| In 1871 An Act
to Improve the Common and Grammar Schools of the Province of Ontario
established high school entrance examinations. Students had to
pass these examinations in order to be admitted to a collegiate
institute or high school. High school entrance examinations were
originally administered by a board consisting of the school inspector;
the chairman of the high school board; and the high school principal.
Revised regulations issued in 1873 centralized the conduct of
the High School Entrance Examinations under the Central
Committee of Examiners.
High school entrance examinations were abolished in 1949, and
the last of the departmental examinations (for graduation from
Grade 13) was eliminated in 1967. |
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High School Entrance Examinations, History, 1887
Examination papers for high schools and collegiate institutes
Reference Code: RG 2-116, box 1
Archives of Ontario |
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High School Entrance Examination, History, 1958
Examination papers for high school and collegiate institutes
Reference Code: RG 2-116, box 10
Archives of Ontario |
|
A number of other examinations appeared in the 19th and 20th
centuries, many of which were quickly abolished. The intermediate
examination is one example. The intermediate examination
was introduced in 1876 as a standard for promotion from lower
school (forms I and II of secondary school) to upper school
(forms III and IV of secondary school). Its purpose was essentially
to weed out unqualified high school students.
By 1882, after much criticism from school trustees and teachers,
the intermediate examination was abolished.
Another departmental examination that served a similar purpose
of the high school entrance examination was the matriculation
examination. End-of-school matriculation examinations
served the dual function of school-leaving and university entrance
requirements, marking the end of a student's public school career
and the opportunity for further academic pursuit at the university
level. The first matriculation examination was held in 1891. |
