April 22nd, 2022

As part of the requirement to receive an Ontario Secondary School Diploma, students need to demonstrate a level of proficiency in reading and writing skills.  The common way students complete this literacy requirement is by writing the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT).  For the 2021-22 school year, Grade 10 students (and Grade 11 and non-graduating Grade 12 students who were unsuccessful in November) will be provided with the opportunity to write this test on Thursday, May 5th.  

As an alternative for our Grade 11 and 12 students, the Ontario Literacy Course (OLC) is also an option.  Grade 11 and 12 students wishing to complete their literacy requirement in this way should sign up for the course with their Guidance Counsellor.  

Remote Learning Program (RLP) students are being offered a chance to complete this requirement through Adjudication this year, or the OSSLT or the OLC next year.  These students will be contacted directly by PHS staff to discuss their options.

What is the OSSLT? 

The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) is a single event that allows a student to satisfy their literacy graduation requirement. The OSSLT consists of two parts: 

  • Session A focuses on reading comprehension. Students will:
    • read three separate passages
    • complete a series of multiple-choice questions about the content they have read in each
    • write a short response to an open-response question
  • Session B focuses on reading comprehension and writing skills. Students will:
    • read two passages and complete a series of multiple-choice questions about them
    • answer a set of questions about grammar
    • write a series of paragraphs supporting their opinion on an assigned topic

What if my student is not writing the OSSLT? 

Thursday, May 5 is a Blended Learning Day. Secondary students who are writing the OSSLT will attend in-person. The remaining secondary students will learn asynchronously from home. Students in our ACE classrooms will attend in-person.

What if my student is graduating this school year?

Graduating Grade 12’s have been exempted from the literacy requirement this year, and do not have to do the test, course or adjudication.

How will the test be administered? 

The test is online this year. Students will use their WRDSB provided chromebooks to write the OSSLT. The test has many features to support students including:

  • a help menu 
  • a text-to-speech function that reads the text on the screen out loud 
  • a zoom-in and zoom-out function to permit larger font sizes
  • a line reader that helps students focus on one line of text at a time 
  • a high-contrast view 
  • annotation tools 
  • a tool for rough notes 
  • an option to split the screen so students can see both the questions and the passage at the same time

How can I help my student prepare for the OSSLT? 

Before the Test 

  • teachers have been offering in-class OSSLT prep during the month of April, including the facilitation of the practice test
  • encourage the student to review the OSSLT Preparation Materials which includes
    • a link to the online practice test
    • a review of the format and tools available
    • linked mini-lessons on the skills assessed on the test
  • remind the student to be on time 
  • remind the student to eat before the test 
  • encourage your student to do their best, knowing other ways of earning the requirement will be provided if the test doesn’t go well

The Day of the Test 

  • remind the student to be on time and review the May 5, 2022 schedule.
  • remind the student to eat before the test 
  • bring their charged WRDSB chromebook, charger, and headphones and/or mouse (if desired)
  • encourage your student to do their best, knowing other ways of earning the requirement will be provided if the test doesn’t go well 

In order to create a positive environment that will optimize the conditions for successful completion of the OSSLT, the instructional school day for all students at PHS has been modified.  The following is the schedule for May 5, 2022:

If you have further questions, please contact the Preston High-School main office at (519) 653-2367