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 Advanced Functions, Grade 12 (University) — 4 units, 72 skills.
Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
- The logarithm as the inverse of exponentiation
- Deriving and verifying the laws of logarithms
- Key features of the graph of f(x) = log x
Trigonometric Functions
- The radian as an alternative angle-measure unit
- Sketching sine and cosine graphs in radians
- Recognizing equivalent trigonometric expressions
Polynomial and Rational Functions
- Recognizing polynomial expressions and functions
- Key features of rational functions that are reciprocals of linear/quadratic functions
- Verifying the remainder theorem and the factor theorem
Characteristics of Functions
- Real-world rates of change and their representations
- Key features of functions formed by combining functions
- Comparing the characteristics of different function families
See the full Advanced Functions, Grade 12 (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 Calculus and Vectors, Grade 12 (University) — 3 units, 54 skills.
Rate of Change
- Real-world examples of rates of change
- Graphing the derivative from a table of instantaneous rates of change
- Verifying the power rule for natural-number exponents
Derivatives and Their Applications
- Sketching a derivative graph and recognizing points of inflection
- Sketching a polynomial graph using first/second derivative strategies
Geometry and Algebra of Vectors
- A vector as a quantity with magnitude and direction
- Adding, subtracting, and scalar-multiplying vectors
- Solution points of linear equations in two-space and their intersection
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 of Data Management, Grade 12 (University) — 5 units, 57 skills.
Counting and Probability
- Probabilities represent the likelihood of a result
- Permutations vs. combinations: when order matters
Probability Distributions
- Discrete random variables and generating a probability distribution
- Continuous random variables and discrete vs. continuous frequency distributions
Organization of Data for Analysis
- The role of data in statistical studies
- Principles of primary data collection
Statistical Analysis
- Numerical summaries of one-variable data
- Two-variable data, correlation coefficient, and numerical summaries
- How the media and advertising use and misuse statistics
Culminating Data Management Investigation
- Stage 1 — Posing a significant problem and doing background research
- Stage 7 — Presenting the investigation summary to peers
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 12 (College) — 4 units, 59 skills.
Mathematical Models
- Exponent laws for multiplying, dividing, and powers of powers
- Solving simple exponential equations numerically and graphically
- Interpreting graphs to describe a relationship
Personal Finance
- Key features and real-world applications of annuities
- Mortgage features and comparing mortgage types
- Gathering information about the costs of owning and renting
Geometry and Trigonometry
- Converting between the imperial and metric systems
- Recognizing and explaining the significance of optimal perimeter, area, surface area, and volume
- Solving real-world 2D problems with right and acute triangles
Data Management
- Distinguishing situations needing one-variable versus two-variable analysis
- Interpreting a line of best fit and reasons for misinterpretation
- Recognizing and interpreting common statistical terms used in the media
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 College Technology, Grade 12 (College) — 4 units, 57 skills.
Exponential Functions
- How changing the base or the sign of the exponent affects an exponential graph
- Solving simple exponential equations numerically and graphically
- Simplifying expressions with integer and rational exponents
Polynomial Functions
- Recognizing polynomial expressions and functions
- Evaluating polynomial functions in function notation
- Solving polynomial equations up to degree four
Trigonometric Functions
- Exact sine, cosine, and tangent values of special angles
- Connecting the sine and cosine ratios to the sine and cosine functions
- Sketching sine and cosine graphs and describing their key properties
Applications of Geometry
- Recognizing vectors and their real-world applications
- Gathering information about real-world geometric shapes in technology-related fields
- Recognizing and describing arcs, tangents, secants, chords, and angles of circles
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 12 (Workplace) — 3 units, 52 skills.
Reasoning With Data
- Reading and interpreting graphs from real sources
- Determining and representing theoretical probability
Personal Finance
- Financial and non-financial implications of living independently
- Categorizing expenses as discretionary or non-discretionary
- Why Canadians file a tax return and its major parts
Applications of Measurement
- Measuring lengths and capacities with metric and imperial tools
- Constructing accurate right angles and connecting to the Pythagorean theorem
- Identifying applications of ratio and rate, and equivalent ratios and rates
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 12, 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 12, 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 12, 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 12, College 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 The Writer's Craft, Grade 12, University Preparation — 2 units, 16 skills.
