Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT)

Welcome. This video will provide information on what students can expect when participating in the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT).

The results of all EQAO assessments provide valuable information about Ontario’s education system at the school, school board and provincial levels.

The outcomes also help parents and guardians and educators understand how students are doing in literacy and math.

The information helps policy-makers, researchers and others to support continuous improvement in the school system.

The OSSLT assesses literacy only and will be administered at schools in the fall, and again in the spring. The test is scheduled to take place during the regular school day. Schools have the flexibility to determine when test sessions will be scheduled within the administration periods set by EQAO. 

The test is grounded in the Ontario Curriculum expectations for all subjects that address reading and writing skills up to the end of Grade 9. Students can take the test starting in Grade 10.

Successfully completing the OSSLT, or completing the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (known as the OSSLC), is a graduation requirement as established by the government.

For most students, this means successfully completing the OSSLT. 

The test is offered online. Students are required to use a digital device to complete the test in person at their school. Accommodations are available based on student need.

The OSSLT includes two sessions—Session A and Session B. Session A is designed to be completed in approximately 65 minutes, and Session B in approximately 75 minutes. 

At the end of the two test sessions, students complete a voluntary questionnaire that asks them about their attitudes and perceptions with respect to literacy. 

The test is made up of various reading and writing selected-response and open-response questions. There are four different types of reading selections: real-life narrative, information paragraph, news report and dialogue.

There are a variety of question types, such as single-selection, multiple-selection, drag and drop, drop-down menu and checklist questions. Students are also presented with opportunities to write longer answers to open-response questions. 

Each student’s outcome is determined by their answers to the selected-response questions and by the scores achieved on the open-response questions. 

Prior to writing the OSSLT, students can become familiar with the test by taking the practice test on the EQAO website. Teachers can also organize a practice session in class. This will help familiarize them with the online assessment platform. 

Students can try out the built-in tools that will be available during the online test. For example, students can try the highlighter and the eraser. There is also a line reader, a tool for underlining text and a tool for keeping rough notes.

All students can use the test’s built-in tools, such as the zoom-in and zoom-out features, a text-to-speech reader and a high-contrast view. 

Before writing the test, students also have access to a minds-on activity, reminders of test-taking strategies, and relaxation and visualization activities to help them stay calm and focused.

Anyone who would like to become familiar with the format of the OSSLT, and the types of questions that will be asked, can refer to the practice test on EQAO’s website.

The OSSLT does not require additional preparation, as it is aligned with The Ontario Curriculum, which is used for classroom instruction.  

You can find, on our website, the OSSLT framework document, which explains what is assessed on the OSSLT and how the test questions are scored. 

Individual Student Reports are made available to schools following the scoring. Students will receive a report from their school to bring home. 

The Individual Student Report provides the outcome for each student who completed the test. This information enables students, parents and guardians and teachers to plan for improvement. Please visit www.eqao.com to learn more about the Education Quality and Accountability Office.