Quebec Ministry Exams 2026: Dates, Subjects and Weighting
Your child has a ministry exam in June. You know because the school sent an email, or a neighbour mentioned it, or your teenager brought it up between bites at dinner, without much detail.
The thing is, “ministry exam” doesn’t mean the same thing depending on the grade level. A Grade 6 student, a Secondary 2 student, a Secondary 4 student, and a Secondary 5 student all write ministerial exams, but not the same ones, not on the same dates, and not in the same format.
Here’s what you need to know for June 2026.
What ministerial exams are (and why they matter so much)
Ministerial exams are standardized tests prepared by Quebec’s Ministry of Education (MEQ). Unlike regular school tests, they are identical across the entire province: a student in Terrebonne writes the same exam as a student in Sherbrooke.
The key point is how much they count, which depends on the level (source: quebec.ca):
- in elementary school (Grades 4 and 6) and Secondary 2, the exam counts for 20% of the final mark for the competency tested;
- in Secondary 4 and 5, it counts for 50% of the final mark. The other half comes from the teacher’s evaluation during the year.
So in Secondary 4 or 5, a student who had 80% all year but scores 60% on the exam ends up around 70% on the final report card. The reverse is also true: an average student who does well on the exam can raise their grade significantly.
Exam schedule: May and June 2026
Updated October 2026: the dates below were checked against the ministry’s official 2025-2026 schedule, and several were corrected (the Secondary 5 French writing exam was on May 7, not June 8 and 9). For 2026-2027, see our ministry exam dates page.
Elementary (Grades 4 and 6)
Grade 6 students write exams in French (reading and writing) and Mathematics; Grade 4 students write a French exam. The ministry sets the dates:
- French-sector schools, Grade 6 French: reading on June 1 (literary text) and June 2 (informational text), writing on June 3 and 4, 2026
- French-sector schools, Grade 4 French: reading on June 3 and 4, writing on June 8, 9 and 10, 2026
- Grade 6 Mathematics, both sectors: June 9, 10 and 11, 2026
- English-sector schools, Grade 6 English Language Arts: between May 19 and June 5, 2026, on dates chosen by the school
Secondary 2: French
This is often the first ministry exam your child will take, and it can be stressful.
- Preparatory activities in class: from May 1, 2026, on dates chosen by the school
- Exam: between May 14 and 29, 2026, on a date chosen by the school
The Secondary 2 French exam assesses writing. The preparatory activities are an integral part of the exam: students receive a preparatory dossier with texts to read and a notes booklet they can bring on exam day.
Secondary 4: three subjects
Secondary 4 is a busy year for ministerial exams:
| Subject | Date | What’s tested |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | June 10 and 18, 2026 | Depends on the stream: Culture, Society and Technology (CST), Technical Sciences (TS), or Natural Sciences (SN) |
| Quebec and Canadian History | June 12, 2026 | Characterizing a period, interpreting a social reality, establishing facts |
| Science (ST or ATS) | June 16, 2026 | Science and Technology or Applied Technological Sciences |
In Mathematics, the two dates match the sequences: June 10 for TS and SN, June 18 for CST. Each student writes one exam, the one for their sequence, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Secondary 5: French and English
| Subject | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|
| French, Language of Instruction | May 7, 2026, 9:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. (preparatory dossier handed out April 30) | Argumentative essay (written production) |
| English, Second Language | May 14 to June 11, 2026 | Written production on June 11 (core) or June 4 (enriched) |
The Secondary 5 French exam is the one that worries parents most, and for good reason. The argumentative essay must follow a precise structure, with a clear thesis, developed arguments, and a conclusion. The grading criteria focus on argumentation, organization, vocabulary, and language quality.
How to prepare for each subject
French (Secondary 2 and 5)
For Secondary 2, the exam is a writing exam based on the texts worked on during the preparatory activities. Reading them well matters: students need to be able to identify main ideas in a text, make inferences, and justify their answers with evidence from the text.
For Secondary 5, the written production is the big piece. Here’s what separates a 70% essay from an 85% essay:
- The thesis is clear from the introduction: not vague, not ambiguous
- Each argument is supported by a concrete example: not just a statement
- Transitions between paragraphs are logical: the reader follows the reasoning effortlessly
- Language is polished: agreements, syntax, varied vocabulary
A practical exercise: have your child write one argumentative essay per week until the exam on various topics. Even 45 minutes per week means 12 essays before the exam. The first one will probably be average. The twelfth will be noticeably better.
