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The OSSLT: How to Prepare for the Ontario Literacy Test

Project-Based Learning , Remedial Learning , Secondary Literacy , Writing

The 2023-2024 school year is a challenging year for students preparing for the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test , also known as the OSSLT . Over the past few years, Ontario secondary students have faced many disruptions in learning. The Ontario government launched its Plan to Catch Up in July of 2022 to address the learning gaps caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. For secondary language teachers, these gaps serve as an obstacle as we continue with the return of standardized testing. This blog post shares practical and engaging strategies to help students prepare for the OSSLT .

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

The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) is a compulsory standardized test that all secondary students in Ontario must write. The test evaluates English language skills in the areas of reading and writing. These are skills that reflect the Ontario English curriculum for up to and including Grade 9.

Ontario students are required to pass the OSSLT in order to graduate from high school in Ontario; however, there are several supports in place for students who don’t pass. These supports can help them succeed in meeting the province’s literacy requirements.

Is the OSSLT only for Grade 10?

The OSSLT is typically administered to students in Grade 10 . This is because the OSSLT evaluates skills that are taught in the Ontario English curriculum from K-9. In 2022, several students in Grade 11 were also eligible to write the OSSLT exam. This was because of cancellations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The OSSLT can also be written by any student who has already completed the exam but was not successful in achieving a passing grade. Students have unlimited attempts at the OSSLT; however, if students are unsuccessful, there are other options available.

What can students do to prepare for the Ontario Literacy Test?

In theory, all students begin preparing for the OSSLT from the time they start school. This is because the OSSLT is designed to assess the skills taught in the Ontario English curriculum from kindergarten to Grade 9 .

In reality, not all students are equipped with the necessary skills to be successful. This is especially true for English Language Learners who have not been enrolled in Ontario schools for a portion of their lives. ELL students may require more experience with the Ontario curriculum in order to be successful on the OSSLT. Fortunately, your ELL students can access special accommodations. Click here to learn more about ELL participation in the OSSLT.

Oftentimes, native English-speaking students also benefit from extra preparation for the OSSLT . Teachers may begin to prepare for the OSSLT well before the exam date in Grade 10 – this preparation is especially vigorous in the 9th and 10th grades.  Through various reading and writing activities, teachers can “ teach to the test ” in order to help students prepare for the OSSLT.

Additionally, students can practice for the OSSLT independently or with a tutor. These practice tests include articles, multiple-choice questions, and written response prompts that resemble the mandated tasks for the OSSLT. Students are also encouraged to work on the practice exercises in the OSSLT section on the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) website .

How to prepare for the OSSLT

1. review the skills assessed on the ontario secondary school literacy test.

The OSSLT requires a set of prescribed skills for successful completion. Focussing on the following areas will help students prepare for the OSSLT: 

• Expressing and developing an opinion
• Writing a series of paragraphs
• Identifying main ideas and supporti ng points within a text
• Using main ideas and supporting point s to support an opinion
• Writing introductions and conclusions
• Interpreting different types of narrative texts (ie. news reports, magazine stories, short fiction)
• Interpreting informational texts (ie. opinion pieces, textbooks)
• Summarizing ideas and information that are explicitly stated
• Understanding ideas and information that are implicitly stated
• Identifying bias, purpose, reliability, and audience

If you are an administrator or department head in an Ontario secondary school, you can consider arranging prep sessions during lunch hour or after school. Students can drop in and work on a streamlined curriculum that is designed to prepare them for the Ontario Literacy Test.

2. Prepare using OSSLT Practice Tests

Another great way to help students prepare for the OSSLT is to utilize OSSLT Practice Tests . These practice tests are designed to resemble the articles and reading questions that students will encounter on the   EQAO Ontario Literacy Test. Students will explore a Real-Life Narrative (RNL), two Information Paragraphs (IP), a News Report (NR), and a Dialogue (DI). Additionally, students will complete two Written Multiple-Select activities (WMM) and respond to an opinion essay prompt.

3. Teaching to the Test: Multiple-Choice Questions

The multiple-choice section of the OSSLT is geared towards assessing a number of literacy skills. The questions include everything from identifying the purpose of a text to evaluating the context of a word in order to select an appropriate synonym. There is no way of predicting multiple-choice questions. This means you can’t guarantee your students will be successful with this portion of the test.

Fortunately, there are a number of strategies that you can use to practice for the multiple-choice section of the OSSLT. The most straightforward strategy involves practicing with reading passages and multiple-choice questions that resemble the EQAO test. Students can practice multiple-choice questions using these news reports , information texts , and real-life narratives . These articles and multiple-select questions resemble those that students will encounter on the OSSLT.

