WHAT YOU NEED TO GRADUATE
What you need to earn an Ontario Secondary School Diploma depends on the year you started Grade 9. At Amberson College High School, we guide students through all requirements to ensure a successful path to graduation.
If you started Grade 9 in or before Fall 2023
If you started Grade 9 in 2023 or earlier, you need the following to get your Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD):
Compulsory Credits
You need the following 18 compulsory credits to get your OSSD:
- 4 credits in English (1 credit per grade)
- 3 credits in mathematics (at least 1 credit in Grade 11 or 12)
- 2 credits in science
- 1 credit in Canadian history (Grade 10)
- 1 credit in Canadian geography (Grade 9)
- 1 credit in the arts
- 1 credit in health and physical education
- 1 credit in French as a second language
- 0.5 credit in career studies
- 0.5 credit in civics and citizenship
- 3 credits for Group 1, 2 and 3 courses (1 credit in each group)
Group 1, 2 and 3 Compulsory Credits
Of the 18 compulsory credits, you must complete 1 from each of the following groups:
Group 1
- English (including the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course) or French as a second language
- Native languages
- First Nations, Métis, and Inuit studies
- Classical studies and international languages
- Social sciences and the humanities
- Canadian and world studies
- Guidance and career education
- Cooperative education
- American Sign Language as a second language
Group 2
- Health and physical education
- The arts
- Business studies
- French as a second language
- Cooperative education
- American Sign Language as a second language
Group 3
- Science (Grade 11 or 12)
- Technological education
- French as a second language
- Computer studies
- Cooperative education
- American Sign Language as a second language
Optional Credits
You must earn 12 optional credits by successfully completing courses from your school's program and course calendar.
If you started Grade 9 in Fall 2024 and after
If you started Grade 9 in 2024 or in later years, you need the following to get your OSSD:
Compulsory Credits
You need the following 17 compulsory credits to get your OSSD:
- 4 credits in English (1 credit per grade)
- 3 credits in mathematics (Grade 9, Grade 10 and 1 credit in Grade 11 or 12)
- 2 credits in science
- 1 credit in technological education (Grade 9 or Grade 10)
- 1 credit in Canadian history (Grade 10)
- 1 credit in Canadian geography (Grade 9)
- 1 credit in the arts
- 1 credit in health and physical education
- 1 credit in French as a second language
- 0.5 credit in career studies
- 0.5 credit in civics and citizenship
- 1 credit from the STEM-related course group
STEM-related Course Group
Of the 17 compulsory credits, you must complete 1 from the following group:
- Business studies
- Computer studies
- Cooperative education
- Mathematics (in addition to the 3 compulsory credits currently required)
- Science (in addition to the 2 compulsory credits currently required)
- Technological education (in addition to the 1 compulsory credit required)
Optional Credits
You must earn 13 optional credits by successfully completing courses from your school's program and course calendar.
Additional Graduation Requirements
Literacy Graduation Requirement
You must meet the literacy graduation requirement to earn your high school diploma. For most students, this means passing the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT). If you do not pass the OSSLT, there are other ways to meet the literacy graduation requirement. Contact your school principal to find out about these options.
Online Learning Graduation Requirement
If you started Grade 9 in the 2020–2021 school year or later, you must earn at least 2 online learning credits to get your high school diploma.
Community Involvement Activities
You need to have at least 40 hours of community involvement activities (volunteering) to graduate and earn your OSSD. You can start collecting volunteer hours in the summer before you begin Grade 9. If you're under 18, ask your parents to help you plan and select your activities. Talk with your guidance counsellor or principal about other ways your school can help you earn community involvement hours.