Lesson #1
INTRODUCTION TO THE OSSLT
(FORMAT OF THE TEST ; LANGUAGE & KEY WORDS)
ARE YOU READY
FOR THE LITERACY
TEST?
AFTER THIS WEEK
YOU WILL BE!
About the test
 All grade 10 students (and second time
writers) will write the literacy test on
Thursday March 26 @ 8:30 a.m.
 You must pass the test in order to graduate
 If you do not pass the test you can re-write
the test or take the Ontario Secondary School
Literacy Course
 Our goal is to prepare you well so that you will
be successful on your first try- you need to
take this seriously!
About the test continued
 The OSSLT is a provincial test of literacy
(reading and writing) skills students have
acquired by Grade 10. It is based on the
literacy skills expected in The Ontario
Curriculum across all subject areas up to the
end of Grade 9.
About the test continued
 The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT)
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has reading and writing activities
The questions can be: multiple choice, short writing
tasks and long writing tasks
You will also write a News Report and a Series of
Paragraphs (an essay)
There are two booklets
Each booklet is 75 minutes long
You will have a 15 minute break in between booklets
We provide you with a drink and snack during the
break!!
 Teachers please handout Booklet 1 Questions
and Booklet 1 Answers
NEW LAYOUT for 2015
 Each Booklet comes
with QUESTIONS
and ANSWERS
 You will record ALL
your answers in the
ANSWERS BOOKLET.
 Don’t write
anything in the
QUESTIONS book- it
will not be marked!
You have 75
minutes for
Booklet 1 and
then you will
have a 15
minute break
Class step by step review of the
booklets
 1) Take a few minutes to look at the sample
Booklet 1 QUESTIONS and the sample
Booklet 1 ANSWERS. Look at how the two
books are organized.
 Reminder- for Booklet 1 you only write in the
ANSWERS booklet.
Class step by step review of the
Your sample
booklets continued
does not have a
 2) As a class follow
along with the
INSTRUCTIONS on
the Booklet 1
QUESTIONS book.
Your teacher will
read these to you.
(Ignore the part that says
check the identification
numbers- the identification
number will be at the top of
the page for the REAL test)
bar code- but
the real test will
Class step by step review of the
Your sample
booklets continued
does not have a
 3) As a class
follow along with
the
INSTRUCTIONS on
the Booklet 1
ANSWERS book.
Your teacher will
read these to you.
bar code- but
the real test will
NEW LAYOUT for 2015
 After the break
on the test day
you will be given
Booklet 2QUESTION and
ANSWERS
 Again- a reminder
to only write in
the ANSWERS
BOOK
See it says Booklet
2- we are not giving
you booklet 2
examples today
Student Activity
 Read Section A Reading: An Animator from
Scarborough on page 2 in the QUESTIONS
Booklet.
 Answers the Multiple Choice Questions (#1-5)
and Open Response Question (#6) on page 2
in the ANSWERS Booklet.
 Your teacher will take up the answers in a few
minutes.
Section A Reading: Answers
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1. C
2. F
3. A
4. H
5. B
 6. Open response answers will vary. With a
partner review your answer and provide each
other with feedback. Be sure to look for specific
examples from the reading to support the
answer.
Language and Key Words on the Test
 Teachers please handout the EQAO Key Words
sheet (large ledger handout)
Let’s look at some Key Words/Terms
 You will be asked to compare, define,
describe, determine, explain, identify... etc.
 In this lesson we will review what these key
words mean
 It is very important that you read the
questions on the literacy test carefully to be
sure you are doing what is asked
Compare means…….
 To identify what is the same
 To explain the difference between two or
more things
 TIP: Include examples that show how the
things are similar or different in one or more
important ways
DEFINE!!!!!
Define means…..
 To state the meaning of the word or phrase
being defined
TIP:
 The response should include the meaning and
enough detail to distinguish its meaning from
similar words or phrases.
DESCRIBE
Describe means…
 Use words to create a mental picture of what
is being described for the reader
TIP:
 The response must give the characteristics
and key features of what is being described in
an organized manner
DETERMINE!!!
Determine means…
 To show a solution to a problem using logical
reasoning or mathematics
EXPLAIN
Explain means….
 Provide specific and relevant supporting
details
TIP:
 Show the link between the explanation and
the idea or point being explained
IDENTIFY
Identify means….
 To provide the name of a person, place or
thing, or for a reason
TIP:
 The response must use information from the
reading selection
JUSTIFY
Justify means…
 To give reasons, evidence and/or calculations
to show why an answer, argument or
conclusion is correct
PREDICT
Predict means….
 To identify what may happen based on the
information provided in the reading selection
or mathematical question
Predict means….
 To identify what may happen
based on the information
provided in the reading
selection or mathematical
question
SUMMARIZE
To Summarize means….
 To concisely identify the main idea and give
relevant, supporting details from the original
text
USE
YOUR
IDEAS!!
To Use Your Own Ideas to support your
answer means….
 To include your prior knowledge and
experience of the topic from the reading
selection to develop the main idea of the
answer
LIST
List Your Information means….
 To include information in point form
List Your
Information
means….
To include information in
point form
STUDENT ACTIVITY: Matching Key Words
 1) Complete OSSLT- Getting to Know Key
Words Section A: Matching on the ledger size
handout.
 Your teacher will take the answers up as a class in a
few minutes.
STUDENT ACTIVITY: Matching Answers
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1. Compare
2. Define
3. Describe
4. Determine
5. Explain
6. Identify
7. Justify
8. Predict
9. Summarize
10. Use Your Ideas
11. List
__G__
__F__
__A__
__B__
__H__
__E__
__C__
__I__
__J__
__K__
__D__
STUDENT ACTIVITY: Open Response
 2) Complete the Section IX: Reading and then
answer questions 6 and 7 on the ledger size
handout provided.
 Look at the rubric on the next slide to see how you are
marked for these questions.
 The highest mark you can get for each questions is 30
 Once you have reviewed the rubric write your
answers to 6 and 7 on the
handout sheet.
Question # 6
Let’s look at some
sample answers and
how they were
scored.
The highest score is a
30.
Question # 7
Let’s look at some
sample answers and
how they were
scored.
The highest score is a
30.
Thank you for your attention and
participation!
 If you would like a copy of this PowerPoint
you can visit www.bcssonline.com for all the
materials used for each OSSLT preparation
lesson.
 Please keep your sample booklets. You will
need these booklets for the OSSLT Prep
lessons each day this week.