PREPARING FOR THE
OSSLT
(Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test)
WELCOME TO A SUPPORT PROGRAM
DESIGNED TO PROVIDE YOU WITH SKILLS
YOU WILL NEED AS YOU PREPARE TO
WRITE THE LITERACY TEST ON
MARCH 31, 2016
FOR THE FIRST SESSION
 Please
turn to a Section 1: Reading in your
OSSLT Preparation Workbook
 For
Section 1 of the Literacy Test, you
will be reading a passage and answering
questions based upon the reading
SOME TIPS BEFORE YOU BEGIN
 Prepare
in advance by reading ALL the
Multiple Choice questions and the
Written Answer questions
 Have
a highlighter ready to mark
important information as you read the
passage
GETTING IT RIGHT


After you have read the passage and highlighted
it, re-read the multiple choice questions and
answer them carefully
Once you have decided on your answer, go back
to the story and, where possible, highlight or put
a check mark where you got your answer
THE WRITTEN ANSWERS

Repeat part of the question in your opening
sentence. Turn the question into a statement.
For example,
What evidence can you find in this selection
that shows that Vickie and her husband
tried to minimize their risks?
Becomes:
There is evidence in the selection which
shows that Vickie and her husband tried to
minimize their risks.
For example,
Use information in this selection and your
own ideas to explain why Vickie and her
husband would be considered entrepreneurs.
Becomes:
Vickie and her husband could be considered
entrepreneurs for several reasons.

You should NOT start to give your reasons,
examples, or proofs in your opening sentence.
THE WRITE STUFF
Use the Rough Notes section at the bottom of
the page to organize your ideas
 Try to fill up the lines provided but do not go
over
 After your opening statement, try to include
three (3) reasons, examples, or ideas to support
your answer
 Re-read your answers carefully. Remember that
your target audience is an adult marking your
response
 Check for possible spelling, punctuation, or other
grammatical errors
 Take pride in your answer!

SOME EXAMPLES TO GUIDE YOU
THE FOLLOWING
SAMPLES SHOW THREE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF
MARKED RESPONSES FROM A RANGE OF
10
10-30
20
30
NOW THAT YOU HAVE
COMPLETED A SECTION 1
PRACTICE SESSION, LET’S MOVE
ON TO SECTION 2: WRITING
SECTION 2:
THE SHORT WRITING TASK
These tasks give you the opportunity to use your
knowledge and personal experience while
demonstrating your writing skills.
 Read and reread the question carefully.
 Think of links between the topic and your
knowledge and personal experiences.
 Answer the question using specific details and
relevant information.
 Reread your response and correct any errors you
notice.
 Review previous tips for short answers.

THE WRITE STUFF
Use the Rough Notes section at the bottom of
the page to organize your ideas
 Try to fill up the lines provided but do not go
over
 After your opening statement, try to include
three (3) reasons, examples, or ideas to support
your answer
 Re-read your answers carefully. Remember that
your target audience is an adult marking your
response
 Check for possible spelling, punctuation, or other
grammatical errors
 Take pride in your answer!

EXAMPLE
Question 1:
Do you prefer to work alone or with a group?
Becomes:
I prefer to work with a group for several
reasons. I find that being in a group helps
me to discover new ideas. I also like to share
my thoughts with others. Finally, being in a
group is a great way to meet new people.
Sometimes in can be useful to THINK of writing this
expression at the start of your paragraph –
IN THIS PARAGRAPH,
I AM GOING TO
PROVE THAT…
However, do NOT actually write this at the
start of your paragraph.
FINALLY...



When giving proof from the passage, be careful
not to copy the wording exactly as it appears.
This would be considered simply copying the
ideas.
Try to summarize the points in your own words.