Final results in Secondary IV and V

At the end of the marking period for Secondary IV and V ministerial examinations, the Ministère de l’Éducation sends each student an achievement record by mail. The results can also be viewed on the student’s Online academic record.

To successfully complete a subject and earn its related credits, the student must obtain a final result of 60% or higher.

The conversion and moderation of marks are processes wherein a mark is compared with a set of marks and adjusted accordingly. These processes apply only to general education in the youth sector.

Conversion of marks

When a ministerial examination poses particular challenges to a cohort of students, conversion can be justified in an effort to bring about more fairness and equity. Conversion consists in slightly raising the marks obtained on a ministerial examination in order to make the success rate comparable from one year to the next. Conversion is always applied as an increase.

This conversion is only used in cases where the success rate on a ministerial examination is much lower than in previous years. Based on the analysis of the results, the Minister determines the application of the conversion and its parameters.

Moderation

The moderation of marks consists in comparing the school marks of a group of students with those obtained by the same group on the ministerial examination. This comparison is made for each group of two or more students in all schools and is used to calculate the final mark.

Moderation involves adjusting the school marks upward or downward. However, if the converted mark obtained on the ministerial examination is higher than the moderated school mark, only the mark obtained on the ministerial examination is retained as the final result for the competency or competencies being evaluated. Thus, moderation never results in the failure of the competency or competencies being evaluated of any student who has obtained a pass mark on the ministerial examination.  

The goal of moderation is to ensure that the marks submitted are valid and comparable from one student to another and from one group to another across Québec. This process aims to bring more fairness and equity to the evaluation of student learning in class.

In other words, since the degree of difficulty of the local examinations written by students varies from one educational institution to another, two groups can have identical marks on the local examinations while showing very different marks on the ministerial examination. The ministerial examination is therefore the only exam that can objectively compare the two groups because all students take the same exam, at the same time and under the same conditions. The ministerial examination is a calibration tool.

Calculation of moderation

The moderation of marks is calculated using a statistical procedure. The distribution of school marks for each group of students is adjusted in relation to the marks obtained on the ministerial examination, according to the average and the standard deviation (that is, the dispersion of marks around the average). Students’ school marks may increase, remain the same or decrease, but always remain in the same position within the group prior to the alignment of marks.

The moderated school mark and the ministerial examinations in Secondary IV and V each count for 50% of the final result for the competency or competencies evaluated. However, if the student’s result for the competency being evaluated is higher on the ministerial examination than the moderated school mark, only the mark on the examination will be taken into account in calculating the student’s final result according to the evaluation framework.

To find out what your final result is, consult your Online academic record.

Examples of calculations to determine the final result

For a better understanding of the calculations, see the page “Examples for determining the final result in Secondary IV and V”.

If you are failing a subject, a few options are available to you to continue your schooling. 

First, look at the mark you obtained on the Secondary IV and V ministerial examination by consulting your Online academic record. Next, look at the mark you obtained on the Secondary IV or V ministerial examination by referring to the “Request a review of a mark” section. Please note that only the marks for which a review can be requested can be viewed.

There are some possible solutions depending on your situation: retaking ministerial examinations, requesting a review of a ministerial examination mark, requesting a review of a school mark or conditional admission to a college-level educational institution.

Retake of ministerial examinations

If you failed a Secondary IV or V ministerial examination or if you are not satisfied with the mark you obtained, you can register to retake the examination. To register, contact your educational organization.

Consult the Schedule for the Examination Session and Retake of Examinations.

For more information or to register to retake a ministerial or local examination, contact your educational organization.

Request for a review of a ministerial examination mark

If you failed a Secondary IV or V ministerial examination, you can also request that your examination mark be reviewed. In light of this review, the mark may be maintained, increased or decreased. To make a request, go to your Online academic record.

Request for a review of a school mark

If you have failed or if you are not satisfied with your school mark, you can request that it be reviewed. To do so, contact your educational organization.

Conditional admission to a college-level educational institution

College-level educational institutions can admit students who have not obtained their Secondary School Diploma (SSD). Students who are six credits or less short of obtaining their SSD could enter college on the condition that they obtain the missing credits during their first term.

Contact your college to learn about the terms and conditions that apply to your situation.

The Administrative Guide for the Certification of Studies and Management of Ministerial Examination (PDF 2.75 Mb) sets out the administrative rules that school boards and other educational institutions must apply with respect to the evaluation and certification of studies. Some of the rules contained in this Guide may no longer be in application. An update is in progress.