Your teen's report shows 52% in Math 20-1, and the first question at the table is "Did I pass?" In Alberta high school, yes: a student needs at least 50% in a course to earn its credits. What that pass means for next year, and how the diploma exam changes the picture in Grade 12, is worth a closer look.
What is a passing grade in Alberta high school?
The passing grade for an Alberta high school course is 50%. The province's Guide to Education says a student must achieve at least 50% in each senior high school course, Grades 10 to 12, to earn the credits attached to it (Government of Alberta, Guide to Education, updated September 4, 2026).
Below 50%, the course earns no credits, and your teen can take it again. A 51% counts as a full pass on the transcript, even if it doesn't feel like one at home.
Sources: Government of Alberta, Guide to Education and Diploma Examinations Program bulletin 2026-27 (2026)
Is 50 a passing grade in Alberta?
Yes, for earning credit. A pass and a mark that opens the next door aren't always the same number, though. Colleges, universities and apprenticeship programs set their own admission marks. The University of Alberta, for example, lists at least 60% in each Grade 11 subject and 50% in each Grade 12 subject used for admission, plus a 70% minimum average across five required subjects, and notes that meeting the minimums doesn't guarantee a spot (University of Alberta, 2026).
So a 52% keeps your teen on track to graduate. If they have a program in mind after high school, look up that program's own requirements now, while a mark can still move. Your teen's school counsellor can help you read them.
How much does the diploma exam count in Alberta?
In Alberta, the diploma exam counts for 30% of the final mark in each diploma course, and the school-awarded mark counts for the other 70% (Alberta Education and Childcare, Diploma Examinations Program bulletin 2026-27). To pass the course, the two combined must reach at least 50%.
Twelve Grade 12 courses have a diploma exam: English Language Arts 30-1 and 30-2, French Language Arts 30-1, Français 30-1, Social Studies 30-1 and 30-2, Mathematics 30-1 and 30-2, Biology 30, Chemistry 30, Physics 30 and Science 30 (Government of Alberta, 2026).
Because the school-awarded mark is the bigger share, a strong one gives your teen a cushion on exam day, and a borderline one leaves little room. Here is how the numbers play out.
How the 70/30 split works: three examples
| Situation | School-awarded mark (70%) | Diploma exam (30%) | Final mark |
|---|---|---|---|
| School mark strong, exam weak | 65% | 45% | 59%: pass |
| Both marks borderline | 55% | 35% | 49%: no credit yet |
| School mark borderline, exam steady | 52% | 60% | 54%: pass |
Final mark = 0.7 × school-awarded mark + 0.3 × diploma exam mark, rounded. Weighting from the Diploma Examinations Program bulletin 2026-27; the examples are illustrations, not real students.
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When are the January 2027 diploma exams?
Students who finish a diploma course in the first semester write in January. The January 2027 session runs from January 14 to January 28: French Language Arts 30-1 and Français 30-1 on January 14 and 15, English Language Arts 30-1 and 30-2 on January 18 and 21, Social Studies 30-1 and 30-2 on January 19 and 22, Mathematics 30-1 and 30-2 on January 20, and Biology 30, Chemistry 30, Physics 30 and Science 30 from January 25 to 28 (Alberta Education and Childcare, 2026). The same bulletin lists further sessions in April, June and August 2027.
Tip for parents: put your teen's exam date on the family calendar this week and count back. Review spread over several weeks is far easier on a teenager than a last-minute cram in the middle of winter break.
How many credits do you need to graduate in Alberta?
The Alberta High School Diploma needs at least 100 credits (Government of Alberta, Guide to Education, updated September 4, 2026). Inside those 100, the province requires:
- English Language Arts 30-1 or 30-2
- Social Studies 30-1 or 30-2
- Mathematics 20-1, 20-2 or 20-3
- one 20-level science: Science 20, Science 24, Biology 20, Chemistry 20 or Physics 20
- Physical Education 10 and Career and Life Management, 3 credits each
- 10 credits in any other 30-level course, plus 10 credits from options such as career and technology studies, fine arts or second languages
Each of those courses needs the 50% pass to count. If your teen is short a required course heading into Grade 12, ask the school early how to fit it into the timetable.
What about Kindergarten to Grade 9?
There is no provincial pass percentage before high school. The Guide to Education asks schools to tell parents how well their child is doing in each subject and, in English language arts and math, the grade level their child is working at. The principal, with teachers and parents, decides the format (Government of Alberta, Guide to Education). Many elementary schools use a 1 to 4 scale, which our guide to Alberta report cards explains.
That may change. On October 29, 2026, the province introduced Bill 35, which would let the education minister set report card guidelines across Alberta, with new rules targeted for fall 2027 if it passes. The minister said no final decision has been made on provincewide letter grades (Global News, October 29, 2026). If your family has moved from another province, our guide to report cards across Canada compares the systems.
What to do if your teen is close to 50%
Hovering just above 50 isn't a crisis. It's a signal to look closer while there's still a semester to work with.
- Start with the school-awarded mark. In a diploma course it carries 70% of the final mark and builds all semester, so every unit test and assignment from now on still counts.
- Ask your teen's classroom teacher which units pulled the mark down. One or two weak units are much easier to fix than "math in general."
- Count back from the exam date. For the January session, a simple review plan by the end of November leaves time for practice without the cram.
- Check what comes next. If your teen needs this course for a program after graduation, look up the mark that program asks for.
How Connect Education Can Help
Your child's tutor starts from the report itself: the weakest topics, the course outline, and the study habits that make the next unit test go better. The goal is a teen who walks into the exam room calm and prepared. Every tutor on Connect Education is a licensed teacher in good standing, and sessions run online or in person at your home or a public library, at times that fit around school, sports and part-time jobs. Our guide to online tutoring in Alberta explains how online sessions work across the province.
When you're ready, sign up for free and book your first tutoring lesson with a certified tutor, or meet our tutors first. Still unsure whether your teen needs help? A free 15-minute assessment is a low-pressure way to talk it through.
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