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100+ Free BC GLA 12 Practice Questions

Pass your BC Graduation Literacy Assessment 12 (GLA 12) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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Key Facts: BC GLA 12 Exam

3 parts

GLA 12 is delivered online in Part A, Part B and an unscored self-reflection

B.C. Curriculum - Grade 12 Literacy Assessment

Grade 12

Written during the Grade 12 year as a provincial graduation requirement

B.C. Curriculum - Grade 12 Literacy Assessment

About 2 hours

Designed completion time, with additional time available as needed

B.C. Curriculum - Grade 12 Literacy Assessment

4-point scale

Results reported as Emerging, Developing, Proficient or Extending

Government of B.C. - Graduation Assessments

No pass mark

There is no pass or fail; the assessment must be written to graduate

Government of B.C. - Graduation Assessments

Cross-curricular

Based on literacy skills from K-12, not a single subject or course

B.C. Curriculum - Grade 12 Literacy Assessment

Selected-response + written

Combines selected-response questions with graphic-organizer and extended written responses

B.C. Curriculum - Grade 12 Literacy Assessment Specifications

No fee

Free for B.C. students as part of the graduation program

Government of B.C. - Graduation Assessments

The Graduation Literacy Assessment 12 (GLA 12) is a British Columbia provincial graduation requirement written during Grade 12. It is delivered online in three parts: Part A (comprehend and analyze texts) and Part B (go beyond the texts) combine selected-response questions with written responses, and a final self-reflection is unscored. There is no time limit beyond a roughly two-hour design and no pass or fail mark; results are reported on the four-point scale of Emerging, Developing, Proficient and Extending. The assessment is cross-curricular and free for B.C. students. This 100-question bank provides original selected-response reading-comprehension and analysis practice modelled on GLA 12 skills.

