OSSLT

Ontario Secondary School

Literacy TestThursday, March 26, 2015

What does the test consist of?

• The test consists of two booklets and a student answer sheet

• You have 75 minutes for each booklet• Once the time is up, the booklet you

are working on is collected• If you have an IEP, you will have

received an accommodation letter for the OSSLT

Reading• Test includes different types of reading:

– Information paragraph– News report– Dialogue– Real-life narrative– Graphic text

• Each reading passage will be followed by:– Multiple choice questions– Paragraph responses (summary, main idea,

making connections and/or opinion)

WritingTest includes different types of

writing:• Multiple Choice questions focusing

on writing• Two short writing tasks

– Opinion paragraphs

• Two long writing tasks – News Report– Series of paragraphs expressing an

opinion

Multiple Choice Questions

• Choose the best or most correct answer for each question

• You must record your multiple choice answers on the Student Answer Sheet

• Colour in the Circle Completely – Like this: Not Like this:

• Fill in only one circle for each question

Book I – Tutorial

Section A – Reading Multiple Choice & Open

Response Questions

Section A - Multiple Choice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73ZDMd3KmjU

Section A –Multiple Choice Answers

Section A – Open Response

Short Writing Task

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJY6tk2aCHM

Example Short Open Response

6. Lizarda is a good choice for the internship because he understands the “basic principles of animation,” has an excellent sense of story-telling, and can create a picture with animation that will tell a story entertaining to audiences. These are the reasons why Lizarda will be a good choice for the internship at Lucas Animation.

Section B – WritingMultiple Choice

Section B – Multiple Choice Answers

Section B – Multiple Choice Answers

Section C – Reading Task Multiple Choice & Open

Response Questions

Section C – Multiple Choice Answers

Section C – Open Response Examples

6. The interview with Alex is beneficial to Nat’s career exploration. Alex provides him with some realistic advice on how to become a businessman. He tells Nat the importance of researching, and developing a business plan. He also encourages him to stay focused on his goals. These are the reasons that Alex’s interview is beneficial to Nat.

Section C – Open Response Examples

7. This selection shows the benefits of volunteering for community service. Through volunteering Alex is able to create a business out of something that he is passionate about. He also recognizes a need in the community and finds a clever way to fill it. Lastly he is able to give back to seniors in the community. In conclusion, these are the reasons that volunteering is beneficial.

Section D – Writing Short Writing Task

Section D – Example Response

An environmental issue that is important today is reducing our ecological footprint. Decreasing our ecological footprint is important because we are using up natural resources too quickly. In addition it is important because it limits pollution in the air and water. Finally it ensures a healthy environment for future generations. In conclusion, these are the reasons that reducing our ecological footprint is an important environmental issue.

Section E – News Report

News Report

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_NmVtnEEA8

Section E – Sample Response

Yesterday at Heart Lake Secondary School, in Brampton students participated in an important election for their student body president.

The voting for student body president took place in the gym during lunch. The election was being held because the previous president is graduating at the end of the school year.

Emily Trident had this to say about the election, “This is a really great opportunity for me because I think my ideas could really make a difference in my school. Emily has been campaigning hard and is hopeful that she will become the first female school president at Heart Lake Secondary. Principal Kelman said, “Elections are a great process for all students to participate in.”

Over 1,200 students voted for one of the eight candidates running in the election. The votes will be tallied at the end of the school day today with winners announced tomorrow.

Section F – Reading Multiple Choice & Open

Response Questions

Section F – Multiple Choice Answers

Section F – Open Response Example

The main idea of the selection is polar bear survival through climate change. The selection discusses specific studies where scientists try to determine if polar bears could be sustained on a diet of berries only. Scientists discovered that polar bears could not “extract sufficient energy from berries alone.”

Book II – Tutorial

Section G – Writing a Series of Paragraphs

Series of Paragraphs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5NrNcaWfiA

Section G – Sample Response

High school is one of the first times that students have the opportunity to work. A part time job is a taste of the real world and is good to teach teens what it is like to work. It is a good idea for students to have a part time job because it helps students manage money, worth ethic, and it keeps them out of trouble

One of the first reasons it is good for teenagers to have a part time job is that it helps them gain independence. By earning their own money, they will recognize that “money doesn’t grow on trees”. They will learn how quickly their money can disappear if they do not manage their money correctly. And with it being their own money, they will pay more attention to the use of their money.

Another reason for teenagers to have a job is to teach them responsibility. By having a job, students will learn more about hard work. Later in life they will join working world and will need to understand the true meaning of “a hard day’s work.” Also, they will learn the importance of time management as they will need to balance studies and their part time job.

Section G – Sample Response

Finally, having a part time job gives teenagers experience. It can teach them many basic work skills such as customer service and acting professionally. Also they will gain experience working with many different people. In conclusion, experience gained is an important reason for teenagers to have a part time job.

