–22 provincial results have stalled, and that about half of Grade 6 students and 42% of Grade 9 students are not meeting the provincial standard in mathematics.[7]

In the same announcement, Ontario appointed an independent advisory body to review how the province assesses student achievement — including whether EQAO tests reflect what students are taught and how they are designed and delivered.[7][8] That review is ongoing, so further changes to EQAO itself are possible. We will update this page as the Ministry publishes them.

Grades 3 & 6 — Elementary EQAO

No change: results still do not count toward grades

The Grade 3 and Grade 6 EQAO assessments in reading, writing and mathematics are unchanged. EQAO states these results do not affect report-card grades.[6] They remain a snapshot of achievement against the provincial standard — see our guide to what the EQAO levels mean.

Grade 9

EQAO math is now the final exam — and counts toward the mark

The biggest change for this site's audience. For the de-streamed Grade 9 mathematics course (MTH1W), the provincial EQAO mathematics assessment now serves as the course's written final exam and counts for 20% of the final course mark.[1][2] Previously, most boards weighted the EQAO result at around 10%.

Alongside this, the general secondary changes apply. As reported, a Grade 9–10 final mark is structured as roughly 65% classroom work through the course, 20% for the mandatory final evaluation (the written exam), and 15% for attendance and participation.[1][2]

Grade 10

OSSLT, plus a new financial literacy requirement

  • OSSLT (literacy): unchanged — successful completion of the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test remains a graduation requirement, reported as successful or not yet successful.[6]
  • Financial literacy:a new graduation requirement introduced a standardised financial literacy test within the Grade 10 Career Studies course (GLC2O). Reported details of the pass threshold and retake opportunities should be confirmed with your school; the Ministry's policy pages are the authoritative source.[2]
  • Exams & attendance: as in Grade 9 — 20% final exam and 15% attendance in core subjects.[1]

Grades 11 & 12

Higher exam weighting

Written final exams count for 25% of the mark in core subjects, and attendance and participation count for 10%.[1][2] All written final exams from Grades 9 to 12 take place during designated exam periods, with the Grade 9 mathematics EQAO assessment being the exception (it is written on the EQAO schedule).[1]

Kindergarten (JK / SK)

A revised curriculum

Ontario introduced a revised kindergarten curriculum, described as a more structured, back-to-basics model with added emphasis on early mathematics, science and language skills.[2] The full curriculum is published on the Ministry's curriculum and resources portal.

Looking up a specific school?

SchoolScope Ontario rates every Ontario school on EQAO results, improvement, student experience and more — with the neighbourhood and demographic context most rankings leave out.

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Sources

  1. [1]Written exams will now count for up to 25% of final grades in math, English and science for Ontario secondary students — CP24, 22 June 2026
  2. [2]Back to school: Everything you need to know about Ontario's education policy changes — CBC News
  3. [3]Bill 101, Putting Student Achievement First Act, 2026 — Legislative Assembly of Ontario
  4. [4]Growing Success: Assessment, Evaluation and Reporting in Ontario Schools — Ontario Ministry of Education
  5. [5]The Ontario Curriculum and Resources — Ontario Ministry of Education
  6. [6]Frequently Asked Questions — General — EQAO
  7. [7]Ontario Taking Action to Improve Student Achievement — Government of Ontario news release, 3 December 2025
  8. [8]Strengthening student achievement in our schools — Government of Ontario

This page summarises publicly available information and published research. It is not professional advice. Policies vary between school boards and change over time — confirm anything decision-critical directly with your school board.