What is the OSSLT?
The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) is a standardized test that all students in Ontario must pass to graduate high school. It evaluates the reading and writing skills you should have gained through the province’s English curriculum from kindergarten to grade 9. If you are in a French language school board, you will take Test Provincial de Compétences Linguistiques (TPCL).
Students take the OSSLT in grade 10 in the spring or fall. If you fail the test, you can retake it or take the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC).
The test is usually completed on a computer in two parts. Session A takes approximately 65 minutes, and Session B takes approximately 75 minutes. Your school might schedule both sessions on the same day or on separate days. Your teacher will provide you with all the information you need to know, and you can request accommodations if you need them. If you already have an IEP, those accommodations will apply during this test.
What skills does the OSSLT test for?
The OSSLT assesses reading and writing skills by asking students to:
- Write paragraphs, introductions, and conclusions for different audiences.
- Express and defend your opinions with evidence.
- Read texts and identify the main points and supporting evidence.
- Interpret narrative texts like news reports and short fictional stories.
- Interpret informational texts like textbooks and opinion pieces.
How do I prepare for the OSSLT?
If you’ve been attending school in Ontario, you have already prepared for the OSSLT! Still, you may want to review everything you’ve been learning.
Start by watching this video about what to expect on the OSSLT. Then start practicing! You can take the practice test on the EQAO website.
For a more detailed explanation of the OSSLT as a literacy test and a sample student report, you can look through the OSSLT framework.
What supports are available to English Language Learners (ELLs)?
If you are new to Canada and English is not your first language, the OSSLT may seem challenging. The good news is that support is available to English Language Learners (ELLs) to help you succeed.
Teachers and school administrators can help create a plan for you to make the test more accessible, which may look like:
- Additional time to take the test.
- A quiet, private and/or small group setting.
- Prompts if you need help focusing while taking the test.
In addition, ELLs are eligible for extended, supervised breaks while taking the test.
If you take courses like English As a Second Language (ESL) or English Literacy Development (ELD), you may also be allowed to defer your test. This means you can take the test later in high school.
What if I fail the OSSLT?
All high school students must pass the OSSLT or OSSLC to graduate. If you fail, you can retake the test the following year.
Students who have failed the test may be eligible to take the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC) in grade 12. The course is one credit and teaches four units:
- Unit 1: Reading and writing fundamentals
- Unit 2: Exploring a variety of texts
- Unit 3: Workplace communication
- Unit 4: Reviewing key concepts
Talk to your guidance counsellor to see if you can take the OSSLC course.