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





For several parts of the Literacy Test, you will be
reading passages and answering questions based
upon the readings.
The reading questions are designed to measure
student achievement in these areas:
understanding of ideas and information that are
stated directly in the reading selection (EXPLICIT)
understanding of ideas and information that are not
stated directly and that require the reader to make
conclusions (IMPLICIT)
making of connections between personal knowledge
and experience and the ideas and information in the
reading selections (interpretation of meaning)
SOME TIPS BEFORE YOU BEGIN
 Prepare
in advance by reading carefully
ALL the Multiple Choice questions and
the Written Answer questions that follow
the reading passage.
 Have
a highlighter ready to mark
important information as you read the
passage.
Multiple-Choice (Record the best or most correct answer on the Student Answer
Booklet.)
1. What would be the most appropriate title for this selection?
a. A New Start
b. A Chef’s Special
c. Father Knows Best
d. Practice Makes Perfect
2. What is indicated by the single quotation marks in paragraph 4 around “Go! Hurry!”?
a. Gerry is talking to himself.
b. Two people are talking at the same time.
c. Gerry is speaking someone else’s words.
d. The words are thoughts, not conversation.
3. What does Hanna mean when she says, “I was a wreck” (paragraph 7)?
a. She was exhausted from lifeguarding.
b. She feared starting a new lifeguarding job.
c. She was injured while she was on the job.
d. She needed help from the Second Career program.
4. How does Gerry feel when he exhales loudly in paragraph 10?
a. He is beginning to relax.
b. He is exhausted with worry.
c. He is impatient with his children.
d. He is irritated to receive so much advice.
Read the selection below and answer the questions that follow it.
“Is tomorrow the big day?” asked Hanna. Her father was lost in thought. “Dad?”
“Sorry.” Gerry snapped out of his reverie. “I can’t focus. Nerves, I guess.”
“Don’t be nervous,” said Hanna. “You’re a fantastic chef!”
“Thanks. It’s not the cooking that I’m worried about—it’s the pace. ‘Go! Hurry!’ People yelling …getting annoyed.”
Hanna could see his anxiety. “But we have given you lots of practice dealing with impatient, noisy people,” she said.
“You have an advantage over the 20-year-old apprentices! They haven’t been cooking for five kids for 18 years.”
“True,” acknowledged Gerry. “It’s just scary trying a new career at 44, even with the help from the Second Career
program.”
“Remember the night before I started that lifeguarding job? I was a wreck, and you and Mom gave me great advice.”
“What?”
“Take a deep breath,” she replied. “Go for a walk.”
Gerry exhaled loudly. “That helps. Any other tips?”
“You distracted me with a funny story—remember your lab partner who used salt instead of sugar?”
“Poor Steve,” recalled Gerry, chuckling. “Let’s hope I don’t make mistakes like that!”
“You won’t,” said Hanna reassuringly. “And Mom suggested that I visualize the end of my first day. Picture yourself
cleaning your station after your shift and imagine the feeling of accomplishment.”
Gerry closed his eyes and swished his hands out in front of him, wiping an imaginary counter.
They burst out laughing. “Feeling of relief, or maybe exhaustion,” added Gerry. “Forget visualization, how about that
walk?”
GETTING IT RIGHT

After you have read the passage and highlighted
it, re-read the multiple choice questions and
answer them carefully.
TIPS FOR ANSWERING
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS






