October 17, 2026
Ontario Grade 11-12 Math Course Order: MCR3U, MHF4U, MCV4U
Short answer: MCR3U in Grade 11, then MHF4U, then MCV4U. And yes, you can take MHF4U and MCV4U at the same time. The Ontario curriculum says Advanced Functions "must be taken prior to or concurrently with" Calculus and Vectors, so Grade 12 in the same semester is allowed. Whether it is a good idea depends on how solid your MCR3U is.
The official order
The prerequisites come from the ministry's curriculum document, The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 11 and 12: Mathematics (revised 2007). Here is the university math path:
| Course | Grade | Prerequisite |
|---|---|---|
| MCR3U Functions | Grade 11 | Grade 10 Principles of Mathematics, Academic (MPM2D) |
| MHF4U Advanced Functions | Grade 12 | MCR3U, or Mathematics for College Technology (MCT4C) |
| MCV4U Calculus and Vectors | Grade 12 | MHF4U, taken before or at the same time |
The fourth university course, Data Management (MDM4U), only needs MCR3U or MCF3M. It sits beside this path, not on it. If you are still choosing your Grade 11 course, read MCR3U vs MCF3M first.
Can you take MHF4U and MCV4U at the same time?
Yes. It is the one place in the path where the curriculum allows two courses side by side. The catch is that MCV4U leans on MHF4U the whole way through:
- Limits and derivatives need fast factoring and rational expressions, which is polynomial equations and rational functions.
- Derivatives of Trig, Exp and Log assume you already know radians, trig identities and the log laws from MHF4U.
- Curve Sketching builds on reading polynomial and rational graphs.
If you take them together, the MCV4U unit that needs an MHF4U idea can arrive before you have learned it. That is fixable: learn the MHF4U topic a few weeks early. If you can choose, MHF4U first, even by one semester, is the easier road.
Which programs need which course?
We counted the required Grade 12 courses for 273 programs at 14 universities in the dataset behind Am I Cooked, copied from each university's own pages (last updated October 2026). 222 of them list MHF4U or MCV4U as required, and the direct way to both is MCR3U. (The other route to MHF4U, through the college course MCT4C, costs an extra course.)
| Program area | Programs | Require MHF4U or MCV4U |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering | 116 | 115 |
| Computer science | 19 | 19 |
| Science and math | 31 | 31 |
| Business | 34 | 32 |
| Life sciences | 6 | 5 |
| Health sciences | 12 | 7 |
| Kinesiology | 9 | 4 |
| Architecture and design | 7 | 4 |
| Arts and social sciences | 29 | 4 |
| Nursing | 10 | 1 |
Engineering is the clearest case: all but one Ontario engineering program in the dataset requires MCV4U, so you need all three courses. Is MCV4U required for engineering? goes school by school. Business, computer science and science want MHF4U at least, and often MCV4U too. Most nursing and arts programs in the dataset list neither course.
How to plan it
- Pick your Grade 11 math with Grade 12 in mind. MCR3U keeps every university math course open.
- Look up the programs you might apply to before you build your Grade 12 timetable, not after.
- If you do MHF4U and MCV4U together, keep both binders open: an MCV4U mistake is often an MHF4U gap.
- Each course has an exam review when finals come: MCR3U, MHF4U and MCV4U.
Course Order FAQ
Can I take MCV4U before MHF4U?+
No. The Ontario curriculum says Advanced Functions must be taken before or at the same time as Calculus and Vectors, so MCV4U can never come first.
Can I take MHF4U and MCV4U in the same semester?+
Yes, the curriculum allows it. Expect MCV4U to use MHF4U ideas, like trig identities and log laws, before your MHF4U class reaches them, and learn those topics a little early.
Do I need MDM4U too?+
Only if a program you want asks for it. MDM4U is not a prerequisite for MHF4U or MCV4U, so check each program's own requirements.
What if I took MCF3M in Grade 11?+
MCF3M does not lead to MHF4U directly. The curriculum's other route is MCT4C, a Grade 12 college course, and then MHF4U, which costs an extra credit.
Practise all three courses free
Martian Lab has lessons and practice tests for MCR3U, MHF4U and MCV4U, and the first test in every unit is free. No credit card required.
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