OSSD Requirements

for students who started Grade 9 after September 1, 1999

18Compulsory¹Credits

Required Courses:

· English (4 credits, 1 credit per grade)²

· Mathematics (3 credits, 1 credit must be in Grade 11 or 12)

· Science (2 credits)

· Canadian History (1 credit)

· Canadian Geography (1 credit)

· The Arts (1 credit)

· Health and Physical Education (1 credit)

· French as a Second Language (1 credit)

· Career Studies (? credit)

· Civics (? credit)

Plus one credit from each of the following groups：

Group 1 (choose one)

· English or French as a Second Language³

· Native languages

· Classical or International languages

· Social Sciences and Humanities

· Canadian and World Studies

· Guidance and Career Education

· Cooperative Education⁴

Group 2 (choose one)

· Health and Physical Education

· The Arts

· Business Studies

· French as a Second Language³

· Cooperative Education⁴

Group 3 (choose one)

· Science (from Grade 11 or 12)

· Technological Education

· French as a Second Language³

· Computer Studies

· Cooperative Education⁴

12 Optional Credits

Other Requirements

40 hours of community involvement

As part of the diploma requirements, you must complete a minimum of 40 hours of community involvement activities. These activities may be completed at any time while you earn your secondary school credits.

Please refer to the ILC Community Involvement Diploma Requirement.

The Secondary School Literacy Graduation Requirement

The Literacy Requirement is based on the expectations for reading and writing outlined in the Ontario curriculum up to and including Grade 9.

The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) is the standard means for meeting the Literacy Requirement. Once you have completed your Grade 9 credits (including Grade 9 English), and have earned at least one credit through ILC, contact us for information regarding the test.

You are encouraged to take the test at a local school. You will contact the school/board in your area for information about the dates, times, and locations. Download and provide the school/board with ILC's Ontario Literacy Test Memorandum, which outlines the process that the school/board will follow.

If you wish to write the literacy test at the ILC testing site in Toronto, please contact an ILC guidance counsellor no later than December 15. The counsellor will make the necessary arrangements for you to take the test.

The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OLC4O) is available at the Principal’s discretion, to students who are unsuccessful on the OSSLT, or who meet other eligibility criteria. Students who pass the course are considered to have met the Literacy Requirement.

Notes

¹ Compulsory credits: To meet individual student needs, principals may replace up to 3 of the 18 compulsory credits from the remainder of those that meet the compulsory credit requirements (substitutions).

² English as a Second Language and English Literacy Development: Maximum of 3 credits may be used to meet requirements for English compulsory credits.

³ French as a Second Language: Maximum of 2 credits may be used to meet the additional compulsory credit requirement (1 credit from Group 1, and 1 credit from either Group 2 or 3).

⁴ Cooperative Education: Maximum of 2 credits may be used to meet the additional compulsory credit requirement (from any of Groups 1, 2 or 3).