Diploma Exams
Alberta Grade 12 diploma exams are mandatory for students to receive a final transcript mark in diploma exam courses. Students must register themselves in myPass for their diploma exam.
DEVICE SETUP
Important: All VVS North diploma exams and VVS South English, French, and Social Studies Part A diploma exams are accessed online (but still supervised in person). Students can bring their own device (laptop or Macbook, no iPads or phones) or arrange to borrow a VVS Chromebook. Personal Chromebooks are not permitted at this time.
- If you are bringing your own device, please ensure that it is fully prepared with the required software and settings before arrival.
- At the exam, you will need to connect to the Wi-Fi and log in to Vretta.
- After logging in, you will receive a unique code (provided verbally at the writing centre) to access your exam.
SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS
| Software Requirement | Description | Action Required |
|---|---|---|
| Respondus Lockdown browser | Must be installed on the personal device (laptop or Chromebook) you will bring to the exam BEFORE coming to the WC | Click here for installation instructions. Contact techsupportstudent@pembinahills.ca if assistance is needed. |
| Old Safe Exam Browser | If you have used your laptop or Chromebook for a diploma exam before (or are borrowing one from someone who has), please ensure you remove any old Safe Exam Browser versions, as the Respondus lockdown Browser is now being used. | Click here to uninstall earlier versions. |
| Vretta System Familiarization | If borrowing a Chromebook, we strongly recommend you familiarize yourself with the Vretta system. This will help ensure you are prepared for the exam. | Click here to familiarize yourself with Vretta. |
APRIL WRITING CENTRES
Vista Virtual School – North (school code 1682) – Barrhead
Vista Virtual School – South (school code 1558) – Calgary
⚠️ Please do not go to the VVS Calgary campus for your diploma exam unless you have been instructed to do so.
| EXAM | DATE | TIME | NORTH WRITING CENTRE | SOUTH WRITING CENTRE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| *All students are provided with up to double the official time if they require it. | NOTE: The majority of the diploma exams are NOT held at VVS Calgary Campus; please refer to the CORRECT WRITING CENTRES BELOW | |||
| English Language Arts 30-1 Part A - | Thursday, April 9 | 9 AM–12 PM | Mâmawapôwin 5219 - 49 ST Barrhead, AB T7N 1H2 | Hotel Blackfoot - Ballroom 5940 Blackfoot Trail SE Calgary, AB T2H 2B5 |
| English Language Arts 30-2 Part A - | Thursday, April 9 | 9 AM–12 PM | Mâmawapôwin 5219 - 49 ST Barrhead, AB T7N 1H2 | Hotel Blackfoot - Ballroom5940 Blackfoot Trail SE Calgary, AB T2H 2B5 |
| Social Studies 30-1 Part(ie) A | Friday, April 10 | 9 AM–12 PM | Mâmawapôwin 5219 - 49 ST Barrhead, AB T7N 1H2 | Windsor Park Community Association 5304 6 ST SW Calgary, AB T2V 1E1 |
| Social Studies 30-2 Part(ie) A | Friday, April 10 | 9 AM–12 PM | Windsor Park Community Association 5304 6 ST SW Calgary, AB T2V 1E1 |
|
| Mathematics 30-1 | Monday, April 13 | 9 AM–12 PM | Mâmawapôwin 5219 - 49 ST Barrhead, AB T7N 1H2 | Windsor Park Community Association 5304 6 ST SW Calgary, AB T2V 1E1 |
| Mathematics 30-2 | Monday, April 13 | 9 AM–12 PM | Mâmawapôwin 5219 - 49 ST Barrhead, AB T7N 1H2 | Windsor Park Community Association 5304 6 ST SW Calgary, AB T2V 1E1 |
| English Language Arts 30-1 Part B | Tuesday, April 14 | 9 AM–12 PM | Mâmawapôwin 5219 - 49 ST Barrhead, AB T7N 1H2 | Windsor Park Community Association 5304 6 ST SW Calgary, AB T2V 1E1 |
| English Language Arts 30-2 Part B | Tuesday, April 14 | 9 AM–12 PM | Mâmawapôwin 5219 - 49 ST Barrhead, AB T7N 1H2 | Windsor Park Community Association 5304 6 ST SW Calgary, AB T2V 1E1 |
