How to read this page
Ontario publishes its curriculum as long official documents written for teachers. This page is the same content, translated for the fridge door: each subject below shows this year's units and the skills inside them. If a skill sounds unfamiliar, that's the point — now you know what to ask about at dinner.
Mathematics this year
Math builds in layers, and this year's layer matters — each unit below leans on the ones before it. In Ontario, that's Functions, Grade 11 (University) — 4 units, 68 skills.
Characteristics of Functions
- What makes a relation a function
- The roles of a, k, d, and c in y = af(k(x − d)) + c
- Finding the number of zeros of a quadratic function
Exponential Functions
- Graphing an exponential relation and defining it as a function
- Key properties of exponential functions
- Collecting and graphing exponential data
Discrete Functions
- Connecting sequences to discrete functions
- Identifying a sequence as arithmetic, geometric, or neither
- Connecting simple interest to arithmetic sequences and linear growth
Trigonometric Functions
- Exact trig values for the special angles
- Key properties of periodic functions
- Collecting and graphing sinusoidal data
See the full Functions, Grade 11 (University) curriculum, with the ministry's own wording →
Mathematics this year
Math builds in layers, and this year's layer matters — each unit below leans on the ones before it. In Ontario, that's Functions and Applications, Grade 11 (University/College) — 3 units, 53 skills.
Quadratic Functions
- Posing and solving real-world quadratic problems
- What makes a relation a function
- What a, h, and k do to a parabola's graph
Exponential Functions
- What a power with a rational exponent means
- Graphing an exponential relation and defining it as a function
- Collecting and graphing data that fits an exponential model
Trigonometric Functions
- Solving right-triangle problems with primary trig ratios
- Key properties of periodic functions
- Collecting and graphing data that fits a sine model
Mathematics this year
Math builds in layers, and this year's layer matters — each unit below leans on the ones before it. In Ontario, that's Foundations for College Mathematics, Grade 11 (College) — 4 units, 57 skills.
Mathematical Models
- Building tables of values and graphing quadratic relations
- What negative exponents and zero as an exponent mean
- Collecting and graphing data that fits an exponential model
Personal Finance
- Compound interest as repeated simple interest
- Comparing savings alternatives and their costs
- Comparing vehicle insurance costs
Geometry and Trigonometry
- Recognizing real-world applications of geometric shapes
- Solving right-triangle problems with primary trig ratios
Data Management
- Designing questionnaires and experiments for one-variable data
- Calculating measures of central tendency and spread
- Identifying probability in the media and its representations
Mathematics this year
Math builds in layers, and this year's layer matters — each unit below leans on the ones before it. In Ontario, that's Mathematics for Work and Everyday Life, Grade 11 (Workplace) — 3 units, 48 skills.
Earning and Purchasing
- What makes up total earnings
- Identifying purchasing incentives
Saving, Investing, and Borrowing
- Comparing savings alternatives and their costs
- How principal, rate, and time affect simple interest
- The effects of carrying an outstanding credit card balance
Transportation and Travel
- Getting an Ontario driver's licence: procedures and costs
- Determining distances from map scales
- The impact of daily travel choices
English Language Arts this year
Reading, writing, and speaking skills deepen this year — less "can they read it," more "what do they make of it." In Ontario, that's English, Grade 11, University Preparation — 4 units, 62 skills.
Reading and Literature Studies
- Reading diverse texts with a purpose
- Characteristics of text forms
Writing
- Identifying topic, purpose, and audience
- Writing in a variety of forms for purposes and audiences
- Spelling correctly using rules and resources
Media Studies
- How media texts suit purposes and audiences
- Characteristics of media forms
See the full English, Grade 11, University Preparation curriculum, with the ministry's own wording →
English Language Arts this year
Reading, writing, and speaking skills deepen this year — less "can they read it," more "what do they make of it." In Ontario, that's English, Grade 11, College Preparation — 4 units, 61 skills.
Reading and Literature Studies
- Reading diverse texts with a purpose
- Characteristics of text forms
Writing
- Identifying topic, purpose, and audience
- Writing in a variety of forms for purposes and audiences
- Spelling correctly using rules and resources
Media Studies
- How media texts suit purposes and audiences
- Characteristics of media forms
See the full English, Grade 11, College Preparation curriculum, with the ministry's own wording →
Science this year
Science gets more structured this year — real investigations, real explanations, real vocabulary. In Ontario, that's Biology, Grade 11, University Preparation — 6 units, 54 skills.
Investigation Skills and Careers
- Careers in the biological sciences
- Scientists who contributed to biology
Diversity of Living Things
- Risks and benefits of human intervention
- Biodiversity terminology
Animals: Structure and Function
- Technologies for internal body systems
- Animal anatomy terminology
Plants: Anatomy, Growth, and Function
- Importance of plants to society
- Plant terminology
See the full Biology, Grade 11, University Preparation curriculum, with the ministry's own wording →
Science this year
Science gets more structured this year — real investigations, real explanations, real vocabulary. In Ontario, that's Biology, Grade 11, College Preparation — 6 units, 58 skills.
Investigation Skills and Careers
- Careers in applied biology
- Scientists who contributed to biology
Cellular Biology
- Medical devices for cellular functions
- Cellular biology terminology
Microbiology
- Effects of microorganisms in the environment
- Microbiology terminology
Anatomy of Mammals
- Medical devices for body systems
- Animal anatomy terminology
Plants in the Natural Environment
- Plants sustaining ecosystems
- Plant terminology
See the full Biology, Grade 11, College Preparation curriculum, with the ministry's own wording →
Science this year
Science gets more structured this year — real investigations, real explanations, real vocabulary. In Ontario, that's Chemistry, Grade 11, University Preparation — 6 units, 76 skills.
