Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) – 2023-2024 school year

For the 2023-2024 academic year, the EQAO will host the online OSSLT during the following two periods:

  • FALL – November 1, 2023, to November 30, 2023, with individual student results reported by the end of January 2024.
  • SPRING – March 20, 2024, to April 24, 2024, with individual student results reported by the end of May 2024.

The OSSLT @ St. Mary’s HS for the 2023-2024 school year

  • FALL – grade 11 and some grade 12 students:  in small groups, over a number of weeks in November
  • FALL – grade 10 students: will not write during the Fall
  • SPRING – grade 10, grade 11 and grade 12 students – most students will write on:  TENTATIVE date:  April 16, 2024
    note:  some
    students will write in small groups in the weeks prior to the above tentative date
  • All students expected to write the OSSLT in the Spring will receive a letter in their homeroom class on (date to be determined)
    These letters will include the student’s OSSLT writing date and location (room #)
  • Students with questions are encouraged to come to Room 221 at lunch, before school, after school, during a spare period, or between classes.
  • SPRING – only students who are writing the OSSLT on TENTATIVE date:  April 16, 2024 –  are to attend school that day.

Who Writes the OSSLT / Who is Deferred?

  • Students in Grades 10 and 11, and non-graduating Grade 12 students, working toward their Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) will write the OSSLT.
  • Students who have an IEP may write the test with the accommodations (e.g. extra time, assistive technology, breaks, prompts) listed in their IEP.
  • Students not working towards their Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) are exempt from writing the test.
  • Framework Document (from the EQAO) for the OSSLTclick here

Preparing / Practicing for the OSSLT – Important Links

  • Practice (online OSSLT) Test – from the EQAO – click here
    or scan the QR code below:

  • Format of the Testclick here
    ***note: the format has changed from the 2022-2023 academic year – there are still 2 sessions, but each session now has 4 sections (not 3)***
  • Tips for completing the OSSLTclick here
  • Reading & Writing strategies, Multiple Select & Multiple Choice strategies, Things to Bring on test day, Things to Know for test day – click here
  • Tips: Reading Newspaper Articles, Information Paragraphs, and Real Life Narrativesclick here
  • Tips: Reading Dialogues, Answering Multiple Selection questions, Writing the Opinion Essayclick here
  • Info & built-in Tools for completing OSSLT – click here
  • How to find my OEN (Ontario Education Number) – needed to complete the OSSLT – click here

After School Help – 2023-2024 academic year

  • semester 1 – start date – Wed., Oct. 25
  • schedule:  Mondays, Wednesdays  3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
  • D2L for OSSLT prep – if you are scheduled to write the OSSLT in the Fall of 2023, you have been added to a D2L OSSLT prep class
    (please look for it in your D2L home page)
  • Room 221 (Student Success Room, computer lab, main floor, east end of building)
  • Tips, hints and strategies for the OSSLT.
  • Teachers – Mrs. K. Drummond, Mr. T. Paolo

Schedule – TENTATIVE date: April 16, 2024 (2023-2024 academic year)
***note:  exact times following 9:00 am may change

  • 9:00 – Morning Exercises & Announcements
  • 9:15 – begin Instruction and login
  • 9:20 – begin Session A
  • 10:20 – Session A is completed*
  • 10:20 – Break
  • 10:40 – Instructions and login, begin Session B
  • 11:40 – Session B is completed*
  • 11:40 – Questionnaire Survey
  • 12:15 & 12:30 – Yellow School Buses Depart
    *All students will have access to extra time if needed (20 – 30 minutes)
    **IEP students have access to double time if required