The OSSLT, or Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test, is a key milestone for Ontario students — and a graduation requirement for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). Administered by EQAO, this literacy test evaluates the essential reading and writing skills students are expected to have by the end of Grade 9.
While it might sound daunting, there's no need to panic! With a bit of organization and the right preparation strategies, success is absolutely within reach.
Let's find out how to pass the OSSLT easy-peacy.
How to be successful in OSSLT?
The Canadian government established the OSSLT to ensure the Ontario Education System performs well. Through a series of tests, it evaluates whether Ontario students are learning exactly what they should be in terms of reading and writing literacy, and how successful they are in using those skills. Indeed, students need a score of 300 or 75% correct to pass the OSSLT (the test is scored out of 400).
But how can you get a perfect score on it? Below, you will find practical strategies for passing the OSSLT like a master, whether you have strong writing and reading skills or need a bit of practice. To defeat the enemy, you must first know it!
Get to Know the OSSLT Test
Previewing the exam and understanding its sections and the type of questions you will encounter will improve your confidence and performance.
The OSSLT is delivered online and divided into two sessions — Session A and Session B. Each section contains a mix of question formats: multiple-choice, drag-and-drop, drop-down menus, checklists, and open-response writing tasks. To pass, students must score at least 300 out of 400 (75%).
It has 33 questions: 31 are multiple-choice (multiple-choice, drag-and-drop, checklist), a text selection, and two open-response questions. Each session should take about 60 minutes to complete.
The test platform also includes helpful built-in tools like a highlighter, line reader, and text-to-speech feature, all designed to support focus and comprehension during the exam. At the end of the session, you will answer a questionnaire about your attitudes and perceptions about literacy, similar to what you did in grade 6.
It is mandatory to complete each session in one sitting. However, you can take the two sessions in one day with a short break between sessions or on two different dates and times (which is an excellent idea if you need space to clear your mind.)
OSSLT Questions categories
The test includes several categories of questions to assess students' reading comprehension and writing skills. Among them are:
Make sure to try EQAO’s official OSSLT practice test so you can get familiar with the digital tools and question formats you’ll encounter.
Learn how to answer effectively
Time management and strategy are key when it comes to the OSSLT test. Here are three reading techniques that will help you tackle questions more efficiently:
Close Reading
Close reading is when you read every word and think about what the author is trying to convey. Use this strategy when faced with questions that require a deep understanding of the text. For example:
Skimming
Skimming is another strategy in which you review a text you are working with to get an idea of the concepts and language used or to identify a relevant particular detail in the selection. Skimming is useful when:
Scanning
Scanning is when you look for a particular thing in the text to locate information quickly. Scanning is a great technique when:
Check out excellent English tutors Montreal to improve your reading skills here on Superprof.
Make Time to Practice
Dedicating time to OSSLT practice can be tricky, as you have to be motivated to do the work in addition to schoolwork and extracurricular activities. However, practice makes perfect. We recommend you start practicing early, make a study plan with deadlines, study the practice questions, and solve them within a set time limit. Set a goal of completing a certain number of pages per day or week, and you'll be surprised by how much your commitment will pay off.
EQAO's online training test can help students familiarize themselves with the online test and its platform. Visit the OSSLT's official website to learn more about its sections and resources.
Practice Questions: Test Your Knowledge!
To give you an idea of the questions in the OSSLT evaluation, please read below and solve each by choosing the correct option below.
Many cities struggle with public transportation needs. New subway construction is expensive, and space for above-ground rail lines is limited. Adding more buses can't always reduce street congestion. Transit users dislike fare increases, but that is one way to raise money for improvements.
- Public transportation was cheaper in the past.
- There are no easy solutions to transit problems.
- There are various ways to eliminate the need for cars.
- Urban population growth means more cars on city streets.
- Improving your focus starting the day with breakfast.
- Regular exercise result in better mental functioning.
- Taking frequent breaks can improve focus and concentration.
- Concentrating better with music or television playing in the background.
Carl J. Eliason invented the snow machine. It was made using bicycle and car parts and a pair of skis. It was patented in 1927.