In conclusion, it is a good idea that all teenagers have a part time job as they will learn independence, responsibility, and gain valuable work experience. Although part time jobs are beneficial students should remember to balance their academics, social activities and their job.

Section H – Writing Multiple Choice

Section H - Answers

Section I – Reading Multiple Choice

Section I – Multiple Choice Answers

Section I – Multiple Choice Answers

Section J – Reading Multiple Choice & Open

Response Questions

Section J – Multiple Choice Answers

Section J – Open Response Example

6. Gerry believes that Hanna’s suggestions will help him. This is shown when Gerry breathes a sigh of relief and asks for more tips. Also Gerry is cooperative with Hanna’s suggestions such as visualizing himself at this job. At the end of the story, Gerry also wants to go for a walk just like Hanna suggested.7. This selection shows us that Gerry and Hanna’s relationship is a good one. They are kind to each other, Hanna tries to help Gerry relax and Hanna recalls previous occasions where Gerry was encouraging to her. This shows us that they have a supportive relationship with each other.

Section K – Writing Short Writing Task

Section K – Short Writing Task Example

One action that I can take in my daily life to be more healthy is to walk more. Walking gets us to move around and burn calories. Also, walking is good for our joints and keeps us active. Last, walking prevents us from sitting too long and being too sedentary. Walking is one action that I can do everyday that will help me be more healthy.

Section L – Reading Graphic/Informational Text &

Multiple Choice

Graphic Text

• For this section use the question book to record your rough answers and then transfer them into the answer book.

• Read the titles and introduction to become familiar with the information

Graphic Text

• The questions most likely are grouped by graph or source of information.

• Use your multiple choice question strategies.

Section L – Multiple Choice Answers

Review & Recap

Written Answers• Write legibly on the lined space

provided• Pay attention to clarity,

organization, spelling, grammar and punctuation

• There are spaces in the test booklets for rough notes – nothing you write in these spaces will be marked

Open Response Questions

• Short opinion piece from the reading where you must agree or disagree with the question– First take a stand, decide if you agree

or disagree– Second look for evidence to support

your point directly from the reading

• Remember you are only to fill the space available.

Short Writing Task - Opinion

• For this task you will need to have an introductory sentence outlining your three points or examples and a conclusion sentence.

• This is an opinion piece so you get to choose all of the information.

Short Writing Task - Opinion

• Introductory sentence example:– Cats are the best pets because they are

friendly, playful, and low maintenance.

• Body sentences will expand on each of your selected examples. Each example will have 2-3 sentences expanding on your thoughts.

Short Writing Task - Opinion

• Concluding sentence example: – Since cats are friendly, playful, and

require less care and responsibility than other pets they are indeed the best pet.

News Report

Step 1 Planning:– Look at the picture – What is

happening?– How can you connect the picture with

the headline?– Create rough notes to answer the

following:– Who? -When? -What?– Why? -Where? -How?

News Report

• Then add:– Quotes (you will make these up)– More information

Answering Multiple Choice Questions

• It’s right there – these are the obvious answers straight from the reading.

• Think and Search – these answers are in the reading, but you need to use some inference.

Multiple Choice Strategies

• Note or circle the most important details in the question & passage.

• Cross out incorrect answers right away to eliminate additional information.

Answering Multiple Choice Questions Strategies

• Look for grammatical clues. If the stem ends with the indefinite article "an," for example, then the correct response probably begins with a vowel.

• Look for verbal associations. A response that repeats key words that are in the stem is likely to be correct

Multiple Choice QuestionsStrategies

• If you cannot answer a question within a minute or less, skip it and plan to come back later

• When you come back and still can’t be sure of the correct answer, guess.Do not leave any questions blank!

The Test Day at a Glance

8:10 – Arrive to Heart Lake 8:20 – Arrive to your assigned

classroom8:30 – 9:45 – Booklet 1 9:45 – 10:00 – Break (snack will be

provided)10:05 – 11:20 – Booklet 211:20 – 11:30 – Student

Questionnaire

The Test Day at a Glance

11:30 – Test finished2:20 - Buses arrive

Students cannot be in the hallways of the school after

the test is finished.

What you may to bring into the test room

• Pencils • Eraser• Blue or black pens• Bottle of water (label removed)

What you may NOT bring into the test room

• Cell phone• Any electronics including Ipod/MP3

Player• Coloured pens• White out• Dictionary

Important Information• Be sure to copy your multiple choice

answers on the student answer sheet• Be sure to answer the questions

given, do not make up your own questions or topics

• Be sure to write or print neatly – if they can’t read it – they can’t mark it!

• Do not write anything offensive or draw any pictures on your test

Important Information• Teachers & supervisors are not

allowed to answer any questions about the test

• Be sure to get a good night’s sleep the night before the test

• Do not “cram” for the test the night before

• Be sure to eat a good breakfast the morning of the test

• DO NOT be late!! No extra time will be given

Any Questions?

Good Luck!

You will get your results back in June with your

final report card.