STUDENT INFORMATIONSTUDENT INFORMATIONSTUDENT INFORMATION STUDENT INFORMATION SESSIONSESSIONSESSIONSESSION

OSSLTOSSLTOSSLTOSSLT

MARCH 25, 2008MARCH 25, 20089:50 9:50 –– 10:20 A.M.10:20 A.M.

IntroductionIntroductionIntroductionIntroduction

•• Students in grade 10 must attempt the Students in grade 10 must attempt the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT)(OSSLT)

•• Mandatory if you are working towards a Mandatory if you are working towards a a dato y you a e o g to a ds aa dato y you a e o g to a ds adiplomadiploma

•• Tests your literacy skills you are expectedTests your literacy skills you are expected•• Tests your literacy skills you are expected Tests your literacy skills you are expected to have learned by the end of grade 9to have learned by the end of grade 9

Date and TimeDate and TimeDate and TimeDate and Time

•• Thursday March 27th, 2008Thursday March 27th, 2008•• Be at school by 8:10 a mBe at school by 8:10 a m•• Be at school by 8:10 a.m. Be at school by 8:10 a.m. •• In your assigned classroom by 8:20 In your assigned classroom by 8:20

a.m.a.m.•• Test starts at 8:30 a.m.Test starts at 8:30 a.m.Test starts at 8:30 a.m.Test starts at 8:30 a.m.

Do I have to write the OSSLT Do I have to write the OSSLT this year?this year?

•• Started grade 9 in 2006Started grade 9 in 2006--2007 (last year)2007 (last year)•• Came to Ontario from another province or Came to Ontario from another province or

country and entered grade 10, 11 or 12 country and entered grade 10, 11 or 12 this yearthis year

•• Tried the test but were unsuccessfulTried the test but were unsuccessful•• Test was postponed for you and you are Test was postponed for you and you are

working on completing your high school working on completing your high school diplomadiploma

FormatFormatFormatFormat

•• Complete 2 booklets Complete 2 booklets –– 75 minutes per 75 minutes per bookbook

•• 15 minute break between books 15 minute break between books –– snacks snacks providedprovidedp o dedp o ded

•• In each book: reading selections, writing In each book: reading selections, writing tasks and questionstasks and questionstasks and questionstasks and questions

•• In each book: reading and writing tasksIn each book: reading and writing tasks

What to BringWhat to BringWhat to BringWhat to Bring

•• Blue or black pensBlue or black pens•• Pencils with erasersPencils with erasersPencils with erasersPencils with erasers•• HighlightersHighlighters•• Do not bring: bags jackets lunches andDo not bring: bags jackets lunches and•• Do not bring: bags, jackets, lunches and Do not bring: bags, jackets, lunches and

electronic deviceselectronic devices

READING TASKSREADING TASKS

Reading skills that you will Reading skills that you will g yg yshow:show:

•• Understand directly stated ideas and infoUnderstand directly stated ideas and info•• Understand indirectly stated ideas and infoUnderstand indirectly stated ideas and infoUnderstand indirectly stated ideas and infoUnderstand indirectly stated ideas and info•• Make connections between what you read Make connections between what you read

and your own knowledge and experienceand your own knowledge and experienceand your own knowledge and experienceand your own knowledge and experience

Types of reading passages that Types of reading passages that yp g p gyp g p gmay be on the test:may be on the test:

•• Information Paragraph: info & ideas on a topicInformation Paragraph: info & ideas on a topic•• News Report: information in a news storyNews Report: information in a news story•• Dialogue: a conversation Dialogue: a conversation •• Narrative: an account of a time in a person’s lifeNarrative: an account of a time in a person’s life•• Graphic Selection: presents ideas using graphics Graphic Selection: presents ideas using graphics

such as diagrams, photos, drawings, sketches, such as diagrams, photos, drawings, sketches, patterns, timetables, maps, charts or tablespatterns, timetables, maps, charts or tables

Types of questions in the Types of questions in the yp qyp qreading section:reading section:

•• Multiple Choice: read then select the best Multiple Choice: read then select the best or most correct answer from a list of four or most correct answer from a list of four optionsoptions

•• OpenOpen--response: read info paragraph, response: read info paragraph, OpeOpe espo se ead o pa ag ap ,espo se ead o pa ag ap ,news report or dialogue then answer 1news report or dialogue then answer 1--2 2 questions based on the reading selection. questions based on the reading selection. ques o s based o e ead g se ec oques o s based o e ead g se ec oSix blank lines are providedSix blank lines are provided

WRITING TASKSWRITING TASKS

Writing skills that you will Writing skills that you will g yg yshow:show:

•• Develop a main idea with supporting Develop a main idea with supporting detailsdetails

•• Organize info and ideas in a coherent wayOrganize info and ideas in a coherent way•• Use writing conventions (spellingUse writing conventions (spelling•• Use writing conventions (spelling, Use writing conventions (spelling,

grammar, punctuation) to clearly grammar, punctuation) to clearly communicatecommunicatecommunicatecommunicate

Types of writing questions:Types of writing questions:Types of writing questions:Types of writing questions:

•• Long writing tasks (2 types): Long writing tasks (2 types): –– Write a News Report: use a picture & headlineWrite a News Report: use a picture & headlinep pp p

•• link the headline & photograph to an eventlink the headline & photograph to an event•• one lined page to write your answerone lined page to write your answer•• write about an event that has happened in the write about an event that has happened in the

past to inform readers of a newspaperpast to inform readers of a newspaper

T f iti tiT f iti tiTypes of writing questions:Types of writing questions:•• Long writing tasks (2 types):Long writing tasks (2 types):•• Long writing tasks (2 types): Long writing tasks (2 types):

–– Series of Paragraphs Expressing an OpinionSeries of Paragraphs Expressing an Opiniont i ill b t d f ilit i ill b t d f ili•• topic will be current and familiartopic will be current and familiar

•• 3 paragraphs: intro, body and conclusion3 paragraphs: intro, body and conclusion•• two lined pages to write your answertwo lined pages to write your answer•• two lined pages to write your answertwo lined pages to write your answer•• support opinion: reasons, examples and factssupