Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test: Reading Comprehension Overview

Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test: Reading Comprehension

The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) is a requirement for students seeking an Ontario Secondary School Diploma. It assesses their literacy skills, including reading comprehension, which is crucial for success in various subjects and areas of life. The OSSLT is grounded in the Ontario Curriculum expectations for literacy skills up to the end of Grade 9, emphasizing the importance of literacy in all subjects.

Reading Comprehension Assessment

The OSSLT measures students' reading comprehension abilities through various tasks and selection types, including:

1. Information Paragraph: Students must read and respond to six selected-response questions related to an understanding of the information paragraph, which accounts for approximately 13% of the total literacy score.
2. News Report: Students must read and respond to one open-response and five selected-response questions related to an understanding of a news report, also accounting for approximately 13% of the total literacy score.
3. Dialogue: Students must read and respond to five selected-response questions related to an understanding of a dialogue, contributing approximately 10% of the total literacy score.
4. Real-Life Narrative: Students must read and respond to five selected-response questions related to an understanding of a real-life narrative, which accounts for approximately 8% of the total literacy score.

In the reading component of the test, students use strategies to interact with a variety of reading selections and demonstrate their understanding by responding to selected-response questions and one open-response question. These reading selections focus on the following three reading skills:

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 (Interpreting Reading Selections by Integrating Information and Ideas in a Reading Selection and Personal Knowledge and Experience).

The writing component of the OSSLT also emphasizes literacy skills, including writing an opinion essay, responding to questions related to structuring content, organizing ideas, and using language conventions when writing, and completing twelve selected-response questions.

Preparation for the OSSLT

To prepare for the OSSLT, teachers, school administrators, and students can utilize various resources. For teachers, the Ontario Curriculum provides guidelines on literacy skills, including the use of appropriate and correct terminology and encouraging students to use language with care and precision. Students can practice reading comprehension by completing engaging lessons and project-based assessments that build foundational literacy skills for real-life narratives, writing opinion essays, and interpreting informational texts.

Students can also utilize the OSSLT practice test to familiarize themselves with the online platform and test format. The practice test consists of two sessions, equivalent to the live test, and an introductory session to become familiar with the platform's tools and functions.

Accommodations and Re-Testing

If a student fails the OSSLT, they can attempt to write the Ontario Literacy Test again, and if they have an Individualized Education Program (IEP), they are entitled to the accommodations listed on their file for their second attempt. Another option is to complete the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC or OLC), which prepares students to write their own informational paragraphs and interpret texts.

In conclusion, the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test plays a critical role in ensuring that students meet the minimum standard for literacy across all subjects up to the end of Grade 9. By focusing on reading comprehension and preparing students with engaging lessons and practice tests, the OSSLT aims to sharpen essential literacy skills for Ontario students, preparing them for success in their academic and personal lives.