The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) is a standardised assessment administered by the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO). It is a graduation requirement for all Ontario secondary school students. Students must successfully complete the OSSLT — or the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC) as an alternative — to earn their Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).
The test is based on Ontario curriculum expectations up to and including Grade 9 and measures literacy skills across reading and writing. It is typically written by students in Grade 10, although students who were not eligible earlier may write it in subsequent years. Students who are unsuccessful may retake the OSSLT in a future administration or enrol in the OSSLC.
The reading component presents a variety of text types including narrative passages, informational texts, and graphic texts (charts, diagrams, infographics). Questions are multiple-choice and short answer, testing the following skills:
The writing component requires students to produce two types of written responses:
Students write a short news report based on a provided headline and visual prompt. A strong news report includes a byline, an inverted pyramid structure (most important information first), factual and objective language, and a concluding sentence. The report is scored on content, organisation, use of conventions, and style.
Students write a multi-paragraph response to a provided topic or question. This piece should include an introduction with a clear thesis, body paragraphs each with a topic sentence and supporting evidence, and a conclusion. Markers assess the quality of ideas, logical organisation, vocabulary choice, and accuracy of spelling and grammar.
Interactive OSSLT - Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:
Print the PDF and complete the full practice test in a quiet space without assistance to mirror real OSSLT conditions. Read each passage carefully before answering questions — the OSSLT rewards close reading over speed. For multiple-choice questions, eliminate obviously wrong answers first and look for textual evidence to support your selection.
For the writing sections, give yourself a set time limit and write your full response before reviewing. After completing the practice test, score your reading answers using the answer key and evaluate your writing responses against the EQAO scoring rubrics, which are publicly available on the EQAO website.
Identify whether your weak areas are in reading comprehension, writing organisation, or grammar and conventions, then target those areas with focused review before test day.
The OSSLT is scored as either Successful or Not Yet Successful — there is no numeric grade. To be considered successful, students must achieve a passing standard across both the reading and writing components as determined by EQAO scoring criteria.
Students who receive a Not Yet Successful result are eligible to retake the OSSLT in a future administration. Schools typically offer at least one retake opportunity per school year. Alternatively, students may enrol in the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC), a credit course that, upon successful completion, satisfies the literacy graduation requirement in place of the OSSLT.
EQAO publishes released versions of past OSSLT tests on its website, providing additional authentic practice material. Using these official materials alongside this practice PDF gives you the most accurate preparation available for the actual test format.
Try these questions from our free OSSLT - Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.
Read the following paragraph: (1) Learning to play a musical instrument has many cognitive benefits. (2) Studies show that it can improve memory and concentration. (3) The school's concert band won a regional competition last year. (4) Furthermore, the discipline required to practice regularly helps develop patience and perseverance. Which sentence does not belong in this paragraph?
Answer: B. Sentence 3
Sentences 1, 2, and 4 all discuss the general cognitive and personal benefits of learning an instrument, which is the paragraph's main idea. Sentence 3 is a specific fact about a particular school's band, which is an unrelated detail and disrupts the unity of the paragraph.
Read the following opening paragraph of a news report: "Yesterday, hundreds of students from Northview High School walked out of class to protest the school board's recent budget cuts. The demonstration began at noon on the front lawn of the school." Which of the following key questions is NOT answered in this paragraph?
Answer: D. Why did the school board make the cuts?
The paragraph tells us *Who* (students from Northview High), *What* (a walk-out/protest), *When* (yesterday at noon), and *Where* (the school's front lawn). It does not explain the *Why*—the specific reasons behind the school board's decision to make budget cuts are not mentioned.
Which of the following is a key requirement for the body paragraphs of an OSSLT opinion piece?
Answer: B. Each paragraph should develop a separate supporting reason with specific details or examples.
The body paragraphs are the core of the essay, where the author must build their case. According to OSSLT guidelines, each body paragraph should focus on explaining one specific reason that supports the main opinion, using details and examples to make it convincing.
A news report includes: 'Critics argue the new policy will disproportionately affect low-income families.' What journalistic practice is this?
Answer: B. Including multiple perspectives for balance
Including critics' perspectives demonstrates balanced reporting.
Take the full OSSLT - Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test practice test
If you want more targeted practice, the osslt practice tests page covers the same material with additional questions and explanations.