EQAO - Education Quality and Accountability Office Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test Questions and Answers

Question 1

What is the primary purpose of the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT)?

Accepted Answer

To certify that students have the literacy skills required by The Ontario Curriculum for all subjects up to the end of Grade 9.

Answer

The OSSLT is a graduation requirement designed to ensure that students have acquired the essential reading and writing skills that are expected across all subject areas in the Grade 9 curriculum.

Question 2

A Grade 10 student who is an English Language Learner (ELL) has been in Canada for less than a year. The student's teachers believe they have not yet acquired the English proficiency needed to be successful on the OSSLT. What is the most appropriate course of action for the school principal?

Accepted Answer

Defer the student's participation in the test until a later administration.

Answer

School principals have the authority to defer a student's participation in the OSSLT to a later date. This is a common and appropriate action for English Language Learners who have not yet had sufficient time to acquire the level of English proficiency required for the test.

Question 3

The digital OSSLT is administered in two parts. Which of the following best describes the content a student will encounter across these two sessions?

Accepted Answer

Both sessions feature a variety of reading selections (e.g., informational, narrative, graphic) with associated questions, as well as distinct writing tasks.

Answer

The current digital OSSLT is structured into two sessions (Session A and Session B). Both sessions contain a mix of reading activities, based on various text types, and writing activities, such as constructing a well-developed opinion piece and answering other questions.

Question 4

In the writing component of the OSSLT, students are often required to write a multi-paragraph opinion piece. What is a key criterion for success on this task?

Accepted Answer

Providing a clear main idea and supporting it with sufficient, specific details.

Answer

To achieve the provincial standard, a student's opinion piece must have a clear and consistent focus or main idea. This main idea must be supported by relevant and specific details, examples, or facts, organized logically into paragraphs.

Question 5

If a student is unsuccessful in their first attempt at the OSSLT, what is the direct alternative pathway to fulfill the literacy requirement for graduation?

Accepted Answer

Successfully completing the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OLC4O).

Answer

The Ministry of Education provides an alternative for students who do not pass the OSSLT. They can meet the literacy graduation requirement by taking and successfully completing the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OLC4O).

(EQAO) Education Quality and Accountability Office Practice Test

(EQAO) Education Quality and Accountability Office Practice Test

EQAO - Education Quality and Accountability Office Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test Questions and Answers