Exams will count for a set percentage of final grades in Ontario. Here is what parents and students should know

A classroom is seen at Wazoson Public School of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) in Ottawa, on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Written exams will soon count for a minimum of 20 per cent of the final grade given to secondary students in several key subjects, including math, English and science.

The province said Monday it is releasing new mandatory changes to assessment standards for Grades 9 to 12.

Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, most secondary courses in Ontario will require written exams as a percentage of their final course mark.

“This will bring greater consistency to grading and provide clearer guidelines for calculating final marks across subjects and grades,” the government said in a release. “It will also support student success and readiness for postsecondary pathways.”

In grades 9 and 10, a written exam will count for 20 per cent of a student’s mark in math, English and science. It will count for 25 per cent of a student’s mark in those subjects in grades 11 and 12.

In other courses, such as computer studies and humanities, there will be a 10/15 per cent split between a written exam and a final project.

A handful of courses, such as workplace preparation courses and co-ops, will be exempt from final exams.

The province released a breakdown of the new standards online.

Education Minister Paul Calandra also said Monday the province is spending $60 million to equip teachers for Grades 1 to 12 with a digital learning platform - Nelson Education’s Edwin platform.

“Teachers will be able to draw from a variety of materials organized by subject and grade, allowing them to find ready-made lesson plans or build their own using interactive tools, activities, videos and presentations,” the province said in a news release.

“Teachers will be able to use resources in flexible formats, such as downloading printed activities or using the resources directly during lessons in the classroom.”

The Edwin platform is already in use across the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB), as well as in some schools at the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) at the moment.

The province says Nelson was selected as the vendor through a competitive procurement process. Its implementation team will be working with school boards to provide training on how to use the platform.