Sample BC GLA 12 Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your BC GLA 12 exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Read: 'The harbour town had changed beyond recognition. Where fishing boats once crowded the docks, glass cafes now caught the morning light, and the only nets to be seen hung as decoration on the walls.' What is the main idea of this passage?
A.The town has shifted from a fishing economy to a tourist one
B.The town's fishing industry is busier than ever
C.The cafes sell fishing equipment to visitors
D.The harbour is no longer used by any boats
Explanation: The passage contrasts the old fishing docks with new glass cafes and nets used only as decoration, showing a shift from a working fishing economy toward tourism. The main idea is this transformation of the town's character and economy.
2A passage states: 'Devon checked his phone for the fourth time in a minute, then shoved it deep into his pocket as if hiding it from himself.' What can you infer about Devon?
A.He is bored and has nothing to do
B.He is anxiously waiting for a message
C.He has lost his phone
D.He dislikes using technology
Explanation: Checking the phone repeatedly and then hiding it 'from himself' suggests Devon is anxious about an expected message and is trying to stop himself from checking. This is an inference drawn from his behaviour.
3In the sentence 'The committee's response was tepid, offering neither support nor outright rejection,' the word 'tepid' most nearly means:
A.Enthusiastic
B.Lukewarm and unenthusiastic
C.Hostile and angry
D.Confused and unclear
Explanation: The clue 'neither support nor outright rejection' shows the response was in between, so 'tepid' means lukewarm or unenthusiastic. Context clues point to a middling, half-hearted reaction.
4An article begins: 'Plastic that takes five hundred years to break down is used, on average, for twelve minutes.' Why does the writer pair these two numbers?
A.To explain how plastic is manufactured
B.To highlight the imbalance between how briefly plastic is used and how long it lasts
C.To prove that plastic is cheap to produce
D.To describe the history of plastic
Explanation: Placing a five-hundred-year lifespan beside a twelve-minute use creates a striking contrast that emphasises wastefulness. The writer pairs the numbers to highlight the imbalance between short use and long-lasting impact.
5Read this line from a poem: 'Grief is a guest who arrives without knocking / and stays long after the lamps are out.' What does this comparison suggest about grief?
A.Grief is polite and easy to host
B.Grief is unwelcome, uninvited and lingers
C.Grief visits only briefly
D.Grief brings light into a home
Explanation: Comparing grief to a guest who 'arrives without knocking' and 'stays long after the lamps are out' suggests it is uninvited and lingers far longer than wanted. The metaphor conveys grief as intrusive and persistent.
6A passage describes: 'First, gather your materials. Next, measure twice before cutting. Finally, sand each edge until it is smooth.' How is this passage organized?
A.Cause and effect
B.Compare and contrast
C.Sequential steps
D.Problem and solution
Explanation: The words 'First', 'Next' and 'Finally' signal a sequence of steps in order. The passage is organized as a sequential set of instructions.
7Read: 'The editorial argued that the new bylaw would protect green space, though it offered no data and relied mostly on the writer's personal feelings about the park.' Which statement is an opinion from the editorial rather than a fact?
A.The bylaw is new
B.The editorial offered no data
C.The bylaw would protect green space
D.The editorial discussed a park
Explanation: Whether the bylaw 'would protect green space' is a claim about the future based on the writer's feelings, not a verified fact, so it is an opinion. The other choices describe verifiable details of the editorial.
8Two texts discuss remote work. Text 1 emphasizes flexibility and saved commute time; Text 2 emphasizes isolation and blurred work-life boundaries. What is the main difference between the two texts?
A.They describe different jobs
B.They reach opposite conclusions about whether remote work exists
C.They focus on different consequences of the same arrangement
D.They are written for children versus adults
Explanation: Both texts address remote work but stress different outcomes: one its benefits (flexibility, time) and the other its drawbacks (isolation, blurred boundaries). The key difference is the consequences each chooses to focus on.
9A speaker claims: 'Everyone I know loves this app, so it must be the best one available.' What is the main weakness in this argument?
A.It uses too much data
B.It generalizes from a small, unrepresentative group
C.It compares two unrelated apps
D.It contradicts itself
Explanation: The speaker draws a sweeping conclusion ('the best one available') from the limited experience of people they personally know, which is a hasty generalization. A small, unrepresentative sample cannot prove an app is best overall.
10Read: 'By the time the volunteers arrived, the riverbank was already lined with neighbours holding shovels, sandbags stacked taller than the children who had carried them.' What does this detail mainly convey?
A.The volunteers were unnecessary
B.The community had organized itself before help came
C.The children were in danger
D.The river had stopped rising
Explanation: Neighbours already holding shovels and tall stacks of sandbags show the community mobilized before the volunteers arrived. The detail conveys a community organizing itself in response to a threat.

About the BC GLA 12 Exam

The Graduation Literacy Assessment 12 (GLA 12) is a provincial graduation requirement in British Columbia, written by students during their Grade 12 year. It is delivered online and is cross-curricular, drawing on literacy skills students build across kindergarten to Grade 12 rather than on a single subject or course. The assessment has three parts: Part A asks students to comprehend and analyze a diverse array of texts using selected-response questions and a graphic-organizer written response; Part B asks students to go beyond the texts with further selected-response questions and an extended written response chosen from two prompts tied to an essential question; and a final self-reflection component is included but not scored. GLA 12 measures critical and reflective thinking, comprehension, inference, analysis and the ability to communicate ideas drawn from texts. Results are reported on the four-point proficiency scale (Emerging, Developing, Proficient, Extending) with no simple pass mark.

Assessment

Delivered online in three parts: Part A (comprehend and analyze texts) with selected-response questions and a graphic-organizer written response; Part B (go beyond the texts) with selected-response questions and an extended written response chosen from two prompts; and an unscored self-reflection. It is cross-curricular and not tied to a single course.

Time Limit

No strict time limit. The assessment is designed to take about two hours, and students may take additional time if they need it.

Passing Score

No pass or fail mark. Results are reported on the four-point provincial proficiency scale (Emerging, Developing, Proficient, Extending) and recorded on the student transcript; the assessment must be written to satisfy graduation requirements.

