To earn an Ontario Secondary School
Diploma (OSSD), you must complete:
 30
credits (18 compulsory and 12
elective)
 40 community involvement hours
 Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test
(OSSLT)
 Started
grade 9 in 2011-2012 (last year)
 Came
to Ontario from another province
or country and entered grade 10, 11 or 12
this year or after March last year
 Tried
the test in the past but were
unsuccessful
 Were
absent or deferred in the past and
are working towards completing the high
school diploma
Thursday
April 11th, 2013
In school @ 8:35 a.m.
In your assigned classroom @ 8:40
a.m.
Starting at 8:50 a.m.
sharp
 You
will receive an information sheet with a
room number on it – this is where you will be
writing your test
 Record
 Room
 The
this number in a safe place
numbers will NOT be posted
day of the test, be in your seat by 8:40
a.m.
 If
you arrive within 30 minutes of the
test starting, you will be escorted to
your room to write the test
 You
will not get any extra time
 The
instructions will not be repeated
 Your
chances of passing will be
jeopardized and you may have to
write the entire test again next year
Don’t be late! It will affect your chances
of passing.
 If
you are absent for any reason
(including medical emergencies), your
score will be listed as “UNSUCCESSFUL”
 You
will have to write the test again
next year
Bring
 HB
Pencils
 pens
 a highlighter
Do NOT Bring
 iPods
 cell
phones
 any other electronic
devices
 notes, notebooks
2
booklets – 75 minutes each booklet
 10
minutes for instructions before each
booklet
 15
minute break between booklets –
snacks provided
 In
each booklet: reading selections,
writing tasks and questions
For students who have an Individual
Education Plan or are English
Language Learners:
 Extra
time (up to double time)
 Accommodations
as listed on the IEP
(i.e. use of a computer, quiet space)

Teacher will direct you to your seat

Your seat will remain the same for Booklets 1 & 2



Wait for instructions: do not open booklet until
told
Only open Booklet 1 and place Booklet 2 facing
down on the corner of your desk
Read instructions on the inside of each booklet
and follow these carefully
Teachers cannot…
 explain,
 answer
define, or provide examples
questions related to the test
 Listen
to teacher’s oral instructions at
the beginning of each booklet
 Work
on your own
 Write
clearly
 Follow
all the instructions in the booklet
 Manage
your time
 Complete
all tasks! Don’t leave
anything blank
 Only
 Use
use the space provided
rough notes space
 EQAO
will report offensive comments
to the Principal, Ms. McGinley
 Your
chance of success will be
jeopardized
 Check
your answers
 Put
your head down on the desk
quietly!
 DO
 You
NOT DISTURB YOUR CLASSMATES!
will not be allowed to leave early
 pass
or fail
 mid-June,
you will receive a letter from
EQAO with your results
 if
unsuccessful, you will meet with Ms.
Bazzo and/or Ms. Gillies to determine
your next steps
 Understand
directly (explicit) stated
ideas and information
 Understand
indirectly (implicit) stated
ideas and information
 Make
connections between what you
read and your own knowledge and
experience
Information Paragraph: information & ideas
on a topic
2. News Report: information in a news story
3. Dialogue: a conversation
4. Real-life Narrative: a description of a time
in a person’s life
5. Graphic Text: ideas presented in graphics
such as schedules, diagrams, photos,
drawings, sketches, patterns, timetables,
maps, charts or tables
1.
a.
b.
Multiple Choice: read and then select the
best or most correct answer from a list of
four options. Use the Student Answer Sheet.
Open-response: read information paragraph,
news report or dialogue and then answer 12 questions based on the reading selection.
Six blank lines are provided. Use them all,
but don’t write outside the lines.
Be sure to make connections between the text
and your own experience
 Developing
a main idea with enough
supporting details
 Organizing information and ideas in a
coherent way
 Using writing conventions (spelling,
grammar, punctuation) to
communicate clearly
1a. Long writing tasks:
• NEWS REPORT: using a picture & headline
 link the headline & photograph to an event
 use the one lined page provided to write your answer
 write about an event that happened in the past to
inform readers of a newspaper
 include information about who, what, where, when,
why and how (you can make up facts to make your
story interesting)
 Keep in mind your audience: an adult reader of a
newspaper
 Small
paragraphs
 Two to three quotes
 Specific details
Types of writing questions:
1b. Long writing tasks:
SERIES OF PARAGRAPHS: expressing an
opinion
•topic will be current and familiar
•minimum of 3 paragraphs: intro, body and
conclusion
•two lined pages to write your answer
•support opinion: reasons, examples and facts
•audience: an adult interested in your opinion
2. Short writing tasks: write in complete
sentences – use the number of lines
provided for each answer. Be specific.
3. Multiple-choice questions: questions
checking your understanding of the three
writing skills – developing a main idea,
organizing information and using writing
conventions to communicate clearly.
Record answers on Student Answer Sheet.
 Answer
on Student Answer Sheet in
pencil
 Do not leave anything blank – guess if
you do not know the answer
 To change your answer, erase
incorrect answer and fill in the circle of
your new answer
 Make correct answer darker
 Use
blue or black ink or pencil and write in
the booklet on the lines provided
 Number of lines = expected length of answer
 Use rough notes space to plan answers, but
write your response on the lined space
 To change your answer, cross out the
incorrect part and write the new answer
neatly
 DO NOT USE LIQUID PAPER / WHITE OUT

Go to Milliken’s website and click on the link on the front
page to review this power point presentation
http://mmhs.ca/

Literacy Practice Booklets and Practice Test
www.eqao.com
•
•
•
•
Go to: “English”
Go to: “Student Resources”
Go to: “Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test”
Go to: “Getting Ready Guide”
We all need a helping hand.
 Be
confident! The LIT BLITZ prepared
you.
 Get
a good night’s sleep
 Eat
breakfast
 We
know you can do this!