| Social Studies 30-1 Part(ie) B | Wednesday, April 15 | 9 AM–12 PM | Mâmawapôwin 5219 - 49 ST Barrhead, AB T7N 1H2 | Windsor Park Community Association 5304 6 ST SW Calgary, AB T2V 1E1 |
| Social Studies 30-2 Part(ie) B | Wednesday, April 15 | 9 AM–12 PM | Mâmawapôwin 5219 - 49 ST Barrhead, AB T7N 1H2 | Windsor Park Community Association 5304 6 ST SW Calgary, AB T2V 1E1 |
| Physics 30 | Wednesday, April 15 | 1 PM - 4 PM | Mâmawapôwin 5219 - 49 ST Barrhead, AB T7N 1H2 | Windsor Park Community Association 5304 6 ST SW Calgary, AB T2V 1E1 |
| Biology 30 | Thursday, April 16 | 9 AM–12 PM | Mâmawapôwin 5219 - 49 ST Barrhead, AB T7N 1H2 | Windsor Park Community Association 5304 6 ST SW Calgary, AB T2V 1E1 |
| Chemistry 30 | Friday, April 17 | 9 AM–12 PM | Windsor Park Community Association 5304 6 ST SW Calgary, AB T2V 1E1 |
|
| Science 30 | Friday, April 17 | 1 PM - 4 PM | Mâmawapôwin 5219 - 49 ST Barrhead, AB T7N 1H2 | Windsor Park Community Association 5304 6 ST SW Calgary, AB T2V 1E1 |
WHEN TO ARRIVE
We strongly recommend arriving early to make sure that you have sufficient time to get set up before the exam begins.
- Morning Exams: Arrive at 8:30 a.m. for exams that start at 9:00 a.m. Students cannot be admitted after 10:00 a.m.
- Afternoon Exams: Arrive at 12:30 p.m. for exams that start at 1:00 p.m. Students cannot be admitted after 2:00 p.m.
WHAT TO BRING
PHOTO IDENTIFICATION
- Bring a passport, driver’s license, school ID, etc.
- You will be required to sign in and show photo ID before the exam
LAPTOP or CHROMEBOOK
- Students can bring their own device (laptop or Macbook, no phones, iPads, or personal Chromebooks) set up with the required software and settings.
- You can also arrange to use a VVS Chromebook instead.
DICTIONARY, THESAURUS, AND APPROVED WRITER’S HANDBOOK
- English, French, or Social Studies Part A only.
- Vretta provides a dictionary and thesaurus.
- You may bring your own (they will be checked before use).
- Math and Sciences only.
- Calculator memory will be cleared before and after the exam.
- You may also bring a ruler and a protractor.
Review the Diploma Exam Guide for Students for a full list of what is allowed.
REGISTRATION
Students must register themselves in myPass for their chosen diploma exam session.
DIPLOMA EXAM DATES
2025/2026 Diploma Exam Schedule
- Diplomas are offered in January, April, June, August and November.
- Not all exams are offered at all sessions.
- Dates and times for all diploma sessions are set by Alberta Education, and all schools must adhere to that schedule.
REGISTRATION DATES
| Diploma Exam | Registration Deadline | Status |
|---|---|---|
| April 2026 | February 17, 2026 | CLOSED |
| June 2026 | April 8, 2026 | OPEN |
| August 2026 | July 6, 2026 | CLOSED |
Students have until 3:00 p.m. MT on the registration deadline to register for their diploma exams in myPass. Those who miss the deadline must contact vvsupport@pembinahills.ca to be added to the waitlist. Please be advised that walk-in students will not be accepted.
REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS
1. LOGIN TO YOUR MYPASS ACCOUNT
- Don’t have a myPass account? Visit our myPass page to set one up.
- Once logged in, follow the prompts to register for a diploma exam.
2. SELECT YOUR WRITING CENTRE
- Vista Virtual School (VVS) has two Writing Centres:
- Vista Virtual School – South (school code 1558) – Calgary
- Vista Virtual School – North (school code 1682) – Barrhead (area of Pembina Hills School Division)
- Non-primary students should first ask their primary school if they can write their diploma exams there. If not, they may register at a VVS Writing Centre.
- If you cannot attend a VVS Writing Centre, contact your local school to ask about supervision. Schools are not required to do this, and you should not register without their approval.
