Transcript What is the OSSLT? - Peel District School Board

OSSLT
The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test
What is the OSSLT?
 A provincial test of reading and writing skills
 Based on the reading and writing skills across
all subject areas up to the end of grade 9
 A diploma requirement for graduation from
high school
When is the Literacy Test?
 Thursday, March 27, 2014
 Light refreshments will be provided to you at
8:00 a.m. in the cafeteria
 The test begins promptly at
8:35 a.m.
Where is the test?
 In classrooms throughout the school and the
library
 Check the lists posted in the Atrium and in
Guidance for your name and test location
 If you have a question or problem, see Mr.
Mcleod (V.P.) in the main office ASAP
Schedule/Structure
8:00
Juice and Muffins in Cafeteria
8:25
All students must be in their testing room
8:35 - 10:00
Supervising Teacher Reads Test
Instructions & Students Write
Booklet 1- 75 minutes
10:00 – 10:15
Break -15 minutes
10:15 – 11:45
Students Write
Booklet 2 - 75 minutes
& Questionnaire – 10 minutes
11:45
Students Writing Dismissed
Break
 Your break will take place on the same floor
as you are writing the OSSLT
 Water and granola bars will be provided
 You will begin writing Booklet 2 promptly after
15 minutes. Don't be late!
Punctuality
 It is very important
that you arrive on
time as teachers will
be reading a script
with special
instructions. They
will only give the
instructions once.
If you arrive less than 30 minutes
late…
 You will be allowed
to write
 Instructions will not
be repeated
 No extra time will be
given
If you arrive more than 30
minutes late…
 You will not be allowed
into the test room until
after the break
 You will be allowed to
write only the second test
booklet of the day
 This will greatly reduce
your chances of passing!
What to Bring
 Student Card-check
for this
now!!
 Blue, black pens or HB pencils for



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written responses and multiple
choice questions
An eraser
A highlighter
Kleenex/cough candies (if needed)
Bottled water (snacks)
What not to bring…
There are to be no cell
phones, audio- or videorecording devices, digital
music players or e-mail
or text-messaging devices
in the test room.
Your teacher is not allowed to
provide any assistance to you
 Cannot re-word questions
 Cannot review your work or make
suggestions
 Cannot inform you whether you are on the
right track or not
 Students are not permitted to use a Dictionary
Reading Selections
 Information paragraph: (225-250 words)
 News report: (225-250 words)
 Real life narrative:
an account of a significant time in an individual's life
(about 600 words)
 Dialogue: conversation between two or more people
(225-250 words)
Reading Selections
 Graphic Text (fewer than150 words):
includes diagrams, photographs, drawings,
patterns, schedules, maps, charts or
tables
Reading Selections
Types of Questions
 Multiple Choice-four options (explicit,
implicit, making connections)
 Open Response (about 6 lines of writing
each) related to the ideas and
information presented in the information
paragraph, news report or dialogue
reading
Writing Tasks
 Long Writing Tasks
News report (one page)
 Series of paragraphs expressing an
opinion (two pages)

 Short Writing Tasks

(six lines each)
Writing Tasks
 Multiple Choice Questions
Organization of ideas
 Main idea
 Sentence and paragraph structure
 Language conventions

Test Booklets
 All written answers must be
recorded in the test booklets in blue
or black pen or pencil
 Read all questions and do only what
is asked
 For example, if you are asked to
write ONE paragraph, be sure
that you write only ONE
Test Booklets
 Use the rough notes space to jot ideas or
plan your response, but write your response
in the lined space…otherwise it will not be
marked
 Use the space provided for the answers – do
not write more than is required. Do not write
less.
Using the Test Booklet for
Writing Tasks
 Write the answers neatly – if the marker
cannot read your work, they cannot reward
you for your efforts
 If you write offensive material, your work may
not be marked and the Principal will be
notified
Using the Test
Booklet for Writing Tasks
 Write in full sentences and watch for spelling,
grammar and punctuation
 Instructions for reading and writing tasks are
included in each booklet
Student Answer Sheet-Multiple
Choice Questions
All multiple choice questions MUST be
answered on the Student Answer Sheet
NOT IN THE TEST BOOKLETS
What if I finish early?
 Review your work – check for spelling,
grammar and punctuation. Check that you
have answered all questions correctly, fully
and to the best of your ability
 Sit quietly and wait for others to finish
After the Test
 In June, you will receive an Individual
Report indicating whether or not you
have passed the test
 Not successful?
 1) you may have the opportunity to
write the test again next year
OR
 2) you may fulfill the OSSLT literacy
requirement by successfully
completing the OLC
Questions/Extra Help
 After school on Thursday, March 20th
in The Legacy Room
 Sign up following this session
 See www.eqao.com for The Getting Ready
Guide and Sample Tests
Do your very best…
and good luck!