Somewhere around Grade 11, the word "diploma" starts popping up in course planning meetings, teacher reminders and hallway chatter, usually with very little explanation. For parents who finished high school in another province or country, the term can feel even more puzzling.
This guide walks through which courses include an exam, how your final mark is worked out, how sessions and registration work, what to expect on exam day and how to prepare with a little less stress.
What Alberta diploma exams are and why they matter
Alberta diploma exams are province-wide tests that Grade 12 students in Alberta write at the end of selected 30-level courses, such as English Language Arts 30-1, Math 30-1 and Chemistry 30. Alberta Education writes and marks every exam, and each result counts toward the student's final course mark.
Many families are surprised to learn that the school doesn't write or mark the exam. A student in Lethbridge and a student in Grande Prairie sit down to the same test on the same day, and so do Grade 12 students in the Northwest Territories. As a result, a mark earned in one town means the same thing as a mark earned in another.
Alberta Education's diploma exams overview describes three jobs for the program:
- Certifying what students know: The exam confirms what each student has learned in key Grade 12 courses.
- Keeping marks fair across schools: A strong mark at a small rural school reflects the same learning as a strong mark at a large city school.
- Supporting post-secondary admission: Universities and colleges get a shared measure to read alongside school marks.
The exam is also part of the course itself. You don't pass or fail it as a separate test. Instead, it blends into your final mark for that course.
Courses that require a diploma exam
Twelve Grade 12 courses include a diploma exam, according to Alberta Education. Most have a 30 in the name, which is Alberta's label for the Grade 12 level of a subject. (Grade 10 courses end in 10, and Grade 11 courses end in 20.) The -1 and -2 endings mark two streams, or versions, of the same subject.
English and French language arts
English Language Arts 30-1 and 30-2 both end with a diploma exam. The 30-1 stream is the usual route into university, while 30-2 leads into many college programs, apprenticeships and jobs. Students in French immersion take French Language Arts 30-1, and students in francophone schools take Français 30-1. Both of those courses have their own exam.
Social studies
Social Studies 30-1 and 30-2 follow the same two-stream pattern, and both include an exam. The 30-1 course asks for more analysis and argument, so its written work tends to go deeper.
Mathematics
Math 30-1 covers topics such as functions and trigonometry. University science and engineering programs typically require it. Math 30-2 meets the math requirement for many college programs and non-science university programs.
Wondering about Math 31? Alberta's calculus course has no diploma exam.
Sciences
Biology 30, Chemistry 30 and Physics 30 each have their own exam. Science 30 has one too, and about 6 in 10 students write at least one by the end of Grade 12. Science 30 is a broader course that mixes several sciences, and students who aren't taking the specialised sciences often choose it.
How diploma exam marks are calculated
Your final mark in a diploma course blends two pieces. Alberta Education's overview page sets the weighting like this:
- School-awarded mark (70%): Your teacher gives this mark for assignments, projects, labs and tests during the course.
- Diploma exam mark (30%): This is the mark you earn on the provincial exam.
- Final course mark: This is the blend of the two. A final mark of 50% or higher passes the course.
So what does that look like on paper? Say you finish the year with 80% in class and score 65% on the exam. Your final mark comes out to 75.5%, because your class mark carries more than twice the weight of the exam.
In other words, the exam can nudge your mark up or down. Even so, one rough morning rarely cancels out a strong year of work.
Recent changes to diploma exams
The exams haven't always worked this way. Diploma exams once made up 50% of the final mark until 2015. Then, during the COVID-19 pandemic, several sessions were cancelled or made optional, and the exam's weight was lowered for a while before it returned to today's level.
More recently, in November 2025, the Government of Alberta cancelled the January 2026 diploma exams because students had lost class time during the teacher strike. Students could choose to write in April or June instead. According to the Government of Alberta's January provincial exam update, students who chose not to write received their school-awarded mark as their final mark, with a note on their transcript. The update also stated that the cancellation would not affect post-secondary admission.
Meanwhile, the core system has stayed steady. The same courses have exams, the same weighting applies, and the path to graduation hasn't changed. When something does change, Alberta Education announces it and schools pass the news along to families.
Upcoming diploma exam schedule and deadlines
Diploma exams run in several sessions across the school year, though not every course appears in every session. Exact dates change each year. Alberta Education's diploma exam schedules list the current dates for each course.
January
January is mainly for students finishing first-semester courses. As noted above, the January 2026 session was cancelled, so it's worth checking whether a future January session is running before you plan around it.
April
April is a smaller session. Students who are rewriting often choose it, and so do students on alternate timelines, like those at online schools.
June
June is the busiest session by far. Most Grade 12 students finishing full-year or second-semester courses write here.
August
The summer session serves summer school students. It also suits anyone who wants to rewrite over the break.
November
November is another smaller session. Rewrites make up most of its writers.
Tip: Rewrite registration closes several weeks before each session. A quick check of the schedule early in the term takes the pressure off.
How to register, rewrite or defer an exam
If you're enrolled in a diploma course, your school typically registers you for the exam. Rewrites work differently, since you arrange them yourself through myPass. myPass is Alberta Education's secure online portal for exam registration, results and transcripts.
1. Log in to myPass
First, sign in or create an account on Alberta Education's myPass student portal. You'll use your Alberta Student Number (ASN), the ID number printed on your report card.
2. Choose your course and session
Next, pick the exam you'd like to write. Then choose a session that offers it.
3. Confirm your writing centre
A writing centre is an approved place to write the exam, and it's often your own school. Before exam day, double-check the address and start time.
