Literacy Test Preparation Created and Compiled by K. MacDonald 2010

“…A quick glance at any newspaper's employment notices proves that all employers are requiring high levels of information literacy and communication skills. This means that all students need to be comfortable readers,...”

The test is made of: 2 Test Booklets and 1 Student Answer Sheet You will be given 75 minutes to do each test booklet, with a break in-between (and up to double time if you have an IEP) You will be given: 1. Reading selections and questions 2. Writing tasks

Reading Selections and Questions Two types of questions: - Multiple choice - Short answer These questions will focus on: - directly information (right from the reading) - indirect information (your own thoughts) - making connections between the reading and your personal knowledge/ experiences

The following types of Reading Selections are on the test: -Information paragraph (presents ideas and information on a topic) -News reports (presents information in the form of a news story) -Dialogue (a conversation between two people) -Real-life stories (an account of a significant time in an individual’s life) - Graphic selections such as diagrams, photographs, drawings, sketches, patterns, timetables, maps, charts or tables

Make sure to have a pencil and eraser Read each question 2 times to find: what is given what is being asked

ANSWERING MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS: 1. BEFORE you read the answers and think of the right answer 2. Then, read ALL the options given. 3. Put a beside the one(s) you think are correct. 4. Draw a through the ones you know are wrong. 5. If you end up with 2 checkmarks, read the questions again and try to decide which one is MOST correct.

Types of Multiple Choice Questions- About the Reading o Explicit (1/4 of the marks): You will find the answer in the reading o Implicit (2/4 of the marks): You will need to think about the answer, based on the reading (you will not find it directly stated) o Making Connections (1/4 of the marks): The question will relate to another topic you will know about- but not be in the reading.

Types of Multiple Choice Questions- About the Writing o Identifying Main Ideas (1/4 of the marks): Finding the difference between main ideas and supporting ideas o Organization (1/4 of the marks): Identifying correct structure and order of ideas/facts o Grammar, punctuation and spelling (2/4 of the marks): Proper sentence structure, correct punctuation, use of bold and italicized words

MULTIPLE CHOICE HINTS If you don’t know the correct answer, leave the question and move on. You can come back to the tough questions later. If you need to change an answer, completely erase the pencil markings before filling in the new bubble. When you go back to the tough questions, don’t waste your time. Trust your instincts.

Writing Tasks The writing tasks will focus on: -developing a main idea with supporting details -organizing information and ideas in a way that makes sense -using spelling, grammar and punctuation correctly Includes: Short Paragraphs News Article Series of Paragraphs/Essay

Short Writing Tasks: Based on your knowledge and personal experience You MUST write in COMPLETE sentences. (Capital at the start, period at the end) You will be given six lines for each response (try to fill the lines!)

Read the question carefully before beginning to write Underline or circle key words for what you are being asked to do Be sure to write on the assigned topic Draw upon your own experiences and knowledge when answering

The first sentence is the topic sentence that states the main idea of your response. Use the question in your answer. Support your first sentence with reasons and explanations- try to get 3 if you can. (Don’t cram them all into one sentence) End with a closing sentence that finishes your response.

News Report: Use the 5W’s & H (who, what where, when, why, how) Link the headline and photograph Write about an event that has occurred in the past Write in the third person (not I- use they, he, she) Tone is factual (make up facts like an actual place, time, people’s names, etc.)

News Article Suggested Set-up: indent Lead (1 st sentence/paragraph): Answer what happened? To Whom? Leave a space indent 2 nd Sentence/Paragraph: Supply more detail on What and Who Leave a space indent 3+ Sentence/Paragraph: Make sure reader gets at least 3 more important things they should know. Include a quote. Leave spaces

A Series of Paragraphs/Essay Expressing an Opinion: Written as an essay on two lined pages The topic given will be familiar to teenagers Must express an opinion and support it with details

Read the question carefully Take a stand (for or against)-don’t sit on the fence! Use the space provided to plan out your work before you start writing (graphic organizers work!) Use correct grammar, spelling and punctuation Use transitional words- firstly, another, lastly, etc…

1.Fill all the lines they give you to write! 2. Answer the QUESTION! 3. Answer in the correct FORMAT! 4.Write neatly- if they can’t read it, they won’t mark it!

5. Don’t get off topic in your writing tasks. It won’t be marked. 6. Make sure to clearly indent your paragraphs. (If you don’t, EQAO will assume you don’t understand how to organize your ideas—which will cost you BIG marks.) 7. Use proper English. Adults will be marking this test.

8.Don’t leave any blanks. Answer every question. Try to fill the space provided for each question. 9. If you finish a booklet early, carefully review what you’ve written. 10. Proofread.

For students answering on the computer: For the News Report task(1 page) Font size 12, double-spaced - Type 3/4 of a page For the Series of Paragraphs (2 pages) Font size 12, double-spaced - Type 1 ½ pages Short Writing tasks. (6 lines) Font size 12, double-spaced - Type four lines

Sources: r= d%20Tips.pdf 06osslt_r.pdf