It happens to the best of students. After a semester spent diligently – or not-so-diligently – hitting the books, they receive a lacklustre grade. Perhaps they struggled with certain concepts in the course. Maybe they dealt with draining distractions like social pressure, mental health issues or – pertinently – the psychological toll of a global crisis. Or it could be that their best shot just wasn’t good enough this time around.

Thankfully, education always allows for second chances – at least here in Ontario. Students unhappy with their marks can take “upgrade courses” to improve their average. When a student takes online courses in Ontario for an upgrade, the better of their two marks appears on their transcript. If they do worse the second time around (which is relatively rare), their first mark holds on the transcript.

If your high school student is dissatisfied with a mark they received, but isn’t sure the effort of upgrading is worth it, talk through the following points. Here are a few reasons to consider upgrading a mark.

University Admissions

Universities look at applicants holistically, considering their interests, extracurriculars and character. But a critical consideration remains grade average. Several universities in Ontario take a “top six” average, tallying your six best senior grades to determine a “university admission average.” This top six is typically a mixture of required and elective courses, and may require courses applicable to the program.

Upgrade courses are your second chance to be competitive during university admissions. Even if your – or your kid’s – grades are perfectly acceptable for most institutions, upgrading gives you a chance to cast a wider net. You can apply to more prestigious universities in the programs you want.   

Scholarships

Like university admissions, scholarship awarders look at several criteria – one of which is academic performance. Average grades do not preclude a student from scholarships and bursaries, but they may limit a student’s options. If you want fuller access to scholarships, you should consider upgrading your marks.

Preparedness

Upgrading a course online doesn’t just help get you in the door of a university; it may also help you thrive there.

Re-taking a course can solidify information and increase retention. Researchers have long noted a link between repetition and retention, which is perhaps why we have the saying “practice makes perfect.” When (for instance) a student re-takes Grade 12 Advanced Functions, they may find that the course’s concepts are more easily recallable when they reach university. (And that recall can help immensely in a sink-or-swim post-secondary environment).

Reinforced Principles

Finally, upgrading a course shows tenacity – what they would have called “moxie” fifty years ago. It underscores and encourages a sense of drive. And it teaches students that, no matter whether you succeed the first time, you can pick yourself up and still succeed through grit and determination. Upgrading isn’t just a benefit to one’s transcript; it’s also a lesson in character building.

For all the parents reading this who were unaware of the option, hopefully, you have learned something about upgrading courses. If your teen is unhappy with their marks, encourage them to try again. At worst, they learn a valuable lesson about self-determination. At best, they can boost their chances of university admissions, scholarships and post-secondary success.

It happens to the best of students. After a semester spent diligently – or not-so-diligently – hitting the books, they receive a lacklustre grade. Perhaps they struggled with certain concepts in the course. Maybe they dealt with draining distractions like social pressure, mental health issues or – pertinently – the psychological toll of a global crisis. Or it could be that their best shot just wasn’t good enough this time around.

Thankfully, education always allows for second chances – at least here in Ontario. Students unhappy with their marks can take “upgrade courses” to improve their average. When a student takes online courses in Ontario for an upgrade, the better of their two marks appears on their transcript. If they do worse the second time around (which is relatively rare), their first mark holds on the transcript.

If your high school student is dissatisfied with a mark they received, but isn’t sure the effort of upgrading is worth it, talk through the following points. Here are a few reasons to consider upgrading a mark.

University Admissions

Universities look at applicants holistically, considering their interests, extracurriculars and character. But a critical consideration remains grade average. Several universities in Ontario take a “top six” average, tallying your six best senior grades to determine a “university admission average.” This top six is typically a mixture of required and elective courses, and may require courses applicable to the program.

Upgrade courses are your second chance to be competitive during university admissions. Even if your – or your kid’s – grades are perfectly acceptable for most institutions, upgrading gives you a chance to cast a wider net. You can apply to more prestigious universities in the programs you want.   

Scholarships

Like university admissions, scholarship awarders look at several criteria – one of which is academic performance. Average grades do not preclude a student from scholarships and bursaries, but they may limit a student’s options. If you want fuller access to scholarships, you should consider upgrading your marks.

Preparedness

Upgrading a course online doesn’t just help get you in the door of a university; it may also help you thrive there.

Re-taking a course can solidify information and increase retention. Researchers have long noted a link between repetition and retention, which is perhaps why we have the saying “practice makes perfect.” When (for instance) a student re-takes Grade 12 Advanced Functions, they may find that the course’s concepts are more easily recallable when they reach university. (And that recall can help immensely in a sink-or-swim post-secondary environment).

Reinforced Principles

Finally, upgrading a course shows tenacity – what they would have called “moxie” fifty years ago. It underscores and encourages a sense of drive. And it teaches students that, no matter whether you succeed the first time, you can pick yourself up and still succeed through grit and determination. Upgrading isn’t just a benefit to one’s transcript; it’s also a lesson in character building.

For all the parents reading this who were unaware of the option, hopefully, you have learned something about upgrading courses. If your teen is unhappy with their marks, encourage them to try again. At worst, they learn a valuable lesson about self-determination. At best, they can boost their chances of university admissions, scholarships and post-secondary success.