Provincial exam policy
UFV does not require students to write the optional BC grade 12 provincial examinations. When students write a provincial exam for a grade 12 course (whether optional or mandatory) the higher of the school grade or the blended grade (school grade and provincial exam grade combined) will be used towards program entrance requirements and/or entrance GPA calculations, as well as course prerequisites.
Frequently asked questions about provincial exams:
What are the provincially examinable Grade 12 courses?
The entrance requirements for my program includes two Grade 12 courses that offer provincial examinations. Does that mean I can use only the courses that have mandatory provincial examinations?
If I graduate from another province or country that requires provincial examinations, what grade will be recorded?
I graduated a few years ago, when the provincial exams were required. How does this affect me?
If it is mandatory that I write a provincial examination for English 12 or Communications 12, will the final mark be used to determine whether I meet entrance requirements and course prerequisites?
The English 12 provincial exam is not mandatory for adult students in continuing education. Do I need to write it?
If UFV entrance awards require provincially examinable courses, which courses are these?
What are the "provincially examinable" Grade 12 courses?
Provincial exams have been eliminated for many courses. The courses that were provincially examinable in 2011 will continue to meet any entrance requirement for "provincially examinable courses". These courses are listed below, and are now referred to as "Approved Grade 12 courses".
Approved Grade 12 courses (courses that had provincial exams in 2010/11):
English 12 requirement:
One of English 12 or English 12 First Peoples (these are considered equivalent).
A C+ final grade in either course meets the prerequisite for ENGL 105 or CMNS 125 or 155.
Grade 12 courses that meet the requirement for provincially examinable courses:
French immersion versions are also accepted
Applications of Mathematics 12
Biology 12
Chemistry 12
Communications 12 (not recommended; will not be accepted for intakes after Sept, 2012)
First Nations 12
One of French 12, Francais langue seconde-immersion 12, or Francais langue premiere 12*
German 12
Geography 12
Geology 12
History 12
Japanese 12
English Literature 12
Principles of Math 12 or Math Pre-Calculus 12 or Math Foundations 12
Mandarin Chinese 12
Physics 12
Punjabi 12
Spanish 12
IB standard level and higher level diploma courses or Advanced Placement courses may be accepted in lieu of courses on this list, but students cannot use both a regular grade 12 course and an IB or AP course in the same discipline. IB English A1 or AP English may be used to meet English 12 requirements.
The entrance requirements for my program includes two Grade 12 courses that offer provincial examinations. Does that mean I can use only the courses that have mandatory provincial examinations?
No, you can use any course on the approved grade 12 courses list (see above) to meet this requirement.
If I graduate from another province or country that requires provincial examinations, what grade will be recorded?
If your transcript indicates the final school percentage or letter grade, and a final blended grade (school grade and provincial examination grade combined) we will apply the same rules as we use for BC students: the school grade or the blended grade will be used, whichever is to the student’s advantage. If only a final grade is reported, then we will use the final grade.
I graduated a few years ago, when the provincial exams were required. How does this affect me?
Under the new policy, we can use either the school grade or the blended grade for course prerequisites or admissions requirements, whichever is to your advantage. However, we may not have the school grades recorded for previously submitted high school transcripts. If you submitted your transcript before January 2008, please check with the UFV admission department in April or early May to see if we have your school grade on your record.
If it is mandatory that I write a provincial examination for English 12 or Communications 12, will the final mark be used to determine whether I meet entrance requirements and course prerequisites?
No, even when the provincial exam is mandatory, UFV will accept the better of the school mark or the final, blended mark.
The English 12 provincial exam is not mandatory for adult students in continuing education. Do I need to write it?
UFV as an institution does not require provincial examinations for grade 12 courses. The Ministry of Education determines whether examinations are mandatory for graduation requirements, and students require high school graduation for many UFV programs. However, the adult graduation diploma is accepted at UFV, so if you are not required to write the provincial for graduation purposes, then there is no need to write it. The school grade for the courses will be accepted for meeting UFV program entrance requirements and course prerequisites.
If UFV entrance awards require provincially examinable courses, which courses are these?
Provincial exams have been eliminated for many courses. The courses that were provincially examinable in 2011 will continue to meet any entrance requirement or scholarship requirement for "provincially examinable courses". These courses are listed above under the heading "Approved Grade 12 courses".
If you wrote provincial exams for these courses, the higher of the school mark or the blended grade (school mark and provincial exam result combined) will be used for GPA calculation for entrance scholarships.
Remember, if you elect to write the optional provincial examinations, the results will never disadvantage you at UFV, as we take the higher of the school grade or the combined grade (school and provincial exam marks).
