Transcript Preparing for the OSSLT – Ontario Secondary School

Preparing for the
OSSLT –
Ontario Secondary
School Literacy Test
Test Date: March 26 2015
1. What is the OSSLT?
The OSSLT is a standardized, provincial test
assessing reading and writing skills required
to understand reading selections and to
communicate through a variety of written
forms as expected in the Ontario
Curriculum across all subjects up to the end
of Grade 9. Really, you’ve been preparing
since Grade 7.
Test at a Glance
Activity
Booklet 1
(Reading and Writing)
Break
Booklet 2
(Reading and Writing)
Questionnaire
(Booklet 2)
Allotted Time
75 minutes
15 minutes
75 minutes
10 minutes
2. When is the OSSLT?
O This Thursday March 26th, 2015
O Arrive by 8:10am (Test @ 8:30)
O Only students writing the test
attend school this day
Test Day Schedule
8:25 am
Students proceed to test rooms
8:30 am
Students admitted to test rooms + instructions
are read
8:35 – 9:50 am
Booklet 1 of the OSSLT
9:50 - 10:05 am
Break (light refreshments provided)
10:05 – 11:20 am
Booklet 2 of the OSSLT
11:20 – 11:30 am
Time for questionnaire
11:30 am
Dismissal (added time for accommodations)
3. Where is the OSSLT?
O Here at Applewood Heights
O Your Room Location has been
posted outside the main office
4. Why So Important?
O Mandatory requirement for
successful completion of your
Ontario High School Diploma
5. What Should You Bring?
O Blue or Black Pen
O Pencils
O Highlighter
O Bottled Water
Do NOT Bring: Bags or PEDs to room
Some Test Components Include:
O Informational texts that would be found in a Business,
READING
TASKS
WRITING
TASKS
History, Physical Education, Arts, or Social Sciences Class
(used to gain knowledge or facts)
O Narrative (dialogue) readings, such as would be found in
an English Class (like fictional piece)
O Graphical texts, such as would be found in a Science,
Math, Geography, or Technology Class (like charts, cycles,
graphs, maps, blueprints)
O Series of Paragraphs asking you to develop an opinion
O News Report asking you to develop details on an event
O Short Answer responses (to either a reading or about an
open topic)
Reading & Writing Target Skills
Target Reading Skills
Target Writing Skills
• R1: Understanding explicit stated
information and ideas
• W1: Developing a main idea with
sufficient supporting details
• R2: Understanding implicitly stated • W2: Organizing information and
information and ideas
ideas in a coherent manner
• R3: Making connections between
information and ideas in a reading
selection and personal experiences
• W3: Using conventions (spelling,
grammar, punctuation) in a
manner that does not distract from
clear communication
General Tips for Success:
 Follow instructions exactly as given for all sections
 Read each question carefully and be sure to answer precisely
what it is asking of you (e.g. look for key test words)
 Use “Rough Notes” space to plan answers (this is not
marked)
 Start with the long answer sections and work your way back
to the multiple choice if short for time
Tips Cont’d
 Write your final answers ONLY in the space
provided
 Be sure to use most or all the lines provided but DO
NOT go beyond
 Do not leave any questions blank; if in doubt, guess
 Proofread
Reading Tips
O Read the questions for the reading first
O Skim the selection once over
O Underline or highlight important
information and ideas while you read
O After reading, mentally summarize the
main point(s); re-read 1st and last sentences
3 Styles of Reading Questions
1. Immediate Questions that can be answered quickly
from a direct part of the reading
2. Inference
3. In Your
Opinion
Questions that challenge reader to look in
two or more places (including background
knowledge) for the answer and then make
an intelligent conclusion
Questions that require reader to use his or
her own background knowledge + the
reading to give a personal response
#1 - Multiple Choice
They will ask you multiple choice based on:
O Readings
O Diagrams/Infographics
O Grammar
Multiple Choice
 Read the question carefully
 Look for clarifying words that help support the
answer (e.g. always, never, least, none, best, all,
usually, most…)
best
 Read through ALL the options before selecting one
 Cross out any answers that are obviously wrong
 If two answers seem correct, select the BEST option
# 2 - Short Answer
There will be 2 types of short answer
questions on the test:
O Short Answers Based
on Readings
O Short Answers Based
on Opinions
Short Answer
 Fill up the lines provided
 Do NOT write beyond the lines provided
 1st sentence is the topic sentence that specifically
answers the question (Hint: put part of the question in
it)
 Provide 1-2 details, supports, or examples (either
from the reading or your own life if it is an opinion
question)
# 3 – News Report
There will be 1 News Report piece. They will
provide you with the:
O Picture
O Headline
News Report
Paragraph 1: provide a brief overview of what
has happened – be sure to include WHO, WHAT,
WHERE, WHEN, WHY & HOW
Paragraphs 2-3: give the reader more details –
quotes from bystanders, other times this event
has happened, how community is responding etc.
Paragraph 4: provide summary and include what
might happen in the future or how reader can get
involved or get more info
Example
O Who?
O What?
O Where?
O When?
O Why?
O How?
Example
O Who?
O What?
O Where?
O When?
O Why?
O How?
# 4 – Series of Paragraphs
There will be a 3-5 paragraph essay (aka
series of paragraphs) that will ask you to
write about…
O Your
opinion on a
relevant topic
Examples
O Are cell phones necessary in teenagers’ lives?
O Is participation in extra curricular activities an important
part of high school life?
O Should Physical Education be compulsory every year in
high school?
O Are today’s famous people good role models for young
people?
Series of Paragraphs
 Choose ONE side to support (either you agree
or disagree, or are yes or no) This will be the
thesis in the intro paragraph. You cannot be
“maybe” or argue for both sides of the debate.
 Come up with 2-3 supports for your opinion
(with specific examples). Write these in the
“Rough Notes”. These will form the basis of
your body paragraphs.
Series of Paragraphs
 Your first sentence should clearly answer the question.
E.g. Yes, I believe zoos should exist BECAUSE…
 Indent new paragraphs so ideas are organized
obviously for your reader.
 Use transition words like First, Next, Also, Last…
Series of Paragraphs
 Wrap up your ideas with a short conclusion
paragraph that restates your main point and
restates the supports you mentioned.
 Use ALL (or nearly all) the space provided, but
do NOT exceed it.
Final Reminders
O Be on time (set an alarm)
O Eat a good breakfast
O Know your room location
O If late, report to the office –
no additional time provided
O Snack available during break
O You must go home at the
conclusion of the test
O No bringing PEDs or bags
Good Luck!
O If you’d like more practice opportunities with past test
booklets, check out:
http://www.eqao.com/students/secondary/10/10.aspx?
Lang=E&gr=10