Diploma Decisions: Will January Exams Follow November’s Lead?

Calgary high schoolers are getting a significant break as Alberta education authorities announced on October 17, 2025, that November diploma exams will be optional. This decision directly addresses the widespread disruptions caused by a province-wide teacher strike, which commenced on October 6, 2025, and led to extensive interruptions in-class learning throughout September and early October. Students, parents, and experts have expressed concern over the academic and mental health impacts of such prolonged uncertainty.

As of October 22, 2025, no changes have been announced for the January or June diploma exams or provincial achievement tests. This leaves many in our rapidly growing city wondering if similar flexibility awaits the next exam session. Diploma exams typically comprise a substantial 30% of a student's final grade in 30-level subjects, playing a critical role in university admissions and future career pathways.

Calgary's unprecedented population growth has already strained school resources, leading to overcrowded classrooms and schools operating at or above capacity. Against this backdrop, the decision to make November diplomas optional has sparked mixed reactions and amplified a broader conversation about modernizing educational assessments to reduce student stress. Students and families across Calgary are keenly awaiting clarity for January, hoping for more certainty in an evolving academic landscape.