Try to come up with the answer in your head before
looking at the possible answers. This way the choices
won’t throw you off or trick you.
Eliminate answers you know aren’t right.
Read ALL the choices.
Don’t leave it blank. Make an educated guess.
Don’t keep changing your answer. Usually your first
choice is the right one.
Once you have decided on your answer, go back to
the story and, where possible, highlight, underline,
circle, or put a check mark where you got your
answer.
Read the selection below and answer the questions that follow it.
“Is tomorrow the big day?” asked Hanna. Her father was lost in thought. “Dad?”
[1]
“Sorry.” Gerry snapped out of his reverie. “I can’t focus. Nerves, I guess.”
[2]
“Don’t be nervous,” said Hanna. “You’re a fantastic chef!”
[3]
“Thanks. It’s not the cooking that I’m worried about—it’s the pace. ‘Go! Hurry!’ People yelling …getting annoyed.”
[4]
Hanna could see his anxiety. “But we have given you lots of practice dealing with impatient, noisy people,” she said.
“You have an advantage over the 20-year-old apprentices! They haven’t been cooking for five kids for 18 years.”
[5]
“True,” acknowledged Gerry. “It’s just scary trying a new career at 44, even with the help from the Second Career
program.”
[6]
“Remember the night before I started that lifeguarding job? I was a wreck, and you and Mom gave me great advice.” [7]
“What?”
[8]
“Take a deep breath,” she replied. “Go for a walk.”
[9]
Gerry exhaled loudly. “That helps. Any other tips?”
[10]
“You distracted me with a funny story—remember your lab partner who used salt instead of sugar?”
[11]
“Poor Steve,” recalled Gerry, chuckling. “Let’s hope I don’t make mistakes like that!”
[12]
“You won’t,” said Hanna reassuringly. “And Mom suggested that I visualize the end of my first day. Picture yourself
cleaning your station after your shift and imagine the feeling of accomplishment.”
[13]
Gerry closed his eyes and swished his hands out in front of him, wiping an imaginary counter.
[14]
They burst out laughing. “Feeling of relief, or maybe exhaustion,” added Gerry. “Forget visualization, how about that
walk?”
[15]
Multiple-Choice (Record the best or most correct answer on the Student Answer
Booklet.)
1. What would be the most appropriate title for this selection?
a. A New Start
b. A Chef’s Special
c. Father Knows Best
d. Practice Makes Perfect
2. What is indicated by the single quotation marks in paragraph 4 around “Go! Hurry!”?
a. Gerry is talking to himself.
b. Two people are talking at the same time.
c. Gerry is speaking someone else’s words.
d. The words are thoughts, not conversation.
3. What does Hanna mean when she says, “I was a wreck” (paragraph 7)?
a. She was exhausted from lifeguarding.
b. She feared starting a new lifeguarding job.
c. She was injured while she was on the job.
d. She needed help from the Second Career program.
4. How does Gerry feel when he exhales loudly in paragraph 10?
a. He is beginning to relax.
b. He is exhausted with worry.
c. He is impatient with his children.
d. He is irritated to receive so much advice.
THE WRITTEN ANSWERS

Repeat part of the question in your opening
sentence. Turn the question into a statement.
For example,
Does Gerry believe that Hanna’s suggestions
will help him? Use specific details from
the selection to explain your answer.
Becomes:
Gerry does believe that Hanna’s suggestions
will help him.
You should NOT start to give your reasons,
examples, or proofs in your opening sentence.
 Avoid the word “because” in your opening
sentence.
 Do NOT say:
Gerry believes that Hanna’s suggestions will
help him because…
 Rather say…
There are several details which show that
Gerry believes Hanna’s suggestions will help
him. (Then give support.)

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, include 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. Write neatly!
 Be satisfied with your answer!

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 put specific details from the reading
passage into your own words.
SOME EXAMPLES TO GUIDE YOU
THE FOLLOWING
SAMPLES SHOW THREE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF
MARKED RESPONSES FROM A RANGE OF
10-30
NOW THAT YOU HAVE
COMPLETED A SECTION 1
PRACTICE LESSON, 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 re-read the question carefully.
 Think of links between the topic and your
knowledge and personal experiences.
 Answer the question using specific details and
relevant information.
 Re-read your response and correct any errors
you notice.
 Review the tips for writing 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, include 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. Write neatly!
 Be satisfied with 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 for me to meet new
people.
Make sure that you connect your answer to your
personal opinion with proof to support your opinion.
BE MEANINGFUL AND SPECIFIC!!