Part of Diploma exams

Diploma exams – Overview

General information about Grade 12 diploma exams, including information on marking, weighting, and how to get your results.

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For families affected by strike action, contact your local school authority to learn more about impacts to students.

2024-25 Diploma exam update

The weighting of diploma exams returned to 30% on September 1, 2023. Students who wrote a diploma exam or completed a diploma exam course in 2022-23 may still be eligible for the 20% weighting that applied at that time. For more information about these special circumstances, see the Diploma Exam Weighting Overview fact sheet.

Important dates

Eligibility

The following students may take an Alberta Grade 12 diploma exam:

  • students who have completed instruction in a diploma exam course
  • students who want to improve a diploma exam course mark
  • mature students
  • non-funded visiting students

Students must have photo ID when they write diploma exams.

Courses

Diploma exams are available for the following courses:

  • Biology 30
  • Chemistry 30
  • English Language Arts 30–1
  • English Language Arts 30–2
  • Français 30–1
  • French Language Arts 30–1
  • Mathematics 30–1
  • Mathematics 30–2
  • Physics 30
  • Science 30
  • Social Studies 30–1
  • Social Studies 30–2

French language exams

All diploma exams, except English Language Arts 30–1 and English Language Arts 30–2, are translated into French.

If you are in a Francophone or alternate French Language Arts program, you may choose to write a diploma exam in English or in French, regardless of your language of instruction.

If you studied a course in French, your teacher may assume that you will write the diploma exam in French.

You must notify your principal at least 90 days before the diploma exam date if you decide to write a diploma exam in English.

Course-specific information

There are some differences between exam requirements for French 30, French Language Arts 30–1, and Français 30–1.

  • French 30 is a second-language course for non-Francophone students. There is no diploma exam for French 30.
  • French Language Arts 30–1 is an advanced French course designed for students in an alternate French Language Arts program. If you are enrolled in French Language Arts 30–1, you must write the French Language Arts 30–1 diploma exam to get a final diploma course mark.
  • Français 30–1 is a French language and literature course for students in Francophone programs. If you are enrolled in Français 30–1, you must write the Français 30–1 diploma exam in order to get a final diploma course mark.

Digital tests and exams

Alberta Education is transitioning to a new digital platform for provincial student assessments, meaning that eventually students will write diploma exams and provincial achievement tests in a digital environment rather than pencil and paper.

The transition to digital assessments will be done in an incremental and measured way to allow school authorities, administrators, teachers, and students time to learn and interact with the new platform. 

Information for teachers, parents and students

For the 2024-25 school year, Alberta Education is in touch with school authorities directly to offer them opportunities to participate in a variety of optional implementation activities. Teachers, parents and students can navigate the assessment platform and access practice exams and resources. Questions and feedback may be directed to online.assessment@gov.ab.ca. If you have questions about whether your school will be administering digital assessments this school year, please contact your school principal.

Information for school principals

Principals can contact the ae.helpdesk@gov.ab.ca to request access for their school so they can set up their account and add other administrators and teachers. Once teachers have been added and set up their account, they can administer practice written response assignments. Instructions on using the system can be found in this user guide.

Student results

Student results are available on myPass approximately 3 weeks after writing diploma exams.

The Results Statement, which lists your most recent school and diploma exam marks, is not an official transcript. An Alberta Official High School Transcript of Student Achievement is available for a fee. Learn more about high school transcripts.

If you repeat a course or rewrite a diploma exam, your transcript will show the highest school-awarded and diploma exam marks earned. You must request and pay for a new transcript if you upgrade your marks.

To ensure protection of privacy, course marks and exam marks cannot be read to students over the phone. Telephone requests and payments are not accepted.

Marking and weighting

Contact

Connect with Diploma Programs:

For Diploma Exam format, content, confirming standards, marking and results reporting, contact:

Phone: 780-422-9065
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Email: diploma.exams@gov.ab.ca

For Diploma Exam security, rules, schedule and policy issues, contact:

Phone:780-427-1857
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Email: exam.admin@gov.ab.ca