Rewriting is a common choice for students who want to raise a mark. When you rewrite, the higher of your marks is the one used, and the Writing Diploma Exams page explains the current rule in detail. Deferring is a separate matter. If illness or a family emergency keeps you from writing, your school can help you request an exemption or move to a later session.
Exam format and allowed materials by subject
Each subject has its own layout, and knowing it ahead of time removes a lot of guesswork. Many diploma exams are now written on a computer rather than on paper.
| Course | Multiple choice | Written response |
|---|---|---|
| English Language Arts 30-1 and 30-2 | Yes, in Part B (reading questions) | Yes, in Part A (essays and assignments) |
| French Language Arts 30-1 and Français 30-1 | Yes, in Part B | Yes, in Part A |
| Social Studies 30-1 and 30-2 | Yes, in Part B | Yes, in Part A (source-based assignments) |
| Math 30-1 and 30-2 | Yes, plus numerical response | No |
| Biology 30, Chemistry 30, Physics 30, Science 30 | Yes, plus numerical response | No |
A numerical-response question asks you to work out a number and type it in yourself, with no answer choices to pick from. For language arts and social studies, Part A typically happens on a separate day before Part B.
What you can bring depends on the subject:
- Math and sciences: You can bring an approved calculator, and the exam provides formula sheets or data booklets.
- Language arts written response: Print dictionaries and thesauruses are generally allowed.
- Every exam: The current list of approved calculators and exam-room rules appears on the Writing Diploma Exams page.
How diploma exams are marked
A computer scores the multiple-choice and numerical-response sections. Written responses go to Alberta teachers who have been trained by Alberta Education to mark them. Your own classroom teacher never marks your exam.
Markers use a scoring guide, which describes what a response looks like at each mark level. If you believe a written response was marked unfairly, you can request a rescore through myPass.
When and where to see your results
Results show up in myPass once Alberta Education releases them. Written responses take longer to process than computer-scored sections, so language arts and social studies results can arrive a little later. Your official transcript then lists your school-awarded mark, your exam mark and your final mark side by side.
Costs and rewrite fees
- First attempt: Writing the exam as part of your course typically comes with no separate fee.
- Rewrites and rescores: A fee can apply. The Writing Diploma Exams page lists the current amounts.
- Financial support: If cost is a worry, your school counsellor can explain what help is available.
Accommodations and special writing centres
Students with documented learning differences, disabilities or medical conditions can receive accommodations. An accommodation is a change to how you write the exam, not to what the exam tests. Asking for one is a normal part of the process. Common options include:
- Extra time: You get longer writing time, based on your documentation.
- Separate setting: You write in a quieter room with fewer distractions.
- Reader or scribe: A reader reads questions aloud, while a scribe writes down your spoken answers.
- Assistive technology: Tools such as text-to-speech or speech-to-text software.
Your school sends the request to Alberta Education before the deadline, along with supporting documents such as a psychoeducational assessment. For that reason, it helps to talk with your school's learning support team early in the course.
Proven study strategies and resources
Diploma exams cover a whole course, not just the last unit you studied. That's why preparing for one feels a little different from studying for a regular class test.
1. Start with released exam materials
Alberta Education posts free study guides, practice tests and past exam questions on its Writing Diploma Exams page. The practice material matches the real exam layout, which makes it a natural first stop.
2. Read the scoring guides
After you write a practice response, compare it with the scoring guide. You'll see exactly where marks are earned, and where they slip away.
3. Map out a study plan
Using a few simple time management strategies, break the course into weekly chunks instead of cramming the night before. Putting your shakiest units first also gives you more time to work through them.
4. Practise under timed conditions
Set a timer when you work through a practice exam. Over time, your pacing improves and exam day starts to feel familiar.
5. Revisit your weakest units
It's tempting to review what you already know, because it feels good. However, the biggest gains often come from the topics you've been quietly avoiding.
6. Work with a subject-expert tutor
A tutor who knows the Alberta curriculum can spot gaps quickly and help you rebuild confidence before the exam. On TutorLyft, you can find vetted tutors who know courses such as Math 30-1, Chemistry 30 and English Language Arts 30-1.
How universities use diploma marks in admissions
Alberta universities and colleges generally calculate admission averages from your final blended mark in each required course. Many programs also ask for specific courses. Science programs, for example, frequently list Chemistry 30 or Math 30-1. Requirements differ by school and program, and each school's own site has the details, such as the University of Alberta's undergraduate admissions page.
A strong school-awarded mark gives you a real cushion heading into the exam. And if the exam doesn't go as planned, a rewrite can still raise the final mark that admissions offices see.
Calm your nerves on exam day
Feeling nervous is normal, and it often just means you care. The steadiest approach is to focus on the parts you can control.
The night before:
- Confirm your start time and writing centre.
- Pack your student ID, pencils, erasers and any approved calculator.
- Look over the rules on allowed materials one more time.
- Plan your ride and your arrival time.
The morning of: Eat a decent breakfast, arrive a little early and skip last-minute cramming, keeping the hour before the exam calm and simple.
During the exam:
- Read each question all the way through before answering.
- Flag hard questions and come back to them later.
- Use the full time, including a few minutes to check your answers.
Finding extra help through qualified tutors
Diploma exams can feel like a lot, especially the first time you hear how they work. Preparing well doesn't mean being perfect or having everything figured out in September. It means taking one step at a time and asking for support when a topic isn't clicking.
If you'd like help from a tutor who knows the Alberta diploma courses, you can browse vetted TutorLyft tutors for online or in-person sessions.