Mathematics (Secondary 4)
The key in math is Competency 2 (CD2): contextualized problems. These are real-world scenarios where students must model a problem using mathematical tools.
What students find difficult:
- Identifying which concept to use: the problem doesn’t say “use the Pythagorean theorem.” Students must recognize it from context.
- Showing the complete solution process: a correct answer without showing work doesn’t earn full marks
- Managing time: CD2 problems take longer than expected
The best preparation: past ministry exams. The MEQ publishes preparatory documents and parent guides. Use them: they show exactly the type of questions asked.
Quebec and Canadian History (Secondary 4)
The history exam is often underestimated. It doesn’t just test memorization of dates and events; it assesses students’ ability to characterize a period, interpret documents, and establish connections between facts.
Practical tips:
- Master the timeline: from New France to today, the major periods and their characteristics
- Practice analyzing documents (maps, period texts, statistics): this is the format for many questions
- Draw connections between periods: the ministry likes comparison questions
Science (Secondary 4)
The science and technology exam covers a broad spectrum: the living world, the material world, the technological world, and Earth and space. That’s a lot of material.
The realistic strategy with 12 weeks until the exam: identify the least understood chapters and spend 80% of review time there. Reviewing what you already know is comfortable but unproductive.
The review calendar: 12 weeks before June
It’s mid-March. The Secondary 4-5 exams are about 12 weeks away. Here’s a realistic breakdown:
Weeks 1 to 4 (mid-March to mid-April): Identify the gaps. Look at recent test grades. Which subjects are below 75%? Which chapters were problematic? This is the time for an honest diagnostic.
Weeks 5 to 8 (mid-April to mid-May): Targeted work on identified gaps. One to two hours per week per difficult subject. This is also when to start practice exams; the ministry publishes sample questions and past exams.
Weeks 9 to 12 (mid-May to early June): Full exam simulations under real conditions. Timed, without help, with only the materials allowed on exam day. The goal isn’t to review everything; it’s to practice the format and manage stress.
When a tutor makes a difference
A tutor isn’t necessary for every student. If your child has grades above 75% and studies independently, they can probably prepare on their own with review materials.
However, a tutor makes a real difference in these situations:
- The student has accumulated gaps over several months in a subject
- They can’t structure an argumentative essay despite classroom instruction
- Contextualized math problems are a wall: they understand the theory but freeze on application
- Exam stress is a factor: the student knows the material but panics under pressure
A private tutor can also work directly with past ministry exams and official grading rubrics, something that’s difficult to do in a class of 30 students.
At TutorAide, our tutors in Montreal, Laval, Saint-Lambert and across Quebec know the exam format and tailor their preparation to each student’s needs. Sessions start at $33/h with the Plus plan (see our rates).
Official resources
- Ministerial exam schedule: Quebec government website
- Preparatory documents by subject: including parent guides
- Alloprof: Exam preparation: free resource with preparation tips
If you are at the stage of comparing options for the exam period, the plans and hourly rates are set out on the pricing page.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are Quebec's ministerial exams in May and June 2026?
In Secondary 5, the French writing exam takes place on May 7, 2026 and English as a second language runs from May 14 to June 11. In Secondary 4, Mathematics is on June 10 (TS and SN) and June 18 (CST), Quebec and Canadian History on June 12, and Science on June 16. In Secondary 2, the French writing exam takes place between May 14 and 29, 2026, on a date chosen by the school. In French-sector elementary schools, exams run from June 1 to 11.
How much do ministerial exams count toward the final grade?
It depends on the level. In elementary school (Grades 4 and 6) and Secondary 2, the exam counts for 20% of the final mark for the competency tested. In Secondary 4 and 5, it counts for 50%, and the other half comes from the teacher's evaluation during the year. At that level, a student with 75% in class who scores 55% on the exam ends up around 65%.
Can a tutor help prepare for ministerial exams?
Yes. A good tutor knows the exact format of each exam and the ministry's grading criteria. For Secondary 5 French, the tutor can work on argumentative essays using the official evaluation grids. For Secondary 4 Math, they can target contextualized problems (CD2), which make up a large portion of the grade. A private tutor also allows students to work at their own pace, unlike classroom review where everyone moves at the same speed.
My child is in Secondary 2: do they have a ministry exam?
Yes. In Secondary 2, there is a mandatory French language exam. In 2026, preparatory activities in class start from May 1, and the exam itself takes place between May 14 and 29, on dates chosen by the school. It's often the first real ministry exam students take, and it counts for 20% of the final mark for the competency evaluated, writing.