OSSD Requirements
"OSSD" is an acronym for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma. To obtain the OSSD, students are required to complete 18 compulsory credits, 12 optional credits, the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT), and 40 hours of community involvement activities.
What you need to graduate from High school in Ontario
18 Compulsory Credits:
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4 credits in English (1 credit per grade)*
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3 credits in mathematics (1 credit in Grade 11 or 12)
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2 credits in science
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1 credit in Canadian history
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1 credit in Canadian geography
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1 credit in the arts
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1 credit in health and physical education
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1 credit in French as a second language
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0.5 credit in career studies
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0.5 credit in civics
Plus one credit from each of the following groups:
Group 1:
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English or French as a second language**
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A native language
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A classical or an international language
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Social sciences and the humanities
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Canadian and world studies
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Guidance and career education
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Cooperative education***
Group 2:
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Health and physical education
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The arts
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Business studies
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French as a second language**
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Cooperative education***
Group 3:
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Science (Grade 11 or 12)
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Technological education
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French as a second language**
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Computer studies
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Cooperative education***
In addition to the compulsory credits, students must complete:
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12 optional (elective) credits†
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40 hours of community involvement activities
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The provincial literacy requirement
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*A maximum of 3 credits in English as a second language (ESL) or English literacy development (ELD) may be counted towards the 4 compulsory credits in English, but the fourth must be a credit earned for a Grade 12 compulsory English course.
**In groups 1, 2, and 3, a maximum of 2 credits in French as a second language can count as compulsory credits, one from group 1 and one from either group 2 or group 3.
***A maximum of 2 credits in cooperative education can count as compulsory credits.
†The 12 optional credits may include up to 4 credits earned through approved dual credit courses.
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More details can be found at this Ministry of Education webpage:
