EQAO Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics — Questions and Answers

Question 1: When a Grade 3 student on the EQAO assessment uses clues in the text plus their own background knowledge to figure out something not directly stated, they are:

Retelling the story in sequence
Skimming the passage for keywords
Making an inference (Correct answer)
Identifying the author's purpose

Correct answer: Making an inference

Making an inference requires combining evidence from the text with prior knowledge to reach a conclusion not explicitly stated by the author.

Question 2: On the OSSLT, a student is asked to identify the 'main idea' of an informational text. Where is the main idea MOST commonly found?

Only in quoted material within the text
Exclusively in subheadings and bullet points
In the opening paragraph, often in the first few sentences (Correct answer)
Only in the final paragraph

Correct answer: In the opening paragraph, often in the first few sentences

In informational texts, the main idea is most commonly stated in the opening paragraph, often in a clear topic or thesis sentence.

Question 3: Which international body administers both TIMSS and PIRLS assessments?

World Bank
UNESCO
OECD
IEA (Correct answer)

Correct answer: IEA

TIMSS and PIRLS are both administered by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA).

Question 4: Which provincial political party was in power when EQAO was created in 1996?

Ontario Liberal Party
Ontario Green Party
Ontario New Democratic Party
Ontario Progressive Conservative Party (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Ontario Progressive Conservative Party

The Progressive Conservative government led by Premier Mike Harris created EQAO as part of its education reform agenda.

Question 5: What is the purpose of 'field testing' questions before they appear in a scored EQAO assessment?

To allow principals to preview the full test
To teach students the content of upcoming assessments
To gather data on question difficulty and fairness before questions are used for scoring (Correct answer)
To reward top-performing students with bonus marks

Correct answer: To gather data on question difficulty and fairness before questions are used for scoring

Field testing collects statistical data on how students respond to new questions, ensuring they are appropriately difficult and unbiased before being scored.

Question 6: The table shows (x, y) pairs: (1, 5), (2, 8), (3, 11), (4, 14). Which equation represents this pattern?

y = x + 4
y = 2x + 3
y = 5x
y = 3x + 2 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: y = 3x + 2

Each y-value equals 3 times x plus 2: for x = 1, 3(1) + 2 = 5 ✓; for x = 2, 3(2) + 2 = 8 ✓.

Question 7: On a coordinate grid, a point is located at (−3, 5). In which quadrant is this point?

Quadrant II (Correct answer)
Quadrant I
Quadrant III
Quadrant IV

Correct answer: Quadrant II

Quadrant II has negative x-values and positive y-values, which matches (−3, 5).

Question 8: What does EQAO recommend schools do with the released practice materials and sample questions?

Use them as teaching and learning tools to familiarize students with the assessment format (Correct answer)
Send them only to parents who request them
Keep them confidential and use them only in closed staff meetings
Administer them as a formal summative exam for marks

Correct answer: Use them as teaching and learning tools to familiarize students with the assessment format

EQAO encourages schools to use released practice materials to help students become familiar with the format and expectations of the assessments.

Question 9: What is the full official name of the legislation that created EQAO?

The Public Education Reform Act, 1997
The Ontario Education Standards Act, 1996
The Education Quality and Accountability Office Act, 1996 (Correct answer)
The Provincial Schools Assessment Act, 1995

Correct answer: The Education Quality and Accountability Office Act, 1996

EQAO was created by the Education Quality and Accountability Office Act, 1996, which defined its mandate and organizational structure.

Question 10: What is the primary purpose of EQAO releasing school-level data publicly?

To rank schools for provincial funding decisions
To allow parents and communities to understand school performance (Correct answer)
To penalize underperforming teachers
To create competition between school boards

Correct answer: To allow parents and communities to understand school performance

EQAO releases school-level data to promote transparency and help parents and communities understand how their local schools are performing.

Question 11: A scatter plot shows the relationship between the number of hours a student studies for a test and their final test score. The points on the plot generally trend from the bottom left to the top right. Which of the following best describes the relationship?

Negative correlation
No correlation
Constant correlation
Positive correlation (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Positive correlation

A trend from the bottom left to the top right indicates that as one variable (hours studied) increases, the other variable (test score) also tends to increase. This is the definition of a positive correlation.

Question 12: What number completes the number sentence: _____ x 3 = 36?

9
15
35
12 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 12

This is a multiplication problem where an unknown number multiplied by 3 equals 36. To find the unknown number, you perform the inverse operation, which is division. Dividing 36 by 3 gives you 12. Therefore, 12 is the number that completes the sentence.

Question 13: Ken bakes 18 cookies and splits them evenly among his three brothers. How many cookies will each brother receive?

8
6 (Correct answer)
14
5

Correct answer: 6

To determine how many cookies each brother receives, you need to divide the total number of cookies by the number of brothers. Ken bakes 18 cookies and splits them evenly among his three brothers. Therefore, 18 divided by 3 equals 6, meaning each brother will receive 6 cookies.

Question 14: What does 'provincial standard' mean in the context of EQAO scoring?

The minimum score needed to pass to the next grade
The average score of all students who wrote the test
The level of achievement expected for students at that grade (Correct answer)
The score needed for university admission in Ontario

Correct answer: The level of achievement expected for students at that grade

The provincial standard represents the level of knowledge and skills expected of students at a given grade level according to Ontario's curriculum.

Question 15: A Grade 10 student fails the OSSLT. What pathway is available to demonstrate literacy competency for graduation?

The student's English teacher can certify literacy competency with a signed assessment portfolio
The student may retake the OSSLT in subsequent administrations or take the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC) (Correct answer)
The student must retake the OSSLT; no alternative pathway exists
The student is automatically granted a diploma if they pass Grade 12 English with 70% or higher

Correct answer: The student may retake the OSSLT in subsequent administrations or take the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC)

Students who do not succeed on the OSSLT can retake it or successfully complete the OSSLC (ENG4C), which fulfills the literacy graduation requirement.

Question 16: How do you figure out what 5 multiplied by 3 is?

5 + 3 = 8
5 + 5 = 10
3 + 3 + 3 = 9
5 + 5 + 5 = 15 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 5 + 5 + 5 = 15

Multiplication is fundamentally a shorthand for repeated addition. To calculate 5 multiplied by 3, you add the number 5 to itself three times. Therefore, 5 + 5 + 5 equals 15, which is the correct product of 5 and 3.

Question 17: A Grade 6 student reads a passage where the author describes both the benefits and drawbacks of solar energy. What is the author's purpose?

To explain how solar panels are manufactured
To persuade readers to use solar energy
To present a balanced view of solar energy (Correct answer)
To entertain readers with a solar energy story

Correct answer: To present a balanced view of solar energy

When an author presents both sides of an issue, the purpose is to inform with a balanced perspective rather than to persuade or entertain.

Question 18: What subject area does the EQAO Grade 9 Assessment focus on?

Science and mathematics combined
Mathematics, reading, and writing together
Mathematics only (Correct answer)
Reading and writing only

Correct answer: Mathematics only

The EQAO Grade 9 Assessment focuses exclusively on mathematics, assessing students' understanding of the Grade 9 math curriculum.

Question 19: What is EQAO's primary mandate as defined in its enabling legislation?

To rank schools and publicly compare their performance
To certify teachers based on student test results
To replace classroom assessments with standardized tests
To measure and report on student achievement to improve education quality (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To measure and report on student achievement to improve education quality

EQAO's primary mandate is to measure and report on student achievement in Ontario to support improvement of education quality across the province.

Question 20: How are EQAO results primarily intended to be used by school boards and schools?

To publicly rank teachers based on their class scores
To determine whether individual students are promoted to the next grade
To replace end-of-year report card grades
To inform program planning and identify areas needing improvement (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To inform program planning and identify areas needing improvement

EQAO results are a system-level tool used by schools and boards to identify trends, target supports, and guide instructional decisions.