Investigation Skills and Careers
- Careers in chemistry
- Scientists who contributed to chemistry
Matter, Chemical Trends, and Chemical Bonding
- Analysing a harmful chemical substance
- Trends and bonding terminology
Chemical Reactions
- Industrial chemical reactions
- Reactions terminology
Quantities in Chemical Reactions
- Processes using chemical quantities
- Quantities terminology
Gases and Atmospheric Chemistry
- Effects on air quality
- Gases terminology
Science this year
Science gets more structured this year — real investigations, real explanations, real vocabulary. In Ontario, that's Physics, Grade 11, University Preparation — 6 units, 90 skills.
Investigation Skills and Careers
- Careers in physics
- Scientists who contributed to physics
Energy and Society
- Analysing a thermal-energy technology
- Energy terminology
Waves and Sound
- Waves in the design of structures and devices
- Waves and sound terminology
Electricity and Magnetism
- Impact of electromagnetism technologies
- Electricity and magnetism terminology
See the full Physics, Grade 11, University Preparation curriculum, with the ministry's own wording →
Science this year
Science gets more structured this year — real investigations, real explanations, real vocabulary. In Ontario, that's Environmental Science, Grade 11, University/College Preparation — 6 units, 65 skills.
Investigation Skills and Careers
- Careers in environmental science
- Scientists who contributed to environmental science
Scientific Solutions to Contemporary Environmental Challenges
- Issues of an environmental challenge
- Scientific-solutions terminology
Human Health and the Environment
- Grassroots health initiatives
- Human health terminology
Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry
- Impact of practices on economy and environment
- Sustainable agriculture terminology
Reducing and Managing Waste
- Considerations affecting waste strategies
- Waste management terminology
Conservation of Energy
- Impact of energy sources
- Energy conservation terminology
Social Studies this year
Social studies widens the lens this year — history, geography, and how communities and governments work. In Ontario, that's Understanding Canadian Law, Grade 11 (University/College Preparation) — 5 units, 63 skills.
Canadian Legal Heritage
- Categories and role of law
- Early legal systems and Canadian law
- The three branches of government
Rights and Freedoms
- Charter and human rights code protections
- Justice, equity, and inclusiveness
- Laws, inquiries, and rights in practice
Private Law: Torts, Family, Employment, and Contracts
- Torts and their defences
- Marriage and common-law relationships
- Federal and provincial jurisdiction in employment law
Criminal Law and the Justice System
- Elements and types of crime
- Bringing an accused to trial
- Protecting rights in the justice system
French this year
French builds through listening, speaking, and simple reading — confidence first, grammar second. In Ontario, that's Core French, Grade 11, University Preparation — 4 units, 39 skills.
Listening
- Using listening strategies
- Interactive listening strategies
- Hearing about French-speaking communities worldwide
Speaking
- Using speaking strategies
- Speaking-interaction strategies
- Speaking about French-speaking communities worldwide
Reading
- Using reading strategies
- Purpose of text forms
- Reading about French-speaking communities worldwide
Writing
- Identifying purpose and audience
- Pre-writing: gathering ideas
- Writing about French-speaking communities worldwide
Three ways parents use this list
Common questions
What does my child learn in Grade 11 in Ontario?
Ontario's official curriculum sets out Mathematics, English Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, French for Grade 11 — 844 specific skills in total. The big themes: Mathematics covers characteristics of functions and exponential functions; Mathematics covers quadratic functions and exponential functions; Mathematics covers mathematical models and personal finance. The full list is on this page.
Is this the official Ontario curriculum?
It's built from Ontario's official program of studies, reorganized into plain language — and each subject links to a course page that quotes the ministry's own wording and links to the government source, so you can check our work. One honest caveat: we're not the ministry, curricula do change, and we can't guarantee this reflects the very latest revision, so confirm anything important against the live provincial curriculum data.
My child is finding one of these skills hard. What can I do?
That's normal — every skill on this page is one most kids wobble on at first. MapleMind teaches any of them one-on-one: a short lesson in plain words, a worked example, then solving together. It's free to start, on any device, in 14 languages.
Keep exploring
Knowing the list is half the job
The other half is the teaching — and that's what MapleMind does. Pick any skill on this page and see it taught properly, free, in under a minute.
MapleMind isn't affiliated with any ministry of education. We build these guides from each province's official program of studies and refresh them from time to time — but curricula change, and we can't guarantee this page reflects the very latest revision. Always confirm against the live provincial curriculum data. Last updated 2026-08-15.
Social Studies this year
Social studies widens the lens this year — history, geography, and how communities and governments work. In Ontario, that's World History to the End of the Fifteenth Century, Grade 11 — 5 units, 50 skills.
Historical Inquiry: Skills and Careers
- Transferable skills from historical investigation
+ 3 more skills in this unit →Early Societies and the Rise of Civilizations
- The evolution of early societies
- Social structures and organization
- How some societies dominated others
+ 9 more skills in this unit →Flourishing Societies and Civilizations
- Comparing social structures
- Factors in the stability of societies
- Challenging and limiting government power
+ 9 more skills in this unit →The Decline of Societies and Civilizations
- Social events in the decline of civilizations
- War and foreign invasion in decline
- Common characteristics of social decline
+ 6 more skills in this unit →The Legacy of Civilizations
- Socio-economic legacies
- Borrowing practices and innovations
- Social trends of the fifteenth century
+ 10 more skills in this unit →See the full World History to the End of the Fifteenth Century, Grade 11 curriculum, with the ministry's own wording →