- Do not register at Alberta Education’s Provincial Writing Centres. Students are expected to write diploma exams at a VVS Writing Centre for VVS courses.
3. GRANTING PERMISSION
- Enter Steven Kaplan, VVS Principal as permitting you to register at one of the VVS Writing Centre.
EXAM FEE INFORMATION
- REWRITE FEE: If you are rewriting a diploma exam, you must submit the Alberta Education rewrite fee in myPass.
- ALBERTA EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION FEE: International or Out-of-Province students are required to submit the Alberta Education administration fee in myPass for first-time diploma exam writing and for rewriting each diploma exam.
- VVS DIPLOMA EXAM FEE: Adult and International students have a $60 non-refundable, non-transferable fee (per diploma exam) to access the VVS writing centre. This will be added to your student ledger in PowerSchool.
VVS WRITING CENTRE LOCATIONS
Our Writing Centres are located in Barrhead (North) and Calgary (South).
- Registered students are notified of the location details closer to the writing date, and the information will be posted here.
- VVS books locations such as universities or community halls to accommodate exam writers.
- Most diploma exams are not written at the VVS Calgary campus due to limited space.
To receive exam accommodations for a diploma exam, you need:
1. Documentation: Provide VVS with current, professional, and relevant documentation at the time of registration or the start of the course. This may include:
- Educational Assessments (5 years old or less)
- A School Support Plan (current or from your last school year)
- A Medical Note (less than 1 year old)
2. Proof of use: Accommodations must have been used for the VVS course exams.
- If VVS is not able to confirm that you received accommodations for school exams, Alberta Education may not allow them for diploma exams.
Important Notes:
- Isolation is not an approved accommodation.
- The Calgary campus is only for students with extensive accommodations (e.g., a scribe). Availability is limited, particularly in June and August.
- Text-to-speech can be provided at the main exam venue for students who require it as an accommodation.
- All students are allowed double time for diploma exams without applying for accommodations.
To apply for special accommodations for your diploma exam, please email vvsupport@pembinahills.ca.
Students are required to write their diploma exam at an accredited Alberta Education school. There are writing centres throughout Alberta, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and at Alberta Accredited International Schools.
In extenuating circumstances, VVS students may be permitted to use a Special Writing Centre. Special Writing Centres are temporary sites outside Alberta approved by Alberta Education for students who cannot write diploma exams in Alberta. This is a highly detailed application process with strict Alberta Education rules that must be followed.
- Requests must be made at least three months in advance and are subject to approval by our principal.
- Students must provide a letter explaining why they must write the diploma exam and why they cannot come to Alberta to do so.
- Students are responsible for finding a Special Writing Centre location. It must be an academic organization or similar institution which has the experience and capacity to administer large-scale assessments. Written evidence and photographs of the space will be required.
- Special Writing Centre supervisors must be employed by the approved organization or institution, in a position of authority (e.g. teacher, assistant principal, or principal), and provide proof of employment. Supervisors must also be fluent in reading and speaking English or French, depending on the language of the diploma exam(s).
- Students must have a final school-awarded mark in the course for which the diploma exam will be written prior to the exam date.
- All diploma exams administered at a Special Writing Centre will be administered in a digital format. A practice test must be successfully completed before the diploma exam.
If you can meet the above requirements, please email vvsupport@pembinahills.ca to request the Special Writing Centre application.
1. Are diploma exams the same as course final exams?
-
No, diploma exams are separate from course final exams. Students must write both to complete their course.
2. Do I need to register for the diploma exam?
-
Yes, registration is required to write a provincial diploma exam during one of the scheduled exam sittings.
3. How is my final mark calculated?
-
Your final mark will be a combination of both your course mark and diploma exam mark. Both are needed to appear on your transcript.
4. Can adult upgrading students challenge diploma exams?
-
Yes, adult upgrading students can challenge diploma exams. Proper preparation is recommended.
5. Can I use a previous diploma exam mark if I’m upgrading my course mark?
-
If you have already completed a diploma exam for the course, you may be able to use your previous diploma exam mark when upgrading your course mark.
6. Do I still need to write a diploma exam if I have already completed my high school diploma?
-
Yes, even if you have achieved your high school diploma, you must write the diploma exam for each course.