- Carl J. Eliason's snow machine invention, patented in 1927, was made using bicycle and car parts and a pair of skis.
- The snow machine was invented out of parts from a bicycle, a car and a pair of skis in 1927 and patented by Carl J. Eliason.
- The snow machine was patented after Carl J. Eliason used parts from a bicycle, a car and a pair of skis to invent it in 1927.
- Carl J. Eliason patented a snow machine in 1927 because he used parts from a bicycle, a car and a pair of skis to invent it.
The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course is designed to give students who fail the literacy test the option to gain the necessary literacy skills.
Are you sure you know all about the OSSLT assessment? Learn more about how to prepare when it's your turn to take the exam.
Test Anxiety and Mental Preparation
Preparing your mind is just as important as practicing your reading and writing skills. These strategies can help you stay calm, confident, and focused — before and during the OSSLT:
| Strategy | What To Do |
|---|---|
| Establish a Study Routine | Build steady habits leading up to the test. Short, consistent sessions are better than cramming. |
| Relaxation Techniques | Practice deep breathing, visualization, or positive affirmations to reduce anxiety. |
| Healthy Lifestyle | Get enough sleep, eat well, and stay physically active — it helps your brain stay sharp. |
Managing your stress effectively can boost both your performance and your confidence. Try adding these techniques to your routine at least a few weeks before the test.
Review of other years' scoring guides
Reviewing previous years' scoring guides is critical to passing the OSSLT. Plus, you can try different reading and writing tasks and test yourself! Here are some advantages of why reviewing scoring guides from previous years is always a good idea:
- Learning about the assessment criteria: Reviewing the scoring guides helps you understand how the test is assessed, identify the most valued aspects, and better focus your preparation.
- Identifying question patterns: Previous years' guides show examples of high- and low-performing answers to analyze what is correct or incorrect and even learn the potential answers.
- Structure your essays better: By studying the scoring guides, you can better structure your essays and written responses, identifying what elements you must include and the type of essays you may be asked to write.
- Better time management: By understanding the type of questions, you can learn to manage your time much more efficiently during the exam and focus on which queries may take the longest to answer.
- Reducing common mistakes: The scoring guides highlight common mistakes students make. This allows you to identify how to solve the question directly without wasting time by including unnecessary details.
Dedication, patience, and practice are essential for preparing more effectively and increasing one's chances of success. Find more tips and resources for passing the OSSLT with top English tutors MontrealEnglish courses in Toronto here on Superprof.
Take an OSSLT Practice Test
Practice literacy tests are indispensable OSSLT resources for studying. You can find dozens of them online, using the EQAO site and many school board websites that provide test samples from years ago. Concentrate on searching for assessment tests from recent years to become familiar with the latest test structures.
Also, you can find sample answers on the Internet, which testers use to score the exams and understand more about the evaluation testing criteria and possible types of exercises included. Knowing what to expect from the OSSLT is the most crucial step you can take to prepare better for it.
Build Your Vocabulary
Many readings on the OSSLT contain challenging words that you might not hear or read daily because the test evaluates whether you can use context to infer the meaning of unfamiliar words. For example, a text might say, "The books sat atop the credenza."
For this reason, building your vocabulary will greatly help with test prep. Read books from different periods of history, search for lists of infrequently used words, or simply read more challenging texts to expose yourself to lesser-known words.
Hire a Tutor on Superprof to Practice OSSLT
To thoroughly prepare for the OSSLT, you may consider hiring a private OSSLT tutor with Superprof. Superprof is one of the best private tutoring platforms in Canada. Students can learn anything they want, and specialized tutors can connect with them easily with just a click.
A private tutor from Superprof can help you plan your study through a personalized study plan, provide great study tips and tricks to pass the OSSLT successfully, and provide practice tests, sample queries, reviews and immediate feedback. Plus, their first private lesson is for free!
You can easily navigate the Superprof platform to search for OSSLT tutors near you. It's the perfect one-stop shop to compare all the best tutors in your location, find the best budget-friendly private tutoring, and a flexible study plan to excel in any upcoming evaluation. Wait no longer and accomplish your study goals with Supeprof anywhere in Canada.
Did you like this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
