EQAO Accommodations and Special Provisions 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following students would most likely qualify for the 'oral reading of test questions' accommodation during EQAO?
- A student who prefers to hear instructions rather than read them
- A student with a reading disability documented in their IEP (Correct answer)
- A student who is new to the school but has no IEP
- A student who scored Level 1 in the previous year's assessment
Correct answer: A student with a reading disability documented in their IEP
Oral reading of questions is an accommodation tied to documented reading disabilities in the student's IEP, not simply preference or past performance.
Question 2: EQAO assessments are designed to reflect what principle regarding accommodations?
- Accommodations change what skills are being measured
- Accommodations provide access without altering the constructs being measured (Correct answer)
- Accommodations are only available for students with physical disabilities
- Accommodations guarantee students will achieve a higher score
Correct answer: Accommodations provide access without altering the constructs being measured
The core principle is that accommodations level the playing field by removing barriers while the skills being assessed remain constant.
Question 3: A student who is Deaf and uses American Sign Language (ASL) may receive which accommodation during EQAO?
- A written English translation of the assessment only
- ASL interpretation of assessment instructions and questions (Correct answer)
- An exemption from all EQAO assessments automatically
- Completion of a separate ASL-only version scored differently
Correct answer: ASL interpretation of assessment instructions and questions
Eligible students may have questions interpreted in ASL, enabling access to the assessment without altering the content being measured.
Question 4: What happens to a student's EQAO results if they use an accommodation that is NOT listed in their IEP on the day of the test?
- The results are automatically invalidated and cannot be reported (Correct answer)
- The results are flagged and a notation is added to the student's file
- The results are reported normally with no consequence
- The student must retake the assessment without the accommodation
Correct answer: The results are automatically invalidated and cannot be reported
Using unauthorized accommodations compromises assessment validity; EQAO may invalidate results if non-IEP supports are applied during testing.
Question 5: Under EQAO policy, teachers who act as scribes during an assessment are required to do which of the following?
- Suggest corrections to the student's answers
- Record exactly what the student dictates without alteration (Correct answer)
- Paraphrase the student's responses for clarity
- Transcribe only the student's final answer, not initial attempts
Correct answer: Record exactly what the student dictates without alteration
Scribes must record the student's dictated responses verbatim without editing, prompting, or influencing the content.
Question 6: Which of the following is an example of a modification that is NOT permitted during EQAO assessments (as opposed to an accommodation)?
- Providing a quiet room
- Allowing extended time
- Reducing the number of questions a student must answer (Correct answer)
- Using a calculator for non-calculator sections
Correct answer: Reducing the number of questions a student must answer
Reducing the number of questions changes the assessment construct and is a modification, not a permitted accommodation; all students must attempt the same questions.
Question 7: For students receiving 'alternative environment' as an accommodation, what does EQAO require of that environment?
- It must be off school property
- It must be quiet, supervised, and free from distractions (Correct answer)
- It must have more students than the regular classroom
- It must be the library or gymnasium only
Correct answer: It must be quiet, supervised, and free from distractions
An alternative environment must maintain appropriate supervision, security of materials, and a distraction-free setting consistent with test integrity.
EQAO Accommodations and Special Provisions 3
Which of the following students would most likely qualify for the 'oral reading of test questions' accommodation during EQAO?