Kindergarten to grade 8Elementary school tests in Canada
Education in Canada is run by each province and territory, so tests differ from one province to the next. Most provinces test reading, writing and math at two or three points in elementary school. The results help schools plan. In most provinces they do not decide your child's grade or school.
Which test in which grade?
Pick a province. Tap a row for the guide.
- Early reading screening
Required from the second year of kindergarten to grade 2.
grade K age 5–6; grade 1 6–7; grade 2 7–8 In grade 3 and grade 6, online, in May and June.
grade 3 8–9; grade 6 11–12- Report cards
A progress report in the fall and two report cards, in grades 1 to 8.
grade 1 6–7; grade 2 7–8; grade 3 8–9; grade 4 9–10; grade 5 10–11; grade 6 11–12; grade 7 12–13; grade 8 13–14
The test guide
Every province's test side by side: grades, dates and levels.
The 2026–2027 school year
Provincial windows. Schools pick days within them. The school year runs from September to June. Exact dates are shown only where checked against the official timetable; other periods are indicative. Confirm local arrangements with your school.
- September – October 2026 (indicative; check locally)Fall literacy and numeracy screeningAlberta
K to grade 5
- 28 September – 6 November 2026Foundation Skills AssessmentBritish Columbia
Grades 4 and 7
- 19 October – 27 November 2026Grade 3 and 4 assessments — results collectionManitoba
Results collected · schools submit results; these are not pupil test dates
- 18 January – 26 February 2027Middle years assessments — results collectionManitoba
Grades 7 and 8 · results collected · schools submit results; these are not pupil test dates
- 4 May – 8 June 2027EQAO assessmentsOntario
Grades 3 and 6
- From 31 May 2027Ministry examsQuebec
Grades 4 and 6
After elementary school
Most children move on to the public school for their neighbourhood without a test. Provincial test results do not decide school places.
Local school
- Elementary
- Middle or high school
Then: High school diploma after grade 12
When children change school depends on the board: after grade 5, 6, 7 or 8.
Programs and private schools
- Apply
- Program or private school
Then: Admission criteria set by the school
French immersion, arts and specialized programs, and private schools may have their own application or entrance test.
More in the guide:
Tests in five provinces
Dates, test names and levels for each province.
Ontario
EQAO tests in grades 3 and 6 between 4 May and 8 June 2027, with levels 1 to 4.
Quebec
Ministry exams in grade 4 (French) and grade 6 (French and math), from 31 May 2027.
British Columbia
The FSA in grades 4 and 7, from 28 September to 6 November 2026.
Alberta
Literacy and numeracy screening from kindergarten to grade 5, and PATs in grades 6 and 9.
Manitoba
Classroom-based assessments in grades 3, 4, 7 and 8, reported in the fall and winter.
Sources
- Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC) (opens in a new tab)
- EQAO: Grade 3, primary division (opens in a new tab)
- Gouvernement du Québec: schedule for ministerial examinations (opens in a new tab)
- Province of British Columbia: Foundation Skills Assessment (opens in a new tab)
- Alberta: K to 12 provincial assessment (opens in a new tab)
- Manitoba Education: assessment and evaluation (opens in a new tab)
Updated on 12 October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.