Ontario's New Financial Literacy Graduation Requirement: A Parent's Guide
Ontario’s new Financial Literacy Graduation Requirement begins in the 2026–2027 school year for eligible Grade 10 students. Learn what parents need to know about the 70% requirement, two attempts, and how it affects the Career Studies course.
Starting in September 2026, a new financial literacy requirement will become part of earning an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) for eligible students.
For parents, this raises some important questions: What is the new financial literacy graduation requirement? Does my teen have to take a test? What mark do they need? What happens if they don't pass? And how does this work for students taking Grade 10 Career Studies online?
The good news is that the requirement is completed as part of the compulsory Grade 10 Career Studies course (GLC2O). Students will have opportunities to prepare, receive support, and try again if they are unsuccessful on their first attempt.
Here is what Ontario parents need to know about the new financial literacy graduation requirement for 2026.
What Is the New Ontario Financial Literacy Graduation Requirement?
Beginning in the 2026–2027 school year, eligible Ontario high school students must successfully complete a Financial Literacy Graduation Requirement to earn their OSSD.
The requirement is completed within the compulsory Grade 10 Career Studies course, GLC2O.
The Ministry of Education has introduced the requirement to make sure students leave high school with practical financial knowledge they can use in everyday life. The assessment focuses on financial literacy concepts that students have encountered through the Grades 1 to 9 curriculum and their Grade 10 Career Studies learning.
The requirement consists of learning modules and assessment questions developed by TVO and provided to schools. Students must earn a minimum mark of 70% to successfully complete the requirement.
Once successfully completed, the requirement is recorded on the student's Ontario Student Transcript.
Who needs to complete the financial literacy requirement?
The requirement applies to students who began Grade 9 in the 2025–2026 school year or later.
In practical terms, students entering Grade 10 in the 2026–2027 school year who are taking GLC2O will generally need to complete the requirement as part of that course.
The financial literacy requirement is now one of the requirements students must meet to earn an OSSD, alongside their credits, literacy requirement, community involvement hours and other applicable graduation requirements.
What Is the Grade 10 Career Studies Financial Literacy Test?
Parents may hear this requirement referred to as the Grade 10 financial literacy test, financial literacy exam, or 70% financial literacy test.
Officially, Ontario refers to it as the Financial Literacy Graduation Requirement.
Students complete TVO-developed learning modules and assessment questions during their Grade 10 Career Studies course. The assessment is designed to measure whether students understand important financial concepts rather than simply testing whether they can memorize information.
Students have two attempts during the Career Studies course to meet the requirement. They need to achieve at least 70%.
The results also have a small impact on the student's GLC2O course grade. The financial literacy results count for 5% of the student's final Career Studies mark, with the highest attempt mark used if the student makes more than one attempt.
What Does the Ontario Financial Literacy Requirement Cover?
The goal is to give students practical knowledge they can use when they begin managing their own money.
The financial literacy requirement covers topics including:
Budgeting
Interest rates
Earning and saving money
Taxes
Credit and debt
Consumer awareness
Financial fraud and protecting personal information
These are skills students will encounter in real life, whether they are getting their first job, opening a bank account, applying for a credit card, paying bills, saving for post-secondary education or eventually taking on larger financial responsibilities.
TVO's financial literacy resources are designed to help students understand these concepts and make informed financial decisions.
What Happens If a Student Doesn't Get 70%?
This is one of the biggest questions parents have — and there is no need to panic if a student does not achieve 70% on the first attempt.
Students have two attempts during their Grade 10 Career Studies course.
If a student is unsuccessful on the first attempt, they can review additional resources and receive support before completing a second attempt. The school will provide information about the next steps.
If a student is still unsuccessful after two attempts, Ontario provides additional pathways to complete the requirement. These can include another supervised attempt, additional instructional support before attempting the modules again, or completing alternative financial literacy learning activities developed by TVO.
These options can remain available until the student successfully completes the requirement.
In other words, not passing the first attempt does not automatically mean a student cannot graduate.
Does the Financial Literacy Requirement Count Toward the GLC2O Grade?
Yes.
The results from the financial literacy modules count for 5% of the student's final Grade 10 Career Studies mark.
If a student completes more than one attempt, the highest attempt mark is used as part of the final Career Studies grade. Once the student successfully meets the graduation requirement, it is recorded on their Ontario Student Transcript.
This means students should take the requirement seriously, but it is only one component of their overall GLC2O course.
Who Is Exempt From the Ontario Financial Literacy Graduation Requirement?
There are some exceptions.
Students who completed their Grade 10 Career Studies course before the beginning of the 2026–2027 school year do not have to complete the new financial literacy graduation requirement.