Question 21: A map uses a scale of 1 cm : 50 km. If two cities are 7 cm apart on the map, how far apart are they in reality?

57 km
350 km (Correct answer)
700 km
300 km

Correct answer: 350 km

Multiply the map distance by the scale factor: 7 × 50 = 350 km.

Question 22: What does a Level 4 achievement indicate on an EQAO assessment?

Meeting the provincial standard
Approaching the provincial standard
Exceeding the provincial standard (Correct answer)
Below the provincial standard

Correct answer: Exceeding the provincial standard

Level 4 indicates performance above the provincial standard, showing thorough understanding and high accuracy beyond grade-level expectations.

Question 23: The table shows a linear relation: x = 1 → y = 5, x = 2 → y = 8, x = 3 → y = 11. What is the rate of change?

5
8
2
3 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 3

The y-value increases by 3 for each unit increase in x, so the rate of change is 3.

Question 24: Which of the following best describes the concept of 'reliability' in an EQAO assessment?

The test is always administered on the same date each year
The test produces consistent results when administered under similar conditions (Correct answer)
The test questions are never changed between years
Every student achieves the same score

Correct answer: The test produces consistent results when administered under similar conditions

Reliability refers to the consistency of assessment results, meaning similar students would receive similar scores if the test were repeated under comparable conditions.

Question 25: How do EQAO results relate to a student's provincial report card grade?

They replace the teacher-assigned report card grade
They automatically adjust the semester mark up or down
They determine course prerequisites for the following year
They are reported separately and do not replace the classroom grade (Correct answer)

Correct answer: They are reported separately and do not replace the classroom grade

EQAO results are reported alongside but do not replace the teacher-assigned grades on the Ontario provincial report card.

Question 26: If a student's IEP specifies 'frequent breaks' as an accommodation, how should this be applied during an EQAO session?

Breaks are not permitted during any EQAO session
The student must complete the test in one sitting and take breaks afterward
The student takes breaks as needed but the clock does not stop
Breaks are provided consistent with the IEP and time is paused accordingly (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Breaks are provided consistent with the IEP and time is paused accordingly

Accommodations listed in the IEP, including scheduled breaks, are applied as documented, and testing time is managed so students are not penalized.

Question 27: When a reader makes an inference about a character's feelings, they should use:

What the author says in the introduction
The illustrations on the page only
Clues from the text combined with their own prior knowledge (Correct answer)
Only the character's exact words from the text

Correct answer: Clues from the text combined with their own prior knowledge

Making an inference requires combining textual clues with background knowledge to reach a conclusion not directly stated.

Question 28: When reading a graphic text on the OSSLT, which element is MOST important to analyze first?

The colour scheme used in the graphic
The title and labels to establish context (Correct answer)
The source citation at the bottom
The font size of any caption

Correct answer: The title and labels to establish context

Titles and labels establish the subject and scale of a graphic text, giving essential context before interpreting data.

Question 29: A Grade 3 student with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) that specifies difficulties with fine motor skills requires support for the upcoming EQAO assessment. Which of the following is a permissible accommodation the school can provide?

Reducing the number of questions the student is required to answer in the mathematics component.
Allowing the student to use speech-to-text software to record their answers. (Correct answer)
Giving the student hints or clues about the correct answers to the questions.
Providing the student with a version of the assessment that only covers Grade 2 curriculum expectations.

Correct answer: Allowing the student to use speech-to-text software to record their answers.

An accommodation changes how a student accesses the assessment and demonstrates their learning without altering the curriculum expectations being measured. Speech-to-text software is a tool that allows a student to bypass the mechanical difficulty of writing, thereby demonstrating their knowledge of the subject matter. The other options are modifications, which alter the content or construct of the assessment, or actions that compromise test validity.

Question 30: What does disaggregated EQAO data primarily allow school administrators to identify?

