OSSLT
Ontario Secondary
School Literacy Test
Thursday, March 26, 2015
What does the test consist of?
• The test consists of two booklets and a
student answer sheet
• You have 75 minutes for each booklet
• Once the time is up, the booklet you
are working on is collected
• If you have an IEP, you will have
received an accommodation letter for
the OSSLT
Reading
• Test includes different types of reading:
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–
–
–
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Information paragraph
News report
Dialogue
Real-life narrative
Graphic text
• Each reading passage will be followed by:
– Multiple choice questions
– Paragraph responses (summary, main idea,
making connections and/or opinion)
Writing
Test includes different types of writing:
• Multiple Choice questions focusing on
writing
• Two short writing tasks
– Opinion paragraphs
• Two long writing tasks
– News Report
– Series of paragraphs expressing an opinion
Multiple Choice Questions
• Choose the best or most correct
answer for each question
• You must record your multiple choice
answers on the Student Answer Sheet
• Colour in the Circle Completely
– Like this:
Not Like this:
• Fill in only one circle for each question
Book I – Tutorial
Section A – Reading
Multiple Choice & Open Response
Questions
Section A - Multiple Choice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73Z
DMd3KmjU
Section A –Multiple Choice
Answers
Section A – Open Response
Short Writing Task
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJY
6tk2aCHM
Example Short Open Response
6. Lizarda is a good choice for the internship
because he understands the “basic principles of
animation,” has an excellent sense of storytelling, and can create a picture with animation
that will tell a story entertaining to audiences.
These are the reasons why Lizarda will be a good
choice for the internship at Lucas Animation.
Section B – Writing
Multiple Choice
Section B – Multiple Choice
Answers
Section B – Multiple Choice
Answers
Section C – Reading Task
Multiple Choice & Open Response
Questions
Section C – Multiple Choice
Answers
Section C – Open Response
Examples
6. The interview with Alex is beneficial to
Nat’s career exploration. Alex provides
him with some realistic advice on how to
become a businessman. He tells Nat the
importance of researching, and developing
a business plan. He also encourages him to
stay focused on his goals. These are the
reasons that Alex’s interview is beneficial
to Nat.
Section C – Open Response
Examples
7. This selection shows the benefits of
volunteering for community service. Through
volunteering Alex is able to create a business
out of something that he is passionate about.
He also recognizes a need in the community
and finds a clever way to fill it. Lastly he is
able to give back to seniors in the community.
In conclusion, these are the reasons that
volunteering is beneficial.
Section D – Writing
Short Writing Task
Section D – Example Response
An environmental issue that is important today
is reducing our ecological footprint. Decreasing
our ecological footprint is important because
we are using up natural resources too quickly.
In addition it is important because it limits
pollution in the air and water. Finally it ensures
a healthy environment for future generations.
In conclusion, these are the reasons that
reducing our ecological footprint is an
important environmental issue.
Section E – News Report
News Report
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_N
mVtnEEA8
Section E – Sample Response
Yesterday at Heart Lake Secondary School, in Brampton
students participated in an important election for their student body
president.
The voting for student body president took place in the gym
during lunch. The election was being held because the previous
president is graduating at the end of the school year.
Emily Trident had this to say about the election, “This is a
really great opportunity for me because I think my ideas could really
make a difference in my school. Emily has been campaigning hard and
is hopeful that she will become the first female school president at
Heart Lake Secondary. Principal Kelman said, “Elections are a great
process for all students to participate in.”
Over 1,200 students voted for one of the eight candidates
running in the election. The votes will be tallied at the end of the
school day today with winners announced tomorrow.
Section F – Reading
Multiple Choice & Open Response
Questions
Section F – Multiple Choice
Answers
Section F – Open Response
Example
The main idea of the selection is polar
bear survival through climate change.
The selection discusses specific studies
where scientists try to determine if polar
bears could be sustained on a diet of
berries only. Scientists discovered that
polar bears could not “extract sufficient
energy from berries alone.”
Book II – Tutorial
Section G – Writing a Series of
Paragraphs
Series of Paragraphs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5N
rNcaWfiA
Section G – Sample Response
High school is one of the first times that students have the opportunity to
work. A part time job is a taste of the real world and is good to teach
teens what it is like to work. It is a good idea for students to have a part
time job because it helps students manage money, worth ethic, and it
keeps them out of trouble
One of the first reasons it is good for teenagers to have a part
time job is that it helps them gain independence. By earning their own
money, they will recognize that “money doesn’t grow on trees”. They
will learn how quickly their money can disappear if they do not manage
their money correctly. And with it being their own money, they will pay
more attention to the use of their money.
Another reason for teenagers to have a job is to teach them
responsibility. By having a job, students will learn more about hard work.
Later in life they will join working world and will need to understand the
true meaning of “a hard day’s work.” Also, they will learn the
importance of time management as they will need to balance studies and
their part time job.
Section G – Sample Response
Finally, having a part time job gives teenagers experience. It
can teach them many basic work skills such as customer service and
acting professionally. Also they will gain experience working with many
different people. In conclusion, experience gained is an important reason
for teenagers to have a part time job.
