The Hardest High School Courses & Why to Take Them Online
Taking difficult or challenging classes in high school is a terrific way to develop new abilities that will serve you well when you go to college. You will be better equipped for the workload and difficulty that can come with college and university courses.
Classes that are difficult, such as advanced, college-level, or university courses, can also assist you in getting into postsecondary schooling, as they are precisely what admissions staff look for on applications.
This article will cover some of the hardest high school courses, as well as why taking these courses through an online platform is can be far more beneficial than taking them through traditional in-person alternatives.
Physics
Gravity, energy, and the principles that govern the cosmos are all hefty subjects. With such a vast amount of material to investigate, it’s no surprise that this course has sometimes been regarded as one of the hardest courses in high school in Ontario to take.
Many students’ high school careers include physics as a scientific requirement and a stepping stone to addressing challenges in other exciting courses, cutting-edge employment paths, and more. If your child wants to study science in college or eventually work in a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) field, there’s no doubt that a good foundation in physics will make them ready for launch.
High school students beginning their physics studies may be apprehensive about delving into this subject of advanced science.
Our course, SPH3U – Grade 11 Physics, helps students to deepen their understanding of fundamental physics ideas. Students will examine the connections between physics and technology throughout this course. They will also use virtual labs and real-world examples to investigate the influence of technological applications of physics on society and the environment.
This course helps students comprehend the fundamental concepts of physics. Students will investigate kinematics, with a focus on linear motion, various types of forces, energy transformations; mechanical wave and sound aspects; and electricity and magnetism. Furthermore, they will examine the interrelationships between physics and technology and the influence of physics-based technological applications on society and the environment. They will improve their scientific investigative skills as they test physics laws.
Teachers in this course will bring enthusiasm and a variety of teaching and assessment methodologies to the classroom, addressing a students’ needs and ensuring that every student has a good learning opportunity. Students should be able to relate and apply these principles to the social, environmental, and economic realities and problems of the world in which they live through the activities provided.
Chemistry
In SCH4U, Grade 12 Chemistry (University) gives students a more in-depth grasp of chemistry. They will have numerous opportunities during the course to improve their ability to convey scientific data and strengthen their problem-solving and investigative abilities further as they investigate diverse chemical processes. The relevance of chemistry in everyday life is also emphasized, as will the assessment of the environmental impact of chemical technologies.
This course teaches students about chemistry by studying the matter and qualitative analysis, organic chemistry, electrochemistry, chemical computations, and chemistry as it relates to environmental quality. Students will apply a variety of laboratory techniques, learn data gathering and scientific analysis methodologies, and convey scientific facts using proper terminology.
Biology
Biology is one of the hardest high school courses students pursue because of the vast curriculum, highly sophisticated connections between many biological systems, and new vocabulary and concepts. Biology is tough for many students because it demands both a wide viewpoint and an in-depth understanding.
SBI4U Grade 12 Biology provides students with an in-depth study of the processes taking place in biological systems all around them, even inside their own bodies! Students will learn theory and conduct experiments on a variety of exciting topics of biology during the course.
This course allows students to conduct in-depth research on the concepts and processes that occur in biological systems. Students will learn about the theory and conduct experiments in biochemistry, metabolic processes, molecular genetics, homeostasis, and population dynamics. The emphasis will be on gaining detailed information and refining skills required for continued study in many aspects of the life sciences and associated fields.
English
English classes are available through grades 9–12 at OES.
For students to succeed in their secondary school academic programmes and in their daily life, ENG1D (grade 9 math) is meant to help them strengthen their oral communication, reading, writing, and media literacy abilities. The goal of ENG1D online is to prepare students for the academic English course in Grade 10, which leads to courses for preparing for college or universities in Grades 11 and 12. Students will evaluate literary works from both the present and the past, interpret informational and visual texts, and produce a variety of oral, writing, and media texts. The application of tactics that support effective communication will receive significant attention.
In ENG4U, the course emphasizes the development of the literacy, communication, and creative and critical thinking abilities required for success in academics and daily life. In order to generate oral, written, and media texts for both practical and academic objectives, students will examine various informative and graphic texts and literary writings from different nations and cultures. In ENG4U, establishing stronger writing control and employing language with clarity and precision will be key areas of emphasis. The goal of the course is to get pupils ready for college or the workforce.
Science
SNC4M allows students, even those pursuing postsecondary programmes outside of the sciences, to get a better understanding of science as well as current social and environmental challenges in health-related sectors. SNC4M students will study medical technologies, infections and diseases, nutritional science, public health challenges, and biotechnology. The course concentrates on the theoretical components of the topics being studied and assists students in honing their scientific investigative skills.
Don’t worry if you’ve never taken an online science course from Ontario before. At OES, we have a large number of committed staff members, knowledgeable teachers, and available 24/7 tutors to make sure that your transition to the virtual classroom goes smoothly.
However, before you begin, it can be helpful to have some basic knowledge of online science courses. They operate largely in the same way as any other high school course in Ontario: you progress through multiple units, pass tests, complete assignments, and demonstrate your understanding in a variety of ways along the way. Online science courses, however, differ in a few significant ways.
