1. Preparing for the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test
OSSLT
Preparing for the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test

2. Who we are… Mr. Leca Ms. Sanginesi Ms. Bellini
Please feel free to come to us with any of your questions with regards to the test!

3. When will the test be written?
Be prepared to write on:
Tuesday April 10th

4. Schedule for the Day Booklet #1: 8:45 – 10:00 am
Break (snack): 10:00 – 10:15 am
Booklet #2: :20 – 11:35 am
Questionnaire: 11:35 – 11:45 am

5. To Bring or Not to Bring… That is the Question
Do Bring:
Do Not Bring:
Pencils
X Cell Phone
Eraser
X Ipod/MP3 player
Blue/Black pens
X Coloured pens
Bottled water
X White out
Highlighter (optional)
X Dictionary

6. What does the OSSLT look like?
Consists of 2 booklets along with a student answer sheet
Will be given 75 minutes per booklet
At the end of each session, booklets will be sealed and collected
A 15 minute break will be given between each 75 minute session.

7. Types of Reading Will include the following:
Information paragraph (i.e. magazines, books, etc.)
News Report
Dialogue
Real-life narrative
Graphic text (i.e. maps, graphs, charts & instructions)

8. Reading Questions Format: Multiple Choice
Paragraph response (i.e. short answer)
Questions:
Directly stated (i.e. summary)
Inferencing (i.e. reasoning, using knowledge & evidence)
Making connections (i.e. opinion & connecting personal experiences)

9. Writing The Test will include the following: Two short writing tasks
Multiple Choice (focused on writing)
Opinion paragraph
Organizing ideas
Two long writing tasks
Sentence structure
News report (1 page)
Conventions
Series of opinion paragraphs (2 pages)

10. Written Responses When writing your responses, make sure you:
Write clearly and on the lines provided
Pay close attention to organization, spelling, grammar & punctuation
Use the space provided for rough notes (nothing written in this space will be marked)

11. *IMPORTANT*
Make sure to copy multiple choice questions onto the SCANTRON provided
Make sure to answer each question fully
Make sure your writing is neat. If they can’t read it, it won’t be marked!
Nothing offensive can be written on your test & no PICTURES. Principal will be contacted by EQAO

12. Multiple Choice Questions
Record answers on the Student answer sheet provided
Make sure to colour in the circle completely
Fill only one circle for each question
Chose the best or most correct answer according to what the question asks you
Read each question SLOWLY and CAREFULLY before answering
If you don’t know the answer, always GUESS

13. Scantron Sheet

14. *IMPORTANT*
Teachers & supervisors cannot answer ANY questions about the test
Make sure you have a good night’s sleep before the test
Do not CRAM the night before, it will NOT produce good results
EAT BREAKFAST
DO NOT BE LATE!

15. On Test Day Eat a healthy & nutritious breakfast.
Make sure you have all your materials
Think positively!
Arrive at school early so you’re not rushing (can cause unnecessary stress). Be here for 8:15am

16. What Will Help Me Be Successful?
These are strategies that you may find useful during your test:
Take 2-3 deep breaths to help relax
Read the directions carefully & underline, circle, or highlight KEY words
Survey the entire test to get a flavour of what you will need to do
Budget your time

17. What Will Help Me Be Successful?
Start with an easy question, or a question you know you can answer, rather than following the test in order
If you “draw a blank”, repeat the breathing exercise, then move to visualization and positive self talk.
Write down anything you remember about the subject on the backside of your test. This can help remind you that you do know something and you are capable of completing the test.
Look over the test when you have finished & double- check your answers to be sure you did not forget anything.

18. Additional Tips Answer all of the questions on the test
Budget your time
Use all the space provided – feel free to make up (realistic) details to enhance your writing
If you are unsure about a question, reread it slowly and try again

19. Don’t Forget!
1. Check for your assigned classroom tomorrow in the Commons area.
2. On Monday night, pack your:
Pencils
Eraser
Blue/Black pens
Bottled water (label removed)
Highlighter (optional)
3. Be at school by 8:15 am on Thursday morning!

20. laaisv Additional Resources
If you’re looking for extra help, please attend our lunch prep session April 4th in the Library.
Log onto our Google Classroom
Code:
laaisv

21. See you all at 8:15 a.m. on Tuesday morning.
Good Luck!!
See you all at 8:15 a.m. on Tuesday morning.