Investigating Writing
- Reading models of effective writing
- Analysing writers' use of form
- How writers' lives shape their work
Practising Writing
- Generating ideas for writing projects
- Organizing ideas to draft for purpose and audience
- Editing and proofreading with conventions
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 Studies in Literature, Grade 12, University Preparation — 5 units, 18 skills.
Understanding Texts
- Reading literary texts across cultures and periods
Analysing Texts
- Using secondary sources to understand context
- How text form communicates meaning
Critical Literacy
- How an author's background influences their writing
Literary Criticism
- Key concepts and terms of literary criticism
- Assessing published critical interpretations
Science this year
Science gets more structured this year — real investigations, real explanations, real vocabulary. In Ontario, that's Biology, Grade 12, University Preparation — 6 units, 56 skills.
Investigation Skills and Careers
- Careers in the biological sciences
- Scientists who contributed to biology
Biochemistry
- Industrial applications of enzymes
- Biochemistry terminology
Metabolic Processes
- Metabolism in biotic and abiotic systems
- Metabolism terminology
Molecular Genetics
- Social and ethical issues of biotechnology
- Molecular genetics terminology
Homeostasis
- Chemical substances and the human body
- Homeostasis terminology
Population Dynamics
- Population growth and ecological footprint
- Population dynamics terminology
See the full Biology, Grade 12, 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 Chemistry, Grade 12, University Preparation — 6 units, 72 skills.
Investigation Skills and Careers
- Careers in chemistry
- Scientists who contributed to chemistry
Organic Chemistry
- Impact of organic compounds
- Organic chemistry terminology
Structure and Properties of Matter
- Technologies from atomic structure
- Structure terminology
Energy Changes and Rates of Reaction
- Analysing energy technologies
- Energy and rates terminology
Chemical Systems and Equilibrium
- Optimal conditions for an equilibrium process
- Equilibrium terminology
Electrochemistry
- Electrochemical energy technologies
- Electrochemistry terminology
Science this year
Science gets more structured this year — real investigations, real explanations, real vocabulary. In Ontario, that's Chemistry, Grade 12, College Preparation — 6 units, 70 skills.
Investigation Skills and Careers
- Careers in applied chemistry
- Scientists who contributed to chemistry
Matter and Qualitative Analysis
- Environmental effects of substances
- Qualitative analysis terminology
Organic Chemistry
- Products from organic compounds
- Organic chemistry terminology
Electrochemistry
- Electrochemical technologies
- Electrochemistry terminology
Chemical Calculations
- Processes using chemical calculations
- Stoichiometry terminology
Chemistry in the Environment
- Evaluating air and water quality efforts
- Environmental chemistry terminology
See the full Chemistry, Grade 12, 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 Physics, Grade 12, University Preparation — 6 units, 60 skills.
Investigation Skills and Careers
- Careers in physics
- Scientists who contributed to physics
Energy and Momentum
- Analysing an energy-and-momentum technology
- Energy and momentum terminology
Gravitational, Electric, and Magnetic Fields
- Analysing a field technology
- Fields terminology
The Wave Nature of Light
- Analysing a wave-of-light technology
- Wave nature of light terminology
Revolutions in Modern Physics: Quantum Mechanics and Special Relativity
- Analysing the modern-physics revolutions
- Quantum and relativity terminology
See the full Physics, Grade 12, 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 Physics, Grade 12, College Preparation — 6 units, 80 skills.
Investigation Skills and Careers
- Careers in applied physics and the trades
- Scientists who contributed to physics
Motion and Its Applications
- Analysing a transportation technology
- Motion terminology
Mechanical Systems
- Friction in mechanical systems
- Mechanical systems terminology
Electricity and Magnetism
- Impact of an electrical technology
- Electricity and magnetism terminology
Energy Transformations
- Analysing an energy-transformation technology
- Energy terminology
Hydraulic and Pneumatic Systems
- Development of a hydraulic or pneumatic system
- Fluid systems terminology
See the full Physics, Grade 12, 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 Earth and Space Science, Grade 12, University Preparation — 6 units, 88 skills.
