Which High-School Grades Do Universities Consider?
Check how grade assessment varies by university, program and curriculum, and build a practical course and application plan without relying on universal cutoffs.
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There is no single grade-history rule for every university application. The grades considered depend on the institution, program, curriculum and entry route. Start with the official requirements for your exact situation before deciding what an earlier result means.
Check the institution’s actual rules
Record which courses are required, which grades may be used in assessment and what documents must be submitted. Early review may use the information available at that stage, while later decisions or offer conditions may depend on newer results. Do not assume every program follows the same sequence.
UBC provides a useful specific example. Its high-school evaluation guidance describes consideration of Grade 11 and Grade 12 academic courses, attention to subjects related to the chosen degree and a focus on the senior-level grade when both levels of the same subject are available. It also explains excluded course categories and the conditions for excluding a lowest grade.
Those are UBC’s published rules, not a universal Canadian formula. Transfer applicants and students in different school systems need the instructions for their own category.
Separate three different numbers
- A minimum requirement states a threshold or prerequisite in the published rules.
- A historical entering average describes a previous group of students.
- A competitive range is guidance whose meaning depends on the source and program.
None of these is an individual admission guarantee. A broad target such as “85–95% works for top universities” is too general to guide course selection for a particular program.
What can you do about a weaker result?
First, identify whether the course is a prerequisite and how it is considered. Ask your teacher where your understanding needs work and make a specific study plan. Review course options with your counsellor before dropping, repeating or replacing a subject.
If you are considering a repeat, summer course or alternative delivery format, ask admissions how it will be assessed. Do not assume that every university replaces the first mark or ignores earlier attempts.
An upward trend can be part of your academic history, but it does not automatically erase a missing prerequisite or establish admission. Focus on the current rules and the improvement you can realistically make.
Does a supplement make up for grades?
Some programs require a personal profile, essay, interview or other supplement; others do not. Where one is required, complete it thoughtfully and honestly. Do not assume it replaces an academic eligibility requirement.
References and personal statements are also not universal. UBC’s profile instructions include specific referee rules. Use the actual checklist rather than submitting extra material simply because another program asks for it.
Build a realistic shortlist
Compare several programs you would consider attending, using their current requirements, curriculum and costs. Track deadlines and keep working on the courses that matter. If circumstances affected your studies, check whether the institution offers an applicable special-consideration process and what evidence it requires.
The next useful step is usually concrete: verify one prerequisite, ask one course-assessment question or complete one missing document. That gives you a more reliable plan than trying to calculate your future from a generic admission percentage.
Frequently asked questions
Do all universities use Grade 9 through Grade 12 marks?
No single rule applies to all universities, programs and curricula. Check the official assessment and document requirements for your applicant category.
Does a repeated course automatically replace the first mark?
Do not assume that. Check the institution’s rules for your program and curriculum before relying on a repeat or alternative course.
Can activities compensate for missing prerequisites?
Do not assume so. Academic requirements and supplementary assessment serve different roles; confirm eligibility with the admissions office.
Sources and next steps
Sources checked October 10, 2026. Use the official instructions for your program, applicant category and entry year when you apply.
