To earn an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), students must meet the provincial literacy requirement.
Most students do this by successfully completing the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT), which is typically written in Grade 10.
The test measures reading and writing skills based on the Ontario curriculum up to the end of Grade 9.
Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT)
The OSSLT is administered in Grade 10.
It is based on the Ontario curriculum expectations for reading and writing that have been identified across the curriculum up to and including Grade 9.
The results of the OSSLT are reported as:
- Successful. The literacy requirement has been met.
- Unsuccessful. Students who are unsuccessful will be given clear feedback on areas for improvement and will have additional opportunities to meet the requirement.
If you are unsuccessful on your first attempt:
- You will be allowed to retake the test.
- You may enroll in the Literacy Course (OSSLC) to satisfy the diploma requirement.
Accommodations
- A student with special education needs who has an Individual Education Plan (IEP) may receive accommodations for the test.
- The accommodations will be the same as those set out in the student's IEP and/or those that are available to the student in the course of their regular school work, including examinations and other forms of evaluation. (Note: Adherence to the EQAO policy on accommodation for the OSSLT is required.)
- A deferral may be granted if the student is unable to participate in the test even if all accommodations were provided.
- A student whose IEP indicates that the student is not working towards the attainment of a secondary school diploma may, with the consent of the parent/guardian and the approval of the principal, be exempted from participating in the OSSLT.
- An English Language Learner (ELL) may receive special provisions such as adjustments to the setting and/or timing of the test. A deferral may be granted if the ELL has not acquired a level of proficiency in English sufficient to participate.
Decisions regarding accommodations, special provisions, and deferrals are made in consultation with the student and parents or the adult student, and with the appropriate teaching staff.
Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC)
The OSSLC is a Grade 11/12 Open course and is part of The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 11 and 12: English program.
Students are eligible to take this course after one failed attempt at the OSSLT with the principal's permission.
When students successfully complete the OSSLC, they will have met the provincial literacy requirement for graduation. Students earn a credit for successful completion of the OSSLC which may be used as an additional English credit (to meet either the Grade 11 or 12 English credit) or a Group 1 compulsory credit.
Additional Opportunity for Students to Obtain Their Graduation Literacy Requirement (Adjudication Process)
Students who are eligible to graduate in June, but have not completed the Literacy requirement for graduation through no fault of their own and have not been able to take advantage of the normal opportunities to write the OSSLT or have not been able to enrol in/or complete the OSSLC due to unforeseen circumstances, may have their case reviewed by an Adjudication Panel. For more information, please contact your secondary school.
Frequently Asked Questions
The test has multiple-choice and open-response questions that focus on the reading skills required in school and daily life:
- understanding explicitly (directly) stated ideas and information;
- understanding implicitly (indirectly) stated ideas and information and
- making connections between information and ideas in a reading selection and personal knowledge and experience.
The reading selections include the following: information paragraph, news report, dialogue, real-life narrative and graphic text (e.g., schedule). They vary in length from a single paragraph to two pages.
The test has short- and long-writing tasks, and multiple-choice questions that focus on three writing skills required in school and daily life:
- developing a main idea with sufficient supporting details;
- organizing information and ideas in a coherent manner and
- using conventions (spelling, grammar, punctuation) in a manner that does not distract from clear communication.
The test has short- and long-writing tasks, and multiple-choice questions that focus on three writing skills required in school and daily life:
- developing a main idea with sufficient supporting details;
- organizing information and ideas in a coherent manner and
- using conventions (spelling, grammar, punctuation) in a manner that does not distract from clear communication.
One of the tasks is writing a news report based on a picture and headline provided. Students make up facts and information to answer the questions Who? What? Where? When? Why? and How? and write a one page report on the event. The audience is an adult reader of a newspaper.
The other long-writing task is a series of paragraphs expressing an opinion on a given topic. Students develop a main idea with supporting details (proof, facts, examples, etc.) and write a minimum of three paragraphs on the two pages provided for the response. The audience is an adult who is interested in the opinion provided.
The short (paragraph) writing tasks give the student the opportunity to use his/her knowledge and personal experience while demonstrating his/her writing skills.
The multiple-choice questions give you the opportunity to demonstrate the three writing skills.
If a student entered Grade 9 in September 2000 or later and is working toward an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), the student must write the OSSLT. This applies to all students in publicly funded schools, private schools, overseas schools, correctional facilities and Section 23 programs.
A student needs to be sure they have the reading and writing skills that should have been acquired by the end of Grade 9, as outlined in The Ontario Curriculum. These skills are the basis for learning in all subject areas throughout both elementary and secondary school. Successful completion of the OSSLT meets one of the requirements for the OSSD.
Writing now gives students the time to get help if needed to improve their reading and writing skills. If a student does not pass the OSSLT this year, they will have opportunities to retake it in future years.
No. Successful completion of the OSSLT is one of the 32 requirements for the OSSD. The test will not count toward course marks.
Your secondary school transcript will indicate that you have completed the OSSLT as one of the requirements for the OSSD.
The OSSLT is based on the reading and writing skills learned up until the end of Grade 9.
Yes. If a student does not succeed, they will have the opportunity to take the test again.
If a student has an Individual Education Plan (IEP) for classroom tests and assessments, they may be able to get an accommodation. For more information, visit EQAO’s Website, and talk to your school principal and/or teacher (such as the Special Education Resource Teacher, Literacy Teacher, or Student Success Teacher).
To be eligible for an exemption, the student must have an IEP that clearly indicates that he/she is not working toward an OSSD. For more information, talk to your school principal and/or teacher (such as the Special Education Resource Teacher, Literacy Teacher, or Student Success Teacher), or visit EQAO’s Website.
A student may be able to get a special provision or deferral. For more information, talk to your school principal and/or teacher (such as the Literacy Teacher, Student Success Teacher or English as a Second Language Teacher), or visit EQAO’s Website.
A student gets a score of zero for these questions.