In conclusion, it is a good idea that all teenagers have a part
time job as they will learn independence, responsibility, and gain
valuable work experience. Although part time jobs are beneficial
students should remember to balance their academics, social activities
and their job.
Section H – Writing
Multiple Choice
Section H - Answers
Section I – Reading
Multiple Choice
Section I – Multiple Choice
Answers
Section I – Multiple Choice
Answers
Section J – Reading
Multiple Choice & Open Response
Questions
Section J – Multiple Choice
Answers
Section J – Open Response
Example
6. Gerry believes that Hanna’s suggestions will
help him. This is shown when Gerry breathes a
sigh of relief and asks for more tips. Also Gerry is
cooperative with Hanna’s suggestions such as
visualizing himself at this job. At the end of the
story, Gerry also wants to go for a walk just like
Hanna suggested.
7. This selection shows us that Gerry and Hanna’s
relationship is a good one. They are kind to each
other, Hanna tries to help Gerry relax and Hanna
recalls previous occasions where Gerry was
encouraging to her. This shows us that they have a
supportive relationship with each other.
Section K – Writing
Short Writing Task
Section K – Short Writing Task
Example
One action that I can take in my daily life
to be more healthy is to walk more.
Walking gets us to move around and burn
calories. Also, walking is good for our
joints and keeps us active. Last, walking
prevents us from sitting too long and
being too sedentary. Walking is one action
that I can do everyday that will help me
be more healthy.
Section L – Reading
Graphic/Informational Text &
Multiple Choice
Graphic Text
• For this section use the question book
to record your rough answers and then
transfer them into the answer book.
• Read the titles and introduction to
become familiar with the information
Graphic Text
• The questions most likely are grouped
by graph or source of information.
• Use your multiple choice question
strategies.
Section L – Multiple Choice
Answers
Review & Recap
Written Answers
• Write legibly on the lined space
provided
• Pay attention to clarity, organization,
spelling, grammar and punctuation
• There are spaces in the test booklets
for rough notes – nothing you write in
these spaces will be marked
Open Response Questions
• Short opinion piece from the reading
where you must agree or disagree with
the question
– First take a stand, decide if you agree or
disagree
– Second look for evidence to support your
point directly from the reading
• Remember you are only to fill the
space available.
Short Writing Task - Opinion
• For this task you will need to have an
introductory sentence outlining your
three points or examples and a
conclusion sentence.
• This is an opinion piece so you get to
choose all of the information.
Short Writing Task - Opinion
• Introductory sentence example:
– Cats are the best pets because they are
friendly, playful, and low maintenance.
• Body sentences will expand on each of
your selected examples. Each example
will have 2-3 sentences expanding on
your thoughts.
Short Writing Task - Opinion
• Concluding sentence example:
– Since cats are friendly, playful, and
require less care and responsibility than
other pets they are indeed the best pet.
News Report
Step 1 Planning:
– Look at the picture – What is happening?
– How can you connect the picture with the
headline?
– Create rough notes to answer the
following:
– Who?
– Why?
-When?
-Where?
-What?
-How?
News Report
• Then add:
– Quotes (you will make these up)
– More information
Answering Multiple Choice
Questions
• It’s right there – these are the obvious
answers straight from the reading.
• Think and Search – these answers are
in the reading, but you need to use
some inference.
Multiple Choice Strategies
• Note or circle the most important
details in the question & passage.
• Cross out incorrect answers right away
to eliminate additional information.
Answering Multiple Choice
Questions Strategies
• Look for grammatical clues. If the stem
ends with the indefinite article "an,"
for example, then the correct response
probably begins with a vowel.
• Look for verbal associations. A
response that repeats key words that
are in the stem is likely to be correct
Multiple Choice Questions
Strategies
• If you cannot answer a question within
a minute or less, skip it and plan to
come back later
• When you come back and still can’t be
sure of the correct answer, guess.Do
not leave any questions blank!
The Test Day at a Glance
8:10 – Arrive to Heart Lake
8:20 – Arrive to your assigned classroom
8:30 – 9:45 – Booklet 1
9:45 – 10:00 – Break (snack will be
provided)
10:05 – 11:20 – Booklet 2
11:20 – 11:30 – Student Questionnaire
The Test Day at a Glance
11:30 – Test finished
2:20 - Buses arrive
Students cannot be in the hallways of
the school after the test is finished.
What you may to bring into the
test room
•
•
•
•
Pencils
Eraser
Blue or black pens
Bottle of water (label removed)
What you may NOT bring into
the test room
• Cell phone
• Any electronics including Ipod/MP3
Player
• Coloured pens
• White out
• Dictionary
Important Information
• Be sure to copy your multiple choice
answers on the student answer sheet
• Be sure to answer the questions given,
do not make up your own questions or
topics
• Be sure to write or print neatly – if
they can’t read it – they can’t mark it!
• Do not write anything offensive or
draw any pictures on your test
Important Information
• Teachers & supervisors are not allowed
to answer any questions about the test
• Be sure to get a good night’s sleep the
night before the test
• Do not “cram” for the test the night
before
• Be sure to eat a good breakfast the
morning of the test
• DO NOT be late!! No extra time will be
given
Any Questions?
Good Luck!
You will get your results
back in June with your
final report card.