Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test
Encyclopedia
The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) is a compulsory standardized test
for high school students in Ontario
who wish to obtain the Ontario Secondary School Diploma
. It was established in 2001 by the Conservative
government. It is administered by the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO).
The OSSLT is written every year on the last Thursday of March in all catholic and public secondary schools in the province of Ontario. It is used to assess students' reading and writing skills.
The selections used in the OSSLT are consist of common reading materials, including information materials (e.g. instructions, newspaper articles), graphic materials (e.g. graphs, diagrams, legends) and literary materials (e.g. stories).
Examples of pieces requested in the OSSLT include summaries, opinion pieces, news reports and information paragraphs.
Marks may be deducted due to a lack of detail. However, the inclusion of too much information can also result in penalties.
Upon completion of the test, booklets are shipped to neighbouring schools in the district for marking. Those who fail must attempt the test the following year or take the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OLC 4O) in grade 12 to meet the literacy requirement.
In the course, students will have to read a variety of text (e.g. narrative text) and produce different types of writing (e.g. news reports). Accommodations can be made for students with an IEP (Individual Education Plan) so as to strengthen those students' language skills.
The OSSLC can serve as one of at least four English credits necessary for graduating high school, as well as a replacement for the OSSLT. However, the course does not fulfill the requirement for post-secondary schools.
Standardized test
A standardized test is a test that is administered and scored in a consistent, or "standard", manner. Standardized tests are designed in such a way that the questions, conditions for administering, scoring procedures, and interpretations are consistent and are administered and scored in a...
for high school students in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
who wish to obtain the Ontario Secondary School Diploma
Ontario Secondary School Diploma
The Ontario Secondary School Diploma is a diploma granted to high school graduates in the province of Ontario.-Diploma requirements:The Ontario Academic Credit system applies to students from Grades 9 through 12...
. It was established in 2001 by the Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario , is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. The party was known for many years as "Ontario's natural governing party." It has ruled the province for 80 of the years since Confederation, including an uninterrupted run from 1943 to 1985...
government. It is administered by the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO).
The OSSLT is written every year on the last Thursday of March in all catholic and public secondary schools in the province of Ontario. It is used to assess students' reading and writing skills.
Layout
The OSSLT consists of two booklets that must be completed by students in 3 hours. The first booklet includes multiple-choice and short answer questions, as well as a question asking the student to compose a newspaper article based on the headline and picture provided. The second booklet also includes multiple-choice and short answer questions, as well as a question asking the student to write an opinion piece on a given topic. The test is out of 400 marks.Reading component
Students are asked to read a variety of selections and answer questions about each of them. The questions asked are designed to measure ensure students understand ideas and information that are directly or indirectly stated in the text. Students are also expected to make personal connections related to the reading selections.The selections used in the OSSLT are consist of common reading materials, including information materials (e.g. instructions, newspaper articles), graphic materials (e.g. graphs, diagrams, legends) and literary materials (e.g. stories).
Writing component
Students have to produce four pieces of writing for the OSSLT. The writing component is designed to measure the student's ability to develop a main idea, provide supporting details, organize and link ideas and information, use a tone for the particular type of writing and the use of correct grammar and spelling.Examples of pieces requested in the OSSLT include summaries, opinion pieces, news reports and information paragraphs.
Marks may be deducted due to a lack of detail. However, the inclusion of too much information can also result in penalties.
Procedure
Before the OSSLT is written, teachers are expected to assist students in preparation for the test.Upon completion of the test, booklets are shipped to neighbouring schools in the district for marking. Those who fail must attempt the test the following year or take the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OLC 4O) in grade 12 to meet the literacy requirement.
Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course
The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC) is a Grade 12 course that can be taken by those who had written the OSSLT more than once. It is designed to assist students in acquiring basic literacy skills required for getting an Ontario high school diploma.In the course, students will have to read a variety of text (e.g. narrative text) and produce different types of writing (e.g. news reports). Accommodations can be made for students with an IEP (Individual Education Plan) so as to strengthen those students' language skills.
The OSSLC can serve as one of at least four English credits necessary for graduating high school, as well as a replacement for the OSSLT. However, the course does not fulfill the requirement for post-secondary schools.