High school students will soon be required to write two provincial exams instead of five as a part of a new curriculum being instituted in British Columbia. According to UBC, this change will not have a major impact on the university's admissions process.
During their last year of schooling, high school students will now write two provincial exams which will test core math and literacy skills respectively. Education minister Mike Bernier announced that these curriculum changes are being made in order to boost the connection between the skills students need to succeed in the world and school curriculum.
“We owe it to parents and to the next generation to make sure we are setting up a clear path for kids to follow their dreams and succeed. Whether they want to design computer programs, build skyscrapers, or start a business, our new curriculum and our incredible teachers will help students build the foundation they need to make that happen,” said Bernier in a press release from the provincial government.
UBC students are admitted through a broad-based admissions process, which considers academic performance and a personal profile — which details the student’s experience and accomplishments both inside and outside of the classroom.
Of the provincial examinations, UBC considers the English 12 exam in their admission decision. Given that the new curriculum includes a literacy skill assessment, Andrew Arida, the director of undergraduate admissions, does not think the changes will have a huge impact on UBC admissions.
“The new graduation program indicates that a senior-year provincial examination will remain in place via the new New Language Arts-Literacy 12 Assessment. In this way, the practice of including provincial examination results in the undergraduate admission decision can continue,” said Arida in an emailed statement to The Ubyssey.
He also noted that the university has found BC secondary school grades to be reliable predictors of success for first-year UBC students.
“Regardless of changes in assessment and curriculum, the BC secondary school graduation credential remains an important part of the undergraduate admissions assessment for BC secondary school applicants,” said Arida.
The university will be working with the BC Ministry to learn more about what these changes will look like, as well as how they will affect student transcripts and how the changes will incorporate into the admissions process.
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