Father Michael Goetz Catholic Secondary School What to Expect on the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test Wednesday, March 27th, 2019.

What is the OSSLT? The OSSLT is a provincial test of reading and writing. It is published by the Ministry of Education and is a mandated test for all high school students in Ontario. The OSSLT is administered to all grade 10 students in the province of Ontario.

What is the purpose of the test? The OSSLT assesses student literacy on Ontario curriculum expectations covered up to and including the end of Grade 9. The test includes reading selections and writing tasks as well as questions on basic grammar and punctuation knowledge.

The Ontario Literacy Test The successful completion of the Literacy test is a requirement for graduation.

What is on the test. How long does the test last What is on the test? How long does the test last? How will I know if my child has been successful? Two test booklets and two answer booklets 2.5 hours of testing - 75 minutes per booklet Your child will receive an individual report at the beginning of the next school year indicating whether he or she has been successful or unsuccessful.*

What is a passing score? A passing score is 300 out of 400 possible marks. Many of the students who are unsuccessful receive a score of 290 or 295.

My child is an ELL (English Language Learner) My child is an ELL (English Language Learner). What special provisions are available? Students receiving English Language support are eligible for special provisions in time and setting. These may include: up to double time and an individual or small group setting. Students who have not yet acquired a level of English proficiency to allow them to be successful, may be deferred (but they will have to successfully complete the test in order to graduate).

My child has an IEP or IPRC. What accommodations are available? Students with an IEP or IPRC will, depending on their exceptionality, receive accommodations which may include: double the time, a Kurzwell/audio version of the test, or a scribe.

What your child needs on the day of the test: Pens and pencils Hi-lighters A good night’s sleep A healthy breakfast A positive attitude

Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test The performance task. The Performance Tasks WRITING READING Informational selections (brochures, textbook excerpts, advertisements, articles, reports) A selection with graphical features (charts, diagrams, maps, graphs) Narrative selections News report Short six line response Series of paragraphs expressing an opinion

Writing

Writing Long-writing tasks Two short writing tasks News Report (one page) Series of paragraphs expressing an opinion (two pages) Two short writing tasks Six lines each Multiple Choice Questions Developing a main idea with supporting details Organization of ideas Language conventions

Writing: News Report Task: Write a news report based on the headline and picture below. You will have to make up the facts and information to answer some or all of the following questions: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? You must relate your news report to both the headline and the picture. Purpose and Audience: to report on an event for the readers of a newspaper Length: The lined space provided in the Answer Booklet for your written work indicates the appropriate length of writing expected. Note the task bar.

Students receive only the picture and the headline Computers are faulted for lower literacy scores

Writing a Series of Paragraphs Task: Write a series of paragraphs (a minimum of three) expressing an opinion on the topic below. Develop your main idea with supporting details (proof, facts, examples, etc.) Purpose and Audience: an adult who is interested in your opinion Topic: Is it a good idea to have a part-time job before graduating from high school? Length: The lined space provided in the Answer Booklet for your written work indicates the approximate length of the writing expected. This is the only one of the writing prompts that asks students to write about their opinion on a topic that may be of interest to high school students.

Writing: Series of Paragraphs Write a minimum of three paragraphs expressing your opinion. Develop your main idea with supporting details. Give proof, facts or examples. E.g. Is it a good idea to have a part-time job before graduating from high school?

Writing: Two Short Writing Tasks For each, in complete sentences, create an answer which will show your knowledge and writing skills. Base your answer on personal experience. Use the six lines provided for each. Eg. What was your favourite childhood game? Explain why you liked it.

Multiple-Choice Questions There will be multiple choice questions based on a reading requiring students to: identify a main idea identify supporting details organize ideas understand language conventions (Students will be required to choose the most correct answer.)

Reading Selections

Types of Reading Selections Informational texts (225-250 words) Paragraph News Reports Narrative texts Dialogue (225-250 words) Real-Life narrative (550-600 words) Graphic Texts (fewer than 150 words)

Reading: Informational Texts Paragraph: a series of sentences which are about one aspect of a topic. News Report: the communication of information on current events in the form of a news story.

Reading: Narrative Texts Dialogue: a literary composition in the form of a conversation between two people. Real Life Narrative: retells an account of a significant time in an individual’s life.

Reading: Graphic Texts Graphic Text: presents ideas and information with the help of graphic features, life diagrams, charts, timetables, maps or tables.

Selections with Graphical Features This is an example of a Selection with Graphical Features.

Types of Questions for Reading Selections: Multiple Choice Open Response What do the questions look like?

Reading: Question Types Description Multiple Choice Select the best or most correct choice from a list of four options. Open Response Construct a response based on the reading on the six lines provided.

What if my child is unsuccessful? Students who are unsuccessful in grade 10 have the opportunity to write the OSSLT again in grade 11 or take the Ontario Literacy Course (OLC) to fulfill the literacy requirement.

What can I do to help my child be successful? Successful students read. Ask your child to show you what they are reading. Magazines and newspapers are an excellent source for students. Choose an article from their favourite magazine/newspaper and discuss articles from these print sources. Sign your child up for our after school literacy preparation course. Go on-line and help your child complete a practice test.

Practice Tests & Information The following links have good literacy information or materials: www.eqao.com www.peopleforeducation.com https://www3.dpcdsb.org/GOETZ

When is the Ontario Secondary School Literary Test Written? This year it is written on Wednesday, March 27th, 2019.