There are also special rules for some students who transfer into Ontario from outside the province.
For example, students who enrol in an Ontario school in Grade 11 or Grade 12 from outside Ontario may not have to complete the requirement if they receive Grade 9 and 10 credits through the equivalency process, including the Grade 10 Career Studies credit.
There is also a transition rule affecting students who take a locally developed Grade 9 Mathematics course instead of MTH1W before September 2027. Beginning in September 2028, all students will be required to complete the financial literacy graduation requirement.
Because individual student pathways can vary, families who are unsure about whether the requirement applies to their teen should speak with their school or academic advisor.
How Does the Financial Literacy Requirement Work for Online Students?
This is especially important for families considering online high school.
Ontario has specific rules for administering the Financial Literacy Graduation Requirement in online and remote learning environments.
For publicly funded school boards, students taking an online or remote Career Studies course may be required to complete the requirement in person unless the course includes approved online proctoring and security measures.
Ontario also states that inspected private schools may administer the requirement through online proctoring.
At Aubrey Academy, students can complete GLC2O through a flexible online learning environment while receiving teacher support throughout the course.
Explore GLC2O – Grade 10 Careers at Aubrey Academy
How Aubrey Academy Supports Students With GLC2O
Aubrey Academy offers GLC2O – Grade 10 Careers as an Ontario OSSD credit course.
The course already includes important financial management learning, including personal financial management, saving and borrowing tools, and creating a budget for a student's first year after secondary school.
Because Aubrey Academy uses a flexible, asynchronous learning model, students can work through their coursework at a pace that fits their individual circumstances, while still having access to Ontario-certified teacher support.
This can be particularly helpful for students who:
Need a more flexible school schedule
Are balancing academics with athletics or other commitments
Need to catch up on an OSSD credit
Prefer working independently
Are completing high school courses online
Need additional time to review concepts before an assessment
Want to fast-track a course when appropriate
Aubrey Academy offers Ontario OSSD courses for students in Grades 9–12, with flexible start dates and pacing options.
View All Aubrey Academy OSSD Courses
Why Financial Literacy Matters Beyond the Graduation Requirement
Although the new requirement is connected to graduation, the skills students learn have value well beyond Grade 10.
Many teenagers will soon be making financial decisions independently for the first time.
They may need to understand how much money they actually take home from a part-time job, how interest affects borrowing, why minimum credit-card payments can become expensive, how to create a realistic monthly budget, or how to recognize a financial scam.
These are not just school topics. They are everyday life skills.
Learning about financial literacy before students leave high school can give them a stronger foundation as they move into university, college, apprenticeships, employment or other post-secondary pathways.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ontario's Financial Literacy Graduation Requirement
What is the financial literacy graduation requirement in Ontario?
The Financial Literacy Graduation Requirement is a new OSSD graduation requirement beginning in the 2026–2027 school year. Eligible students complete it as part of compulsory Grade 10 Career Studies (GLC2O) and must achieve at least 70% to successfully meet the requirement.
Is there a Grade 10 financial literacy test in Ontario?
Yes, although the official name is the Financial Literacy Graduation Requirement. It consists of learning modules and assessment questions developed by TVO. Students complete it as part of their Grade 10 Career Studies course and have two attempts during the course to achieve the required 70%.
What happens if my child fails the Ontario financial literacy test?
Students who do not achieve 70% on their first attempt can receive additional support and have a second attempt. If they are unsuccessful after two attempts, Ontario provides additional options for completing the requirement, including further instructional support and alternative learning activities.
Does GLC2O include financial literacy?
Yes. Grade 10 Career Studies includes personal financial management as part of the course. Students learn about saving and borrowing tools and develop a budget as part of preparing for life after secondary school. The new Financial Literacy Graduation Requirement is completed within GLC2O.
Can I take GLC2O online in Ontario?
Yes. Aubrey Academy offers GLC2O – Grade 10 Careers as an online OSSD credit course. Students can learn through Aubrey Academy's flexible online model with teacher support and pacing options designed to accommodate different student schedules.
Learn More About GLC2O at Aubrey Academy
Need Help With Grade 10 Career Studies?
The new Ontario financial literacy graduation requirement may feel like one more thing for families to keep track of. The important thing to remember is that it is built into GLC2O – Grade 10 Career Studies, and students have opportunities to learn, prepare, and try again if necessary.
At Aubrey Academy, students can complete GLC2O online with the flexibility and teacher support they need to stay on track toward their OSSD.
Interested in enrolling in GLC2O or another Ontario high school course? Contact Aubrey Academy to learn more about course availability, registration, and the best pathway for your student.
Email: info@aubreyacademy.ca
Call or text: (416) 998-3354