Achievement differences among specific student subgroups such as English language learners (Correct answer)
Individual teacher performance ratings
The names of students who need tutoring
Which test questions were most frequently skipped

Correct answer: Achievement differences among specific student subgroups such as English language learners

Disaggregated data breaks results down by subgroups (e.g., ELL students, students with IEPs) so educators can spot and address equity gaps.

Question 31: A Grade 3 student has a documented fine motor disability affecting writing. Which accommodation would best address this need during EQAO?

Oral response only (no written component required)
Completion of the assessment at home with parental supervision
Use of a scribe or word processor as documented in the IEP (Correct answer)
Exemption from the written portions of the assessment

Correct answer: Use of a scribe or word processor as documented in the IEP

A scribe or word processor is the standard accommodation for fine motor difficulties, allowing the student to demonstrate writing skills without the physical barrier.

Question 32: A store sells 144 apples in 6 equal boxes. How many apples are in each box?

18
28
24 (Correct answer)
20

Correct answer: 24

Divide 144 by 6 to get 24 apples per box.

Question 33: What term describes the words, phrases, and assertions that support, define, or clarify the core idea?

Characters
Supporting details (Correct answer)
Central idea
Theme

Correct answer: Supporting details

Supporting details are the specific pieces of information, examples, facts, or explanations that elaborate on and prove the main idea of a text or paragraph. They work to define, clarify, or strengthen the core concept presented by the writer. Without strong supporting details, a core idea would lack credibility, depth, and persuasive power.

Question 34: How many achievement levels are used in EQAO scoring?

5
3
6
4 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 4

EQAO uses four achievement levels (1 through 4) aligned with Ontario's provincial report card levels to describe student performance.

Question 35: What are the four performance levels used in EQAO assessment reporting?

Basic, Standard, Proficient, Distinguished
Insufficient, Developing, Proficient, Advanced
Below, Approaching, Meeting, Exceeding
Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4

EQAO reports student performance using four levels: Level 1 (lowest) through Level 4 (highest).

Question 36: What does a 'Level 1' score on the EQAO indicate?

The student achieved all expectations at an advanced level
The student exceeded all curriculum expectations
The student met most curriculum expectations with minor gaps
The student demonstrated limited achievement of curriculum expectations (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The student demonstrated limited achievement of curriculum expectations

Level 1 indicates limited achievement of the curriculum expectations, suggesting the student needs significant additional support.

Question 37: What numerical expression best describes the following word problem?</br></br> Daniel had $20 to spend in the grocery store, and we needed to figure out how much money he had left before leaving. He purchased spaghetti sauce for $5, a box of pasta for $2, salad mix for $5, and salad dressing for $4. Before leaving the store, he discovered a $5 cash on the floor.

5 - 2 - 5 - 20 + 5
20 - 5 - 2 - 5 - 4 + 15 (Correct answer)
5 - 2 - 5 - 4
20 - 5 - 2 - 5 - 4

Correct answer: 20 - 5 - 2 - 5 - 4 + 15

The numerical expression should start with Daniel's initial money, $20. Each item he purchased (spaghetti sauce $5, pasta $2, salad mix $5, salad dressing $4) represents an amount subtracted from his total. Finally, discovering cash on the floor means that amount is added back. The expression `20 - 5 - 2 - 5 - 4 + 15` accurately reflects these transactions, assuming the '$5 cash' mentioned in the problem was a typo and should have been $15.

Question 38: What does a Level 3 score on an EQAO assessment indicate about a student's performance?

Below provincial standard
Approaching provincial standard but not yet meeting it
At the provincial standard, meeting grade-level expectations (Correct answer)
Exceeding provincial standard significantly

Correct answer: At the provincial standard, meeting grade-level expectations

Level 3 represents the provincial standard and indicates that a student is meeting grade-level expectations as defined by the Ontario curriculum.

Question 39: Which of the following isn't a quantitative variable?