Investigation Skills and Careers
- Careers in Earth and space science
- Scientists who contributed to Earth and space science
Astronomy (Science of the Universe)
- Analysing an astronomical milestone
- Astronomy terminology
Planetary Science (Science of the Solar System)
- Issues of space exploration
- Planetary science terminology
Recording Earth's Geological History
- The climate-geology relationship
- Geological history terminology
Earth Materials
- Economic impact of Earth materials
- Earth materials terminology
Geological Processes
- Monitoring geological hazards
- Geological processes terminology
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 since the Fifteenth Century, Grade 12 (College Preparation) — 5 units, 50 skills.
Historical Inquiry: Skills and Careers
- Transferable skills from historical investigation
The World, 1450–1650
- Roles of groups and daily life
- Conflicts and their impact on people
- Factors affecting rights and obligations
The World, 1650–1789
- Social issues and their impact
- Conflicts and their impact
- Religion and identity
The World, 1789–1900
- The Industrial Revolution and its consequences
- Rebellions and revolutions
- The impact of nationalism
The World since 1900
- Social trends and their impact
- Global and regional conflicts
- Contributions to human rights
Social Studies this year
Social studies widens the lens this year — history, geography, and how communities and governments work. In Ontario, that's Canadian and International Law, Grade 12 (University Preparation) — 5 units, 56 skills.
Foundations of Law
- Key legal and political concepts
- Legal theories and perspectives
- Issues that drive legal change
Rights and Freedoms in Canada and the World
- Comparing rights charters
- Landmark rights legislation
- Parliament, the courts, and the Charter
International Law
- Principles and concepts of international law
- Agreements that shaped international law
- Resolving international disputes
International Legal Issues
- Morality and definitions of crime
- Purposes of environmental law
- Governments and workplace law
Social Studies this year
Social studies widens the lens this year — history, geography, and how communities and governments work. In Ontario, that's World Issues: A Geographic Analysis, Grade 12 (University Preparation) — 5 units, 43 skills.
Quality of Life and Access to Resources
- Resources and quality-of-life indicators
- Population distribution and quality of life
- Classifying countries with indicators
Sustainability and Environmental Stewardship
- International environmental agreements
- Population growth and the environment
- The commons and the global commons
Interactions and Interdependence: Globalization
- Trade agreements and interdependence
- Impacts on economies and the environment
- The globalization of economic activity
Changing Societies: The Local and Global Community
- Government population policies
- Technology as an agent of change
- Ethnic tension and crimes against humanity
French this year
French builds through listening, speaking, and simple reading — confidence first, grammar second. In Ontario, that's Core French, Grade 12, 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 12 in Ontario?
Ontario's official curriculum sets out Mathematics, English Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, French for Grade 12 — 1180 specific skills in total. The big themes: Mathematics covers exponential and logarithmic functions and trigonometric functions; Mathematics covers rate of change and derivatives and their applications; Mathematics covers counting and probability and probability distributions. 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
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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 since the Fifteenth Century, Grade 12 (University Preparation) — 5 units, 58 skills.
Historical Inquiry: Skills and Careers
- Transferable skills from historical investigation
+ 3 more skills in this unit →The World, 1450–1650
- Roles and status of groups across regions
- Increasing contact and its impact
- New ideas and identity
+ 11 more skills in this unit →The World, 1650–1789
- Social issues and developments
- Wars and revolutions
- Political and social ideas
+ 10 more skills in this unit →The World, 1789–1900
- Social developments and trends
- Revolutions and rebellions
- New social, economic, and political ideas
+ 11 more skills in this unit →The World since 1900
- Social trends and developments
- Global and regional conflicts
- Changing borders and identity
+ 10 more skills in this unit →See the full World History since the Fifteenth Century, Grade 12 (University Preparation) curriculum, with the ministry's own wording →