British Columbia Ministry of Education Graduation Requirements For BC Offshore School Students in Grades 10, 11, and 12

Listed below are the BC graduation requirements for students in Grade 10 to 12 as of September 2005. Over the 3 years of the new graduation program, students must earn a minimum of 80 credits in 3 categories of courses. Students who successfully meet these Ministry of Education graduation requirements will be entitled to receive the Provincial Dogwood Graduation Diploma of British Columbia. Each course is worth 4 credits. (A credit is roughly equivalent to 30 hours of instruction)

1. Required Courses (48 credits):

• Planning 10 (4 credits)
• Science 10 (4 credits) 
• Mathematics 10 – Principles (4 credits) 
• English 10, 11, and 12 (4 credits each) = 12 credits 
• Social Studies 10 (4 credits)
• Social Studies 11 (4 credits)
• One of the following science courses worth 4 credits
• Biology 11
• Chemistry 11
• Earth Science 11
• Physics 11
• Science & Technology 11
• Mathematics 11 - Principles (4 credits)
• Physical Education 10 (4 credits)
• Fine Arts OR Applied Skills Course 10, 11, or 12 
• OR  4 credits = 2 credits of Applied Skills and/or 2 credits of Fine Arts

2. Portfolio Assessment (4 credits)

3. Elective Courses (28 credits)

TOTAL = a minimum of 80 credits required for Graduation

• A minimum of 16 credits must be at the Grade 12 level. This includes 4 credits for English or Communications 12, but does not include the 4 credits for the Portfolio Assessment.
• Students are required to complete 4 credits of either Fine Arts or Applied Skills, or 2 credits of each in Grade 10, 11, or 12.

Important Terms

• Portfolio Assessment: A standards-based assessment worth 4 credits, evaluated by schools based on Ministry of Education scoring guides.

• Elective Credits: Additional credits earned by students to support their academic, career, or personal interests.

• Board/Authority Authorized (BAA) Courses: Grade 10, 11 and 12 courses developed or adopted by the School Authority that meet standards set by the BC Ministry of Education.

Examinations

In the graduation program, students are required to write Graduation Program Exams in the following courses:

• English 10
• Mathematics 10 (Principles)
• Science 10
• Social Studies 11 
• English 12 or Communications 12

Students enrolled in these courses are automatically registered for the graduation program exam in that subject at the end of the year. The final course mark is a combination of the school mark and the exam mark. In all the above courses except English 12 and Communications 12, the school mark is worth 80 percent; the exam mark is worth 20 percent. In English 12 and Communications 12, the school mark is worth 60 percent, the exam mark, 40 percent.  While some provincial examinations are optional for BC students they are compulsory for all Offshore students. If they write the exam, the classroom mark will count 60 percent, the exam, 40 percent. Graduation Program exams can be written in January, June, and/or August. Some exams may also be offered in November and April. Not all Grade 12 exams will be available in all sessions. Students and their parents are need to pay close attention to the printed regulations provided by the Ministry with respect to examination schedules and locations.

Scholarships / Passport to Education

Students in BC Offshore Schools do not qualify to compete for BC Government Scholarships nor for the Passport to Education program. It is possible that they may qualify for some private bursaries or scholarships towards certain western post-secondary college and university programs.