O S S L T

March 27th - 2 0 14

EQAO ONTARIO SECONDARY SCHOOL LITERACY TEST

What is EQAO? OSSLT?

EQAO - Education Quality & Accountability Office

You have written EQAO tests in grades 3, 6, 9 (MATH) and 10 (OSSLT)

This test evaluates literacy skills that are taught in grades 7, 8 and 9

Ensuring Student Success

Writing the test in Grade 10 allows time for remediation before graduation.

YOU CAN TRY AGAIN IF YOU NEED TO

To ensure student success “specialty clinics” will be held during February and March to assist those who need a little more

practice. More specifically, selected students will be asked to attend 8 remedial sessions

Additional Information to Ensure Success

Grade 9 and 10 teachers have participated in Literacy Strategies in all curriculum areas

throughout semester 1.

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

Practice tests can be found on the EQAO website:

http://www.eqao.com

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

THIS IS A GRADUATION

REQUIREMENT

PLEASE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO BE

PRESENT FOR THIS TEST

Thursday March 27th, 2014

Arrive at school not later than 8:05 a.m.

Put EVERYTHING in your locker

Be standing outside your test room at 8:10 a.m.

***** DON’T BE LATE *****

BE ON TIME

If student is less than 30 min. late Write book 1 in time remaining Will receive no instructions from teacher

If student is more than 30 min. late May not enter test room until break Only write booklet 2

WHAT TO BRING...You may bring….

Blue/black penPencilEraserHighlighterYour watchA novel to read if

you finish earlyWater bottle

You may NOT bring…. Coloured pens Liquid paper Electronic

devices Dictionaries Backpacks Coats

What Types of Questions Can I Expect on the OSSLT?

• Reading

• Writing

• Informational Text - i.e., paragraph, news report

• Graphical Text

• Narrative Text - i.e., dialogue, real-life narrative VIA… Short answer/open response multiple choice

• Writing - Long writing prompts news report, series of paragraphs, expressing an opinion.

• Two Short writing Tasks - (6 lines each)

• Multiple Choice - Language conventions, supporting statements

READING – 3 SKILLS are measured

1. Understanding explicitly stated information and ideas

2. Understanding implicitly stated information and ideas (making inferences)

3. Making connections between information and ideas in a reading selection and personal knowledge and experience

Reading Skills - How Measured

1. Read and respond to questions related to understanding an information paragraph

2. Read and respond to questions related to understanding of a news report

3. Read and respond to questions related to understanding of a dialogue

4. Read and respond to questions related to understanding of a real-life narrative

5. Read and respond to questions related to understanding of a graphic text

Reading skills account for ~53% of total literacy score

WRITING - 3 writing SKILLS

1. Developing a main idea with sufficient supporting details

2. Organizing information and ideas in a coherent manner

3. Using conventions (spelling, grammar, and punctuation) in a clear manner

Writing Skills - How measured?

1. Multiple Choice Questions response to questions related to structuring content, organizing ideas and using convention (10% of literacy score)

2. Two Short Writing Tasks

responses to prompts (12% of literacy score)

3. Two Long Writing Tasks write a series of paragraphs expressing an opinion (12 % of literacy score)

write a news report (12 % of literacy score)

Sample Writing Instructions: The News Report:• Task: write a news report based on

the headline and picture on the next page. You will have to make up the facts and information, answering some or all of the questions: Who?What?Where?When Why? How? You must relate your newspaper report to both the headline and the picture.

• Purpose & audience: to report on an event for the readers of a newspaper.

• Length: the lined space provided for your written work indicates the approximate length of the writing expected.

• Sample Headline: School receives computers as a reward

• Sample Picture: students gathered around a computer

Writing a series of Paragraphs:

• Task: Write a minimum of three paragraphs expressing an opinion on the topic below. Develop your main idea with supporting details (proof, facts, examples, etc)

• Purpose & Audience: an adult who is interested in your opinion.

• Length: the lined space provided for our written work indicates the approximate length of the writing expected.

• Sample topic: Is it important for teenagers to pay attention to world news?

General Tips

• Write/print clearly• Re-read instructions on inside cover of test

booklets• Follow all instructions• Fill the space given (no more, no less)• Check your work• Manage your time

GOOD LUCK

You will get your results back in June

Any questions? Contact Jeff Carey, Vice

Principal at Nelson careyj@hdsb.ca