Secondary 4 ministry exams
Secondary 4 is the year the ministerial exams start to really count: three uniform exams, each worth 50% of the final course mark, in subjects that condition Secondary 5 course choices and CEGEP admission. Here is what awaits your child, exam by exam.
The May-June 2027 dates will be published by the ministry in the fall: our exam calendar is updated as soon as they appear.
The three uniform exams
History of Québec and Canada
3 h · in 2026: June 12, 2026The exam tests understanding, not date memorization: analyzing the causes and consequences of major events, situating them in context and interpreting historical documents. A student who can explain why things happened does better than one who memorized a list.
Science and Technology (ST or AST)
3 h · in 2026: June 16, 2026The theory portion of your child's pathway: physics (forces, motion, energy), chemistry (reactions, properties of matter), biology (cells, ecosystems) and technology (design, problem solving). Passing Secondary 4 science conditions several course choices in Secondary 5.
Mathematics (CST, TS or SN)
3 h · in 2026: June 2026Each sequence has its own exam: CST (Cultural, Social and Technical), TS (Technical and Scientific) or SN (Science). This is the math year that weighs the most: the sequence taken and the mark obtained open or close CEGEP programs. To go further: math tutoring.
Three sessions a year: the main May-June session, the late July and early August retakes, and the January session for students finishing a course mid-year. Exact dates are on the ministry exam calendar.
Practise under real conditions
The best starting point is a timed practice exam with no course notes: it situates the student and reveals what to work on while there is still time. Our math practice exam follows the format and criteria of the real one.
Frequently asked questions
Which ministry exams does my child write in Secondary 4?
Three uniform (ministerial) exams: History of Québec and Canada, science (ST or AST depending on the pathway) and mathematics (by sequence: CST, TS or SN). They happen in June; in 2026 they ran from June 10 to 18. The official 2027 calendar is published by the ministry in the fall.
How much do the Secondary 4 exams count in the final mark?
The uniform exams of Secondary 4 count for 50% of the final course mark. The other half comes from the school-based evaluation during the year. A solid school year is not enough on its own: the June exam can move the mark in either direction.
What is the difference between the CST, TS and SN math sequences?
CST is the base sequence, focused on everyday applied mathematics. TS and SN are the advanced sequences (functions, algebra, trigonometry) required by science programs at CEGEP. Each sequence has its own exam: students are evaluated on their own sequence only.
My child is in an English school. Do the same exams apply?
The Secondary 4 uniform exams (history, science, mathematics) exist in the English sector too, written in English. The exact list can vary with the pathway, so confirm it with your school or school board.
What happens if my child fails a June exam?
A retake session runs in late July and early August: in 2026, history was retaken on July 31, mathematics on August 3 and science on August 4. The school communicates how to register. A few weeks of targeted preparation between the two sessions often changes the result.
If a subject has been shaky since the fall, a few targeted sessions before June beat any last-minute catch-up. Our packages and prices are on the pricing page, and matching with a tutor takes 24-48 h.