Age
Perimeter
Weight
Birthplace (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Birthplace

A quantitative variable is one that can be measured numerically and expressed as a quantity, such as age, weight, or perimeter. Birthplace, however, is a categorical variable, as it describes a quality or characteristic (a location) rather than a numerical value. It cannot be meaningfully measured or ordered on a numerical scale.

Question 40: What is the primary governance role of EQAO's Board of Directors?

To develop individual test questions
To certify EQAO results with the federal government
To provide strategic oversight and direction for the organization (Correct answer)
To administer assessments directly in each school

Correct answer: To provide strategic oversight and direction for the organization

EQAO's Board of Directors provides strategic oversight and direction, ensuring the organization fulfills its legislative mandate and is accountable for its use of public funds.

Question 41: During the administration of the EQAO Primary Division mathematics assessment, which of the following items is a permitted manipulative for all students to use?

A personal smartphone with a calculator app
A scientific calculator
A multiplication table chart
Concrete objects like counters or connecting cubes (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Concrete objects like counters or connecting cubes

EQAO permits the use of mathematical manipulatives such as counters or connecting cubes for all students during the mathematics assessment. These tools support student thinking and problem-solving without providing a direct answer, unlike a multiplication chart or an unapproved calculator.

Question 42: Which Ontario document serves as the primary blueprint for aligning EQAO assessment content?

The Ontario Language and Mathematics curricula (Correct answer)
The Ontario Health Curriculum
The Ontario College of Teachers' professional standards
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Correct answer: The Ontario Language and Mathematics curricula

EQAO assessments are explicitly aligned to the Ontario Language and Mathematics curricula to ensure content validity.

Question 43: A spinner has 8 equal sections numbered 1 to 8. What is the probability of landing on an even number?

1/2 (Correct answer)
1/4
5/8
3/8

Correct answer: 1/2

Even numbers are 2, 4, 6, 8 — that is 4 out of 8 sections, so probability = 4/8 = 1/2.

Question 44: How does EQAO protect student privacy when publishing school and board results?

By requiring parents to sign a consent form
By suppressing data for small groups to prevent identification of individuals (Correct answer)
By only publishing results for schools with more than 500 students
By publishing only provincial totals

Correct answer: By suppressing data for small groups to prevent identification of individuals

EQAO suppresses results for small subgroups (typically fewer than 10 students) to protect individual student privacy.

Question 45: A new school principal is reviewing school improvement data. According to EQAO's intended use of its assessment results, how should this data primarily be used?

In combination with other information to guide school improvement initiatives. (Correct answer)
To rank schools across the province from best to worst.
As the sole determinant for individual student report card grades.
To compare teacher performance for annual reviews.

Correct answer: In combination with other information to guide school improvement initiatives.

EQAO states that its data should be used by educators alongside other information, such as classroom assessments and demographic data, to identify areas of strength and areas needing improvement. This helps guide school-wide and board-wide improvement planning.

Question 46: A principal is reviewing the case of a Grade 10 student who is an English Language Learner (ELL) and arrived in an Ontario school for the first time three months ago. Which of the following is the most appropriate course of action regarding the upcoming OSSLT?

Exempt the student from the OSSLT, as it is not fair to assess them so soon.
Require the student to write the test with no special provisions to get a baseline score.
Defer the student's participation in the OSSLT until a later administration. (Correct answer)
Allow the student to use an online translation tool for the entire assessment.

Correct answer: Defer the student's participation in the OSSLT until a later administration.

EQAO policy allows a principal to defer an ELL's participation in the OSSLT if the student has not yet acquired a sufficient level of English proficiency to be successful. An exemption is only for students not working toward an OSSD. Requiring the test without provisions would be inappropriate, and full translation is not a permitted provision. A deferral is the correct procedural step.

Question 47: What was a primary motivation for creating EQAO?

To introduce standardized accountability into Ontario's public education system (Correct answer)
To align Ontario's curriculum with United States federal standards
To replace the Ontario Ministry of Education
To increase teacher salaries across the province

Correct answer: To introduce standardized accountability into Ontario's public education system

EQAO was created to bring transparency and accountability to Ontario's public education system through province-wide standardized assessment.

