BC Graduation Assessments
To earn a BC Dogwood diploma, students write a Grade 10 Numeracy Assessment and Grade 10 and 12 Literacy Assessments. The next session is November 2 to 6, 2026.
By Lance Boer, RISE Alberni ·
Does My Child Have to Pass?
No. BC's graduation rules say students must write the Grade 10 Numeracy, Grade 10 Literacy, and Grade 12 Literacy Assessments to graduate, and don't require a minimum level. Grade 10 Literacy shows only “RM” (requirement met) on the transcript. The other two show a level from 1 (Emerging) to 4 (Extending). Students can write each one up to three times.
What Is on Each Assessment?
| Assessment | Written in | What it covers | On the transcript |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 10 Numeracy | Grade 10 | Problem solving with math learned from kindergarten to Grade 10. It isn't tied to one math course. Most questions are online; your child also picks two of four questions to answer on paper. | A level from 1 to 4 |
| Grade 10 Literacy | Grade 10 | Reading and writing, with a choice of writing task at the end. | “RM” (requirement met), no level |
| Grade 12 Literacy | Grade 12 | Reading and writing, with a choice of one of two writing prompts. | A level from 1 to 4 |
When Are the Assessments?
All three assessments run in every session. Your child's school registers them and sets the time, so ask the school or your child's counsellor which session they're in.
| Session | Dates |
|---|---|
| November 2026 | Monday, November 2 to Friday, November 6 |
| January 2027 | Monday, January 11 to Friday, January 22 |
| April 2027 | Monday, April 12 to Friday, April 16 |
| June 2027 | Monday, June 7 to Friday, June 18 |
What Do the Levels Mean?
Grade 10 Numeracy and Grade 12 Literacy are scored on a four-level scale. The level goes on the transcript.
- 1
Emerging
- 2
Developing
- 3
Proficient
- 4
Extending
Can My Child Rewrite It?
Yes. Until graduation, a student can write each assessment up to three times: the first try and two rewrites, in any session from Grade 10 to 12. The best score goes on the final transcript. A rewrite can't happen in the same session, and a student who registers for a rewrite but doesn't show up hasn't used an attempt.
How Long Is It, and What Can They Use?
- Each assessment is built to take two hours. Students can have up to 60 more minutes if they need it.
- For numeracy, a scientific calculator is built into the online test. Students can also bring their own, including a graphing calculator. Calculators with CAS or wireless, and phones or tablets, aren't allowed.
- No dictionaries of any kind, printed, electronic, or translation.
Where Can My Child Practise?
The ministry publishes sample assessments for all three. Doing one at home, timed, shows your child what the real one feels like.
When Is a Tutor Worth It?
Your child only has to write these assessments to graduate, but numeracy and Grade 12 literacy put a level on their transcript. Start with the free samples. A tutor helps when your child freezes on word problems, has trouble explaining their thinking in writing, or wants a better level on a rewrite. Start a few weeks before their session, so there's time to work through the samples together.
K-12 tutoring in Port Alberni with RISE is $60 a session, or $55 each when you prepay for two or more.
What Parents Ask
What if my child gets Emerging?
They have still met the requirement to write it. They can rewrite it up to two more times before graduating, and the best score goes on their final transcript.
Do colleges and universities look at the scores?
Each college and university sets its own admission rules, so ask the schools your child is applying to.
Which math course should my child finish first?
None in particular. The numeracy assessment uses math from kindergarten to Grade 10 and isn't tied to a specific course.
Can my child use a translation dictionary?
No. No student may use a printed, electronic, or translation dictionary on a graduation assessment, including English language learners.
How do we see the results?
Results are posted to the StudentTranscripts Service, the province's online transcript site.
Sources: BC Ministry of Education and Child Care, graduation requirements, the 2026-27 Handbook of Procedures, the 2026-27 assessment schedule, and the calculator policy. Checked September 23, 2026.