Exam Fee

There is no fee for B.C. students; the Graduation Literacy Assessment 12 is provided at no cost as a provincial graduation requirement. (Government of British Columbia, Ministry of Education and Child Care)

BC GLA 12 Exam Content Outline

50%

Part A: Comprehend and Analyze Texts

Official assessment: selected-response questions plus a graphic-organizer written response based on a diverse array of texts. Practice here focuses on main idea, supporting detail, inference, vocabulary in context, author's purpose, tone, text structure, point of view and how literary and informational texts create meaning.

40%

Part B: Go Beyond the Texts

Official assessment: further selected-response questions and an extended written response chosen from two prompts tied to an essential question. Practice here focuses on synthesizing ideas across texts, comparing perspectives, evaluating arguments and evidence, connecting texts to broader ideas and identifying the most relevant support for an interpretation.

10%

Self-Reflection and Test Strategy

Official assessment includes an unscored self-reflection. Practice here builds reading strategy: locating evidence in a passage, eliminating unsupported options, recognising fact versus opinion, and reading the question stem carefully so the selected answer is grounded in the text.

How to Pass the BC GLA 12 Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: No pass or fail mark. Results are reported on the four-point provincial proficiency scale (Emerging, Developing, Proficient, Extending) and recorded on the student transcript; the assessment must be written to satisfy graduation requirements.
  • Assessment: Delivered online in three parts: Part A (comprehend and analyze texts) with selected-response questions and a graphic-organizer written response; Part B (go beyond the texts) with selected-response questions and an extended written response chosen from two prompts; and an unscored self-reflection. It is cross-curricular and not tied to a single course.
  • Time limit: No strict time limit. The assessment is designed to take about two hours, and students may take additional time if they need it.
  • Exam fee: There is no fee for B.C. students; the Graduation Literacy Assessment 12 is provided at no cost as a provincial graduation requirement.

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

BC GLA 12 Study Tips from Top Performers

1Practise pointing to the exact words or lines in a passage that prove your answer; GLA 12 rewards interpretations that are grounded in textual evidence.
2Read across texts: in Part B you connect and synthesize ideas, so practise comparing how two texts treat the same theme, claim or question.
3Watch for inference questions. Many selected-response items ask what a text suggests rather than what it states directly, so reason from the evidence given.
4Pay attention to author's purpose, tone and text structure; recognising why and how a text was written often points to the best answer.
5Use the official GLA 12 sample assessment and specifications to get used to the online format, the range of text types and the written-response expectations.
6For the extended written response, plan briefly first: state your interpretation, then support it with specific details from the texts before writing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the BC Graduation Literacy Assessment 12 (GLA 12)?

GLA 12 is a British Columbia provincial graduation requirement written during Grade 12. It is an online, cross-curricular assessment of literacy skills (comprehension, analysis and communication) built across K-12, not based on a single subject or course.

How is the GLA 12 structured?

It is delivered online in three parts: Part A (comprehend and analyze texts) and Part B (go beyond the texts), which combine selected-response questions with written responses, plus a final self-reflection that is not scored.

Is there a pass mark on the GLA 12?

No. There is no pass or fail mark. Results are reported on the four-point provincial proficiency scale of Emerging, Developing, Proficient and Extending and recorded on the student transcript.

How long does the GLA 12 take?

There is no strict time limit. The assessment is designed to be completed in about two hours, and students may take additional time if they need it.

Is the GLA 12 required to graduate in B.C.?

Yes. Writing the Graduation Literacy Assessment 12 is a graduation requirement. Students must also complete the Graduation Numeracy Assessment 10 to satisfy the provincial graduation program.

Are these official B.C. Ministry questions?

No. These are original OpenExamPrep practice questions modelled on GLA 12 selected-response skills. The B.C. Ministry of Education and Child Care provides official sample assessments and specifications separately.