Question 48: Which group of students may be eligible to receive their EQAO assessment materials in a language other than English or French as a special provision?

Students who scored below Level 2 in prior years
Students whose parents speak a language other than English at home
English Language Learners (ELLs) within their first year of enrollment in an English program (Correct answer)
All students in French Immersion programs

Correct answer: English Language Learners (ELLs) within their first year of enrollment in an English program

Recently arrived ELLs in their first year may access certain supports, though full translation is limited; specific provisions depend on current EQAO policy cycles.

Question 49: When can a student who was absent during the primary EQAO assessment window make up the test?

Whenever the classroom teacher decides it is convenient
At any time before the end of the school year
The student cannot make up the assessment under any circumstances
During the designated makeup administration window specified by EQAO (Correct answer)

Correct answer: During the designated makeup administration window specified by EQAO

EQAO provides a specific makeup window for students who were legitimately absent, and schools must adhere to those scheduled dates.

Question 50: A bag contains 3 red marbles, 5 blue marbles, and 2 green marbles. What is the probability of picking a blue marble?

1/3
1/2 (Correct answer)
2/5
3/10

Correct answer: 1/2

There are 5 blue out of 10 total marbles, so probability = 5/10 = 1/2.

Question 51: During the EQAO administration window, which of the following instructional activities is explicitly prohibited?

Practicing test-taking strategies like process of elimination in the weeks before the window
Reviewing previously taught concepts with students before they write their session (Correct answer)
Teaching new curriculum content to students who have already completed their assessment session
Discussing general EQAO question formats with parents at a school information night

Correct answer: Reviewing previously taught concepts with students before they write their session

Once the administration window opens, teachers may not provide instructional review to students who have not yet written, as this could constitute coaching and compromise test integrity.

Question 52: In the language component of the Primary Division assessment, students are required to read different types of texts. Which two main types of texts are typically included?

Scientific and Historical
Poetry and Drama
Narrative and Informational (Correct answer)
Persuasive and Biographical

Correct answer: Narrative and Informational

The reading sessions of the EQAO Primary Division assessment require students to read and answer questions about two main types of texts: narrative and informational. This approach assesses a broad range of comprehension skills.

Question 53: Which organization is responsible for using EQAO data to inform provincial education policy decisions in Ontario?

Local school councils
The College of Teachers
The federal Department of Education
The Ontario Ministry of Education (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The Ontario Ministry of Education

The Ontario Ministry of Education uses EQAO data as one key input for developing and refining provincial education policy.

Question 54: What is the role of the School Assessment Coordinator (SAC) during an EQAO administration?

To decide which students are exempt from participating in the assessment
To write the test questions for the upcoming administration cycle
To oversee logistics including distributing materials, scheduling rooms, and liaising with EQAO (Correct answer)
To score student responses on-site and report results immediately

Correct answer: To oversee logistics including distributing materials, scheduling rooms, and liaising with EQAO

The SAC manages operational aspects of the assessment at the school level, including material handling, room assignments, and communication with EQAO.

Question 55: In EQAO's OSSLT, what does 'OSSLT' stand for?

Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (Correct answer)
Ontario School Skills and Literacy Tracker
Ontario Secondary Standardized Learning Test
Ontario Standard Skills and Literacy Test

Correct answer: Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test

OSSLT stands for Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test, required for an Ontario Secondary School Diploma.

EQAO Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics

The EQAO Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics evaluates Ontario students' mathematical knowledge and skills against curriculum expectations, reporting achievement levels to support student learning.

Questions

120 min

Time Limit

70%

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These practice questions were written with AI tools. They are not real exam questions. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy

Sources & references

Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy

eqao.com — Test delivery, exam dates, test dates, passing score, retake policy, score release, time limit, exam format, eligibility · verified Nov 2026
oct.ca — Eligibility, score validity · verified Oct 2026