When are OUAC grades sent to Ontario universities?

Under the OUAC's 2026-27 schedule, Ontario high schools must send the OUAC all midterm or final grades available for 4U/M courses by November 19, 2026, and the target date for universities to receive them is November 26, 2026. Schools may also report in-progress grades for full-year courses as soon as they are available, and the deadline for current full-year grades is February 11, 2027.

Do November marks decide university admission in Ontario?

No. Offers are confirmed against final grades, and a university can revisit a conditional offer if final marks drop significantly. But November marks are the first Grade 12 marks many universities see, so early offers can lean on them.

How are Grade 12 final marks calculated in Ontario in 2026-27?

Under the ministry's September 2026 update to Growing Success, Grade 11 and 12 final marks are 65% classroom work, 25% final evaluation (a written exam in English, math and science) and 10% attendance and participation. Excused absences do not count against a student's mark, and missing more than about 9 classes in a semester without an excuse puts the attendance and participation mark below 50%.

What should I do before the November 19 grades deadline?

Check current marks in every 4U/M course, make sure any legitimate absences are recorded as excused, and ask the school whether in-progress full-year grades will be sent in November or held until February. If a mark needs work, Go2Grad matches students with graduate-level tutors, usually within two to three days, to build a recovery plan.

Your Child's November Grades Are Going Directly to Universities: Here's What That Means

Go2Grad Tutors

6 days ago

3 min read

Universities will see your child's November marks long before January.

Most families don't realize it, but the marks your child has earned so far this fall are about to be sent to the universities they're applying to. It's happening sooner than most people expect.

On November 19, 2026, Ontario high schools must send the OUAC (the Ontario Universities' Application Centre) all midterm or final grades available for 4U/M courses. Schools may also send in-progress grades for full-year courses as soon as they exist. According to the OUAC's 2026-27 schedule of dates, the target date for universities to receive those grades is November 26. That doesn't make November a final verdict, since every offer is still confirmed against final marks. But these are the first Grade 12 marks many universities see, and early offers can lean on them.

What Changed This Year (And Why It Matters)

Ontario's updated Growing Success policy (September 2026) changes how Grade 12 final marks are calculated:

• 65% coursework (classroom work done throughout the course)

• 25% final evaluation (a written exam in English, math and science)

• 10% attendance and participation

Pie chart of how Grade 11 and 12 final marks are calculated in Ontario: a large navy slice with an open book for 65% coursework, a teal slice with a pencil and paper for 25% final evaluation, and a small coral slice with a calendar check mark for 10% attendance and participation.

That last number surprises a lot of families. Excused absences (illness, for example) don't count against a student's mark, but unexcused ones do: missing more than about 9 classes in a semester without an excuse pushes the attendance and participation mark below 50%. Meanwhile, the marks going to universities this month are the first Grade 12 picture they get. Early offers can lean on them, and every offer is still confirmed against final grades.

Not sure which of your child's courses to prioritize, or how the new formula affects their marks? A Go2Grad tutor can look at where marks are slipping and build a plan around it. Book a free consultation or ask us to match you with a tutor and make good use of the time you have.

Three Things to Do Before November 19

1. Check those marks this week

Grade 12 students: pull up your current marks in every 4U/M course and note which ones sit below your target admission average. With about two weeks before the November 19 deadline, there's still time to move a mark by handing in anything outstanding, preparing for upcoming tests, and asking teachers where marks are being lost. Two weeks won't rebuild a semester, but it's enough to make a real difference.

2. Check that absences are recorded correctly

If your child has been away for a legitimate reason, such as illness, make sure the school office has recorded it as excused. Excused absences don't count against a student's attendance and participation mark; unexcused ones do. How attendance shows up in a midterm mark can vary by school, so it's worth asking the teacher. A 10% component might not sound like much, but it can be worth a couple of percentage points on a final mark.

3. Ask your school one specific question

Parents: ask the school whether in-progress grades for full-year courses will be sent in November or held until February. The OUAC lets schools report in-progress full-year grades as soon as they're available, but the firm deadline for current full-year grades is February 11, 2027. Some schools send everything in November; others wait. Knowing which applies to your child tells you which marks universities will see, and when.

The Real Takeaway

Universities don't wait for June to see how a Grade 12 student is doing. The marks sent this month are the first Grade 12 picture they get, and early offers can lean on them, even though every offer is confirmed against final grades. That's not pressure. It's an opportunity: your child has about two weeks to make sure their November marks reflect what they're capable of.

If your student needs help pulling up their marks, building a recovery plan, or understanding how the new grading rules affect their situation, book a free consultation with us. Our graduate-level tutors specialize in helping Grade 12 students navigate the Ontario system and make the most of these weeks. Let's make sure November marks show what your child can really do.

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