November 16th, 2022
The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) measures whether students are meeting the minimum standard for literacy across all subjects up to the end of Grade 9. This year, the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) will again be offering a computer-based online OSSLT to eligible students across the province. Successful completion of this literacy test is one of the requirements to earn an Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
When & where will my student write the OSSLT?
On Tuesday, November 29th, 2022, a small group of Grade 11 and 12 students who have yet to complete the literacy requirement will be writing the OSSLT in the W-O library space staring at 8:30 am. Please note: Grade 10 students will be writing during semester 2.
What is the OSSLT?
The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test is a single event that allows a student to pass their literacy requirement.
The test consists of two parts;
Part 1 focuses on reading and has three reading passages. Students complete a series of multiple-choice questions and open-response questions about the content they have read.
Part 2 focuses on reading comprehension and writing skills. Students read 2 passages and complete a series of multiple-choice questions. Students will also write a series of paragraphs supporting their opinion on a topic that the test has them read about.
How will the test be administered?
The test is online this year. Students will use their board-provided Chromebooks to write the OSSLT. The test has many features to support students including:
- A help menu
- A text-speech function that reads the text on the screen out loud
- Zoom in and zoom out
- A line reader that helps students focus on one line of text at a time
- A high-contrast view
- Annotation tools
- A tool for rough notes
All students will also have access to virtual breathing exercises, reminders of test-taking strategies and other minds-on activities to help them as they take the modernized OSSLT.
How can I help my student prepare for the OSSLT?
Before the Test
- Encourage the student to participate in any preparation offered by the school
- Encourage the student to review the format and tools available by previewing the practice test
- Encourage the student to try the practice test which can be found at: https://d1c1qqn86e6v14.cloudfront.net/#/en/student/osslt-assessment
The Day of the Test
- Remind the student to be on time
- Remind the student to eat before the test
- Encourage your student to do their best, knowing other ways of earning the requirement will be provided if the test doesn’t go well
