1. HEY YOU IN GRADE 10! How about a few pointers for that LITERACY TEST?
By: [Your Name]
[Your Teacher’s Name]
[Your Grade]

2. ONTARIO SECONDARY SCHOOL LITERACY TEST Thursday March 27, 2014

3. IN-CLASS MOCK TEST THURSDAY FEBRUARY 13
Those who do poorly on any section of the Mock Test will receive remediation in the library prior to the official test.

4. ORGANIZATION OF SLIDE SHOW
Frequently Asked Qs
Organization of Test
General Tips
READING
General Hints
Types of Questions
Multiple Choice
Open Response
Summary
WRITING
General Hints
Types of Questions
News Report
Series of Paragraphs
Reminders for Test Day

5. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What will the test materials look like?
Two test booklets and one Student Answer Sheet
How long do I have to write it?
Booklet 1 – 75 min.
15 min. break
Booklet 2 – 75 min.
10 min. for questionnaire
Where will I write it?
In a classroom – you will receive information
When will I know the results?
In June

6. Now listen up! This is how the test is organized:

7. BOOKLET 1 1. ONE PAGE ARTICLE - READING 5 multiple choice questions
A short written answer
2. GRAMMAR - WRITING
4 multiple choice questions
3. SHORT ANSWER - WRITING
A personal topic
4. NEWS REPORT - WRITING
A report for the news based on a headline and a photo
5. SHORT ARTICLE - READING
6 multiple choice questions
A summary

8. BOOKLET 2 1. SERIES OF PARAGRAPHS - WRITING
3 paragraphs (your opinion)
2. GRAMMAR - WRITING
4 multiple choice questions
3. NEWS REPORT - READING
1 page article
9 multiple choice questions
4. DIALOGUE ARTICLE - READING
5 multiple choice questions
2 written answers
5. GRAPHIC TEXT - READING
6 multiple choice questions
6. PERSONAL QUESTIONNAIRE

9. Listen carefully! The following are general tips for the whole test:

10. TIPS FOR THE WHOLE TEST Read instructions very carefully
Circle key directions on the question booklet
Do exactly what you are asked to do (No more and no less!)

11. TIPS FOR THE WHOLE TEST (cont.)
Leave no blanks
Stay on topic
Write on every line and do not write any part of your answer below the lines (It will not be marked!)

12. Now let’s go into the specific sections of the test.

13. READING

14. READING GENERAL HINTS BEFORE READING: Preview the text by skimming it
Look carefully at the photograph or diagram
Read the questions

15. READING GENERAL HINTS WHILE READING:
Highlight or underline facts, details, or ideas that link to the questions

16. READING GENERAL HINTS AFTER READING:
Identify the key words in the question
Scan the text for these key words
Answer every question!

17. READING
There are three types of questions you will have to answer in the reading sections:
1. Multiple Choice
2. Open Response
3. Summary

18. READING 1. MULTIPLE CHOICE
READING 1. MULTIPLE CHOICE *NOTE: Students do the most poorly on these types of questions!
You will be asked three types of
questions that demonstrate
three different reading skills:
1. Reading “on the lines:” using the information that is directly stated in the text (literal meaning).

19. READING MULTIPLE CHOICE
2. Reading “between the lines:” using text as clues to make reasonable guesses about what is not directly stated in the text (making inferences)
*Hint: These questions often start with “What is the most reasonable, likely or probable.”

20. READING MULTIPLE CHOICE
3. Reading “beyond the lines:” Using the text to make connections to ideas outside of the text (making connections)

21. READING 2. OPEN RESPONSE Answers are based on the reading
Write your answers on the 6 lines provided
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

22. READING 3. SUMMARY Follow the directions exactly as stated:
“Summarize this selection. Include a main idea and one detail that supports it.”
Do not express your personal opinion

23. WRITING

24. WRITING GENERAL HINTS
Language must be appropriate and formal (no slang)
Use complete sentences
Grammar, punctuation and spelling are evaluated in these sections

25. Your writing skills will be tested in four ways:
1. News Report
2. A Series of Paragraphs
Expressing an Opinion (Essay)
3. Short Response
4. Multiple Choice – Grammar

26. WRITING NEWS REPORT Refer to both the image and headline
Write in third person (she, he…)
Write in past tense
Include at least two quotations
Have at least four distinct paragraphs
Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are evaluated

27. WRITING NEWS REPORT (cont.)

28. WRITING SERIES OF PARAGRAPHS
Write at least 3 paragraphs
Introduction
Paragraph(s) that develop ideas
Conclusion
State your opinion clearly at the beginning

29. WRITING SERIES OF PARAGRAPHS (cont.)
Indent the first sentence of each paragraph
Support your opinion by giving reasons, examples, facts, and details
Fill both pages given
Take time to make rough notes and/or an organizer to organize your ideas
Correct grammar and spelling

30. ON MARCH 27TH REMEMBER THE FOLLOWING:

31. 1. Be well rested and eat a good breakfast.

32. 2. Arrive at school early and know which room you have been assigned
2. Arrive at school early and know which room you have been assigned. *Some students failed last year simply because they were late!

33. 3. Stay focused.

34. 4. Answer ALL the questions.

35. 5. Relax and show how clever you are!
GOOD LUCK! Come and see Ms. Moher in the library if you would like a paper copy of this powerpoint.