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Kindergarten to grade 8

School tests in British Columbia

Students in grades 4 and 7 in British Columbia take the Foundation Skills Assessment, the FSA, in the fall. It covers reading, writing and numeracy, partly online and partly in a booklet. Teachers mark the written part, and the booklet comes home with your child's results. The FSA does not count on report cards.

Tests by school yearWhat the levels mean
Updated on Sources

Which test in which grade?

From kindergarten to grade 8.

gradeKage 5–6
grade16–7
grade27–8
grade38–9
grade49–10
grade510–11
grade611–12
grade712–13
grade813–14
  1. Proficiency scale on report cards

    Emerging, Developing, Proficient or Extending, from kindergarten.

    grade K age 5–6; 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
  2. Foundation Skills Assessment (FSA)

    Reading, writing and numeracy in grades 4 and 7, in the fall.

    grade 4 9–10; grade 7 12–13

What do the FSA levels mean?

Each part of the FSA gives one of three levels.

  1. Extending

    Your child shows a deep understanding of the skills for the grade.

  2. On Track

    Your child shows the skills expected for the grade.

  3. Emerging

    Your child shows some of the skills. Ask the teacher about next steps.

Report cards from kindergarten to grade 9 use a different four-point scale: Emerging, Developing, Proficient and Extending.

The test guide

Every province's test side by side.

The 2026–2027 school year

Dates from the Ministry of Education and Child Care. Exact dates are shown only where checked against the official timetable; other periods are indicative. Confirm local arrangements with your school.

  1. 28 September – 6 November 2026
  2. December 2026 – January 2027 (indicative; check locally)
    FSA results sent home

    With the written booklet

  3. June 2027 (indicative; check locally)
    Summary of learning

    The end-of-year report, K to grade 9

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

    1. Elementary
    2. 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

    1. Apply
    2. 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:

Provincial tests

Sources

Updated on 12 October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.