Math
The hardest math course in high school can vary from person to person, but overall, math can be considered challenging yet one of the most important courses one can take in high school.
You can find courses at OES that will challenge you and deepen your learning, regardless of what grade you’re in or what level you’ve already finished.
The math classes OES offers are listed below:
- MTH1W Grade 9 Mathematics
- MPM2D Grade 10 Principles of Mathematics– Academic
- MBF3C Grade 11 Foundations for College Math
- MCR3U Grade 11 Functions – University
- MCF3M Grade 11 Functions & Applications – University/College
- MAP4C Grade 12 Mathematics for College
- MCT4C Grade 12 Math for College Tech.
- MHF4U Grade 12 Advanced Functions – University
- MDM4U Grade 12 Data Management – University
- MCV4U Calculus and Vectors– University
You can discover thorough course outlines for each of the aforementioned classes on our website, replete with a credit value, lengths, course descriptions, unit breakdowns, unit descriptions, learning and teaching tactics, and evaluation methods. Everything is there for you to look over and think about.
Additionally, we welcome conversations with parents and students regarding our courses. We are delighted to explain the processes, procedures, and principles we adhere to at OES since we recognize that, for some people, online learning may be a novel idea.
To sum up, math can be complex, universal, specific, always useful, and usually difficult. People of all ages can benefit from learning arithmetic, but you should approach it correctly.
Students can progress through the more challenging modules at their own pace when taking math programmes online, and math-inclined students can achieve their objectives more quickly.
Canadian & Intl. Law
CLN4U online examines a range of contemporary legal topics, as well as the way Canadian and international law tackles them. While utilizing the concepts of legal thinking and the legal inquiry method, students in CLN4U online will study these topics both in Canadian and international contexts. Students will obtain a deeper understanding of the fundamentals of Canadian and international law as they investigate rights and freedoms in relation to topics like faith, security, immigration, crimes committed against humanity, and environmental conservation. Additionally, they will enhance their capacity for legal thinking and learn how to settle legal conflicts under international law.
This course examines numerous contemporary legal issues as well as how they are handled by Canadian and international law.
Why Take the Hardest High School Courses Online
With their added challenges, taking the hardest high school courses through an online environment can be beneficial for multiple reasons.
One Can Work at Their Own Pace
Especially when taking the hardest courses in high school, having the proper time to do them is critically useful.
Every person’s learning styles and interests are different, just as everyone has their own pace for both work and study.
Some people are like magnets for new information, while others require repetition to completely assimilate new information. Your learning style is fine, but if you study in the incorrect setting, you’ll squander both time and money.
When taking a class with slower learners, fast learners frequently feel held back. They desire to advance with fresh knowledge, but they are restrained from doing so until their peers have caught up.
Slower learners, on the other hand, cannot speed through a class until they feel they have thoroughly understood the subject. They may feel excessive pressure to keep up with other pupils because of their accelerated learning style. Their emotional health, as well as academic progress, may be impacted by their embarrassment about their rate of learning.
Personalization is now a significant component of online learning. This is why eLearning systems and online classrooms should use cutting-edge technology to customize the experience for every kind of student and assist in taking the hardest high school courses. You may utilize a learning experience platform that will adapt the curriculum and your current learning material based on your needs, any previous learning material, and any skill gaps you may have to be able to study at your own speed.
Because it enables you to maintain control, personalization is a crucial component of educational platforms as well as asynchronous and synchronous online classes.
Both types of students benefit from taking lessons online. You control the pace in an online learning environment. You don’t have to feel rushed or restricted because you aren’t in competition with anyone else. Instead, you can fast-forward through or go over the information as often as you need to be comfortable with your understanding.
It is Efficient
Online learning allows teachers to provide course information to students in a more efficient manner. Online learning includes a variety of materials, such as videos, PDFs, and podcasts, which teachers may use in their lesson plans. Teachers may become more efficient instructors by expanding the lesson plan beyond standard textbooks to include internet resources.
It is Accessible
The ability for students to take classes from any place of their choosing is another benefit of online education. Additionally, it frees schools from the limitations imposed by physical limits and enables them to connect with a wider network of pupils. Online lectures can also be recorded, saved, and distributed for later use. This enables students to access the instructional materials whenever it is convenient for them.
Because it enables you to maintain control, personalization is a crucial component of educational platforms as well as asynchronous and synchronous online classes.
Both types of students benefit from taking lessons online. You control the pace in an online learning environment. You don’t have to feel rushed or restricted because you aren’t in competition with anyone else. Instead, you can fast-forward through or go over the information as often as you need to be comfortable with your understanding.
Enroll at OES
A student can enrol in an online course at Ontario eSecondary (OES), an online high school in Ontario that the Ministry of Education has inspected at any time. Individuals registered for our online high school courses in Ontario may work at their own pace and on their schedule during the twelve months we provide for each course. In other words, students can complete the course in four weeks, twelve months, or whenever they like! All of our online courses address the Ontario curriculum standards through interactive content, PowerPoint presentations, videos, PDFs, and experienced instructors.