Another strategy is to incorporate practice for the multiple-choice section into your everyday lessons. When you read a text together as a class, you can pause to ask questions similar to those on the OSSLT:

• Request that students explain how they interpret new vocabulary so that they can model this process to their peers.
• Ask students questions that prompt them to summarize the text .
• Challenge students to make predictions or inferences about the text.
• Move through the text paragraph-by-paragraph to identify the purpose of certain sentences or sections.
• Encourage students to evaluate the text as a whole by suggesting a title for the selection.

3. Lesson Plans to Practice for the Ontario Literacy Test

There are a number of engaging lessons and project-based assessments that you can use to practice for the OSSLT. You can start with a mandated task and utilize backward design to work on the skills necessary for students to be successful on the OSSLT.

One major assessment in the OSSLT involves reading real-life narratives . This narrative unit includes everything you need to build foundational literacy skills for real-life narratives. Students can demonstrate these skills by completing the Community Interview Project , a project-based assessment inspired by the iconic Humans of New York . They can also apply these skills to post-secondary pathways by practicing writing cover letters .

Another major assessment on the Ontario Literacy Test involves writing an opinion essay . This essay must express an opinion and use different forms of evidence to support the main idea of each body paragraph. This main idea and supporting details mini-unit teaches students how to develop main ideas. Students can also apply this knowledge to peer-based learning activities like a Lincoln-Douglas Debate .  

This nonfiction writing bundle also builds the skills necessary to interpret an informational text. Students will learn to identify informational texts and differentiate them from other forms of writing. This will prepare them to write their own informational paragraphs.  

Finally, focussing on reading comprehension will also sharpen essential literacy skills for Ontario students. The more practice students have with different types of texts, the more prepared they will be to interpret these texts on the Ontario Literacy Test. This reading comprehension unit focuses on making inferences, making predictions, and summarizing several different forms of texts.

What if you fail the OSSLT?

If a student fails the OSSLT, there are a few options. For one, students can attempt to write the Ontario Literacy Test again.  If the student has an IEP, they are also entitled to the accommodations listed on their file. Be sure to review this to ensure that accommodations are met for their second attempt.

Another option is to complete the Ontari o Secondary School Literacy Course , also known as the OSSLC or OLC.  This course assesses the same skills evaluated on the EQAO exam, meaning that if students pass the course, they meet the requirements to graduate high school .

The Ontario Literacy Course includes mandated tasks that are outlined in the Ontario Curriculum .  Students can complete assignments and activities that align with these mandated tasks in order to develop a literacy portfolio.  

Becoming successful on the OSSLT

In conclusion, preparing for the OSSLT is a journey that begins early in a student’s educational career and requires ongoing effort and support. By focusing on the key skills assessed, utilizing practice tests, and engaging in targeted learning activities, students can build the confidence and competence needed to succeed on the OSSLT. Remember – success on this test is not just about passing; it’s about demonstrating the literacy skills that are essential for future academic and career success. Encourage students to embrace the challenge, seek support when needed, and approach the OSSLT with a positive attitude.

Reader Interactions

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[…] the College Board SAT exam. This is because students can expect to see environmental topics on standardized tests. Given the importance of climate change in several career fields, students can also expect to study […]

[…] Your students may require an approach to interviewing that is more trauma-informed. This is especially true for students’ families who have endured collective hardships or systemic oppression. I find “Humans of my Community” to be a perfect alternative. This project-based learning idea uses the same interviewing skills listed above and incorporates news article writing – this is especially helpful if you are preparing for the OSSLT. […]

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Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test

The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) measures whether students are meeting the minimum standard for literacy across all subjects up to the end of Grade 9. Successful completion of the literacy test is one of the requirements to earn your Ontario Secondary School Diploma. All students across the province must write this test.

Learn more about the OSSLT with the OSSLT Framework , including:

• What is assessed
• How literacy is aligned and emphasized within the Ontario curriculum
• What is in the OSSLT and question types
• Student outcomes
• How the test is scored
• Student report sample

Frequently asked questions about the OSSLT

View frequently asked questions about the OSSLT , including:

• Who can write the OSSLT?
• How will administrators get access to the online OSSLT e-assessment system?
• How will the online OSSLT be administered?
• What is the format of the online OSSLT?
• How can schools provide supports for success for students who require accommodations and/or have an Individual Education Plan (IEP)?
• When will results be released?
• Where can I get more information on the online OSSLT?

Practice test

Students can become familiar with the OSSLT and its platform by taking an online practice test . The test is made up of two sessions, which include content from previous tests, as well as an introductory session that allows students to get to know the new online platform's tools and functions.

• OSSLT: What’s NEW

What’s NEW?

Updates to the osslt user guide.

The user guide is published online after an annual review. Please refer to this 2023-24 guide for the most current guidelines.

OSSLT Framework

The OSSLT Framework has been updated for 2023-24, including the blueprint of how the assessment aligns with the Ontario curriculum, the test design, scoring rubrics and a ISR sample. Each test has a field-test component and an operational component. The operational component contains the items that are scored to be included in the student results. The items from the field-test component are not used in determining the student results. Review the OSSLT Framework .

Autosubmission of sessions or stages  

Any student who had started a session but did not submit their work will have their session automatically submitted by the system by 5:00 p.m. (ET) to prevent student sessions from remaining open when not in use. Refer to Autosubmission of sessions .

Alternative Version Requests

New for 2023-24: formats of the Alternative Version requested by the school will be provided through the Message Centre as a compressed folder. The Alternative Version of the Practice Test will also be provided through the Message Centre in the same format requested by the school. Monitor the Message Centre in the school administrator’s account for communication and files from EQAO.

School administrators can monitor the pending , approved or canceled status of the Alternative Version requests by accessing the Requests tab in their account. Please refer to instructions for requesting or cancelling in the Alternative Version of the OSSLT .

Teacher view

The teacher view has been refreshed to make the navigation experience better. There is integration of Message Centre pinned messages.

Student single login

Students will no longer be able to login to two devices simultaneously.

Board IT account domain exclusion check

A new feature will allow for all allowed domains to be checked on your network automatically.

Appeal Process

 Only the school administrator of the school where the student registered for the OSSLT in the current administration window may submit an appeal to EQAO on behalf of the student, according to the eligibility requirements in the EQAO Appeal Policy provided in the e-assessment system. School administrators will not submit appeals that were already submitted as a reported issue to EQAO for investigation during the OSSLT administration window. A score review does not constitute grounds for an appeal.

The appeal process will become active in the school administrator’s account in the e-Assessment system once ISRs are released. School administrators will have two weeks after ISRs are released to launch an appeal from the Reports tab.

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Past Released Test Questions – OSSLT

EQAO – Past OSSLT Questions

• Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) – OSSLT main page
• Released OSSLT Materials  – examples of actual questions from previous test booklets:
• “sample” OSSLT – not associated with any particular year
• sample – question booklet 1
• sample – answer booklet 1
• sample – question booklet 2
• sample – answer booklet 2
• 2018    |    2017    |    2016    |    2015    |   2014   |   2013   –  released materials:
• 2018 – question booklet
• 2018 – answer booklet  ​
• 2018 – scoring rubrics and sample student responses
• 2018 – student answer key ​​​​​
• 2017 – question booklet
• 2017 – answer booklet
• 2017 – scoring rubric with sample student responses
• 2017 – multiple choice student answer key
• 2016 – question booklet
• 2016 – answer booklet
• 2016 – scoring rubric with sample student responses
• 2016 – multiple choice student answer key
• 2015 – question booklet
• 2015 – answer booklet
• 2015 – scoring rubric with sample student responses
• 2015 – multiple choice student answer key
• 2014 – question booklet
• 2014 – answer booklet
• 2014 – scoring rubric with sample student responses
• 2014 – multiple choice student answer key

Frequently-Asked Questions

There are a lot of questions about the OSSLT. Here are some answers to the ones we hear the most. Do you have a suggestion for a question that could appear on this page? Let us know using our contact form .

OSSLT Administration

How is the osslt marked.

The OSSLT is marked by the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO). EQAO is a Crown Agency, which means that it reports to the Minister of Education, but is not directly run by the Ministry of Education. The OSSLT is not marked by teachers in schools, but by employees of EQAO.

What does the OSSLT accomplish?

EQAO marks the test to determine whether students can make sense of various texts and express their thoughts effectively. On a broader level, the OSSLT allows the Ministry of Education and taxpayers to compare how effective different schools and school boards have been at educating students. This information gives the Ministry one lens through which to consider how to adjust education policy.

If my school has lower-than-average scores, does that mean it's a bad school?

High- or low-scoring schools and boards can have a variety of circumstances which lead to these outcomes. Areas which have many test-takers whose first language isn't English, for example, might score lower than the average school in Ontario, despite having helped students make significant gains.

How long does the test take to write?

Generally speaking, the OSSLT is written in one day for all students across Ontario (although this has not been true during the Covid pandemic). There are two sections, each written in a 60-minute period (extra time can be allotted if required), and there is typically a short break between each section, or the sections can even be written on different days. Individual schools and boards determine how the test should be run.

What's on the OSSLT?

What kinds of questions appear on the test.

There are four types of questions on the OSSLT: Mulitple choice, news report, paragraph, and short answer. There are two subtypes of multiple choice questions: direct and indirect. There are 31 multiple-select questions (multiple choice, checklist, etc.) and two open response questions.

OSSLT Requirements

Is the osslt part of my english mark.

No, the OSSLT is not part of your English mark. The OSSLT requirement for an Ontario Secondary School Diploma is separate from credit requirements.

What score do I need?

You need to score at least 300 out of 400, or 75%. You will get a report with your score on it, but individual scores are not made public.