Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) – 2025-2026 school year

For the 2025-2026 academic year, the EQAO will host the online OSSLT during the following two windows:

  • FALL – Tues., Nov. 4, 2025, to Tues., Dec. 2, 2025, with individual student results reported by the end of January 2026.
  • SPRING – Mon., Mar. 23, 2026 to Mon., Apr. 20, 2026, with individual student results reported by the end of June 2026.

Questions? – please visit us in room 221 – the Student Success Room

The OSSLT @ St. Mary’s HS for the 2025-2026 school year – TENTATIVE plan:

  • FALL – some grade 11 and 12 students: will write in small groups, in a desktop computer lab, periods 1, 2 & 3
  • FALL – most grade 10 students: will write with their homeroom classmates, in a desktop computer lab, periods 1, 2 & 3
  • FALL – some grade 10 students: will write in small groups, in a desktop computer lab, periods 1, 2 & 3
  • All students expected to write the OSSLT in the Fall will receive a letter in their homeroom class late in October
    These letters will include the student’s OSSLT writing date and location (room #) and accommodations for students with an IEP.
  • SPRING – grade 10, grade 11, and grade 12 students who have not yet attempted the OSSLT or who have not yet been successful
  • All students expected to write the OSSLT in the Spring will receive a letter in their homeroom class early in March
    These letters will include the student’s OSSLT writing date and location (room #) and accommodations for students with an IEP.
  • Students with questions are encouraged to come to Room 221 at lunch, before school, after school, during a spare period, or between classes.

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 OSSLT – click here

Preparing / Practicing for the OSSLT – Important Links

  • Practice (online OSSLT) Test – from the EQAO – click HERE – note: this is a new version of the practice test

  • “What to expect on the OSSLT” – video from the EQAO – click here
  • Format of the Test – click here
  • Tips for completing the OSSLT – click 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 Narratives – click here
  • Tips: Reading Dialogues, Answering Multiple Selection questions, Writing the Opinion Essay – click here
  • Info & built-in Tools for completing OSSLT – click here

Lunch and Before School Help – Sorry after school help not available this school year

  • start date: Fall: n/a, Spring: n/a
  • schedule: Mondays, Wednesdays 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
  • D2L for OSSLT prep – if you are scheduled to write the OSSLT, you will be 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, Mrs. C. Harrington

Schedule
***note: exact times following 9:00 am may change

  • 9:00 – 9:05 – morning announcements, attendance, etc.
  • 9:05 – 9:15 – OSSLT Instructions and Login
  • 9:15 – 10:30 – Session A (extra time is allowed)
  • 10:30 – 10:45 – break
  • 10:45 – 12:00 – Session B (extra time is allowed)
  • 12:00 – 12:15 – Questionnaire Survey
  • 12:15 – go to period 4 and/or period 5 class(es)
  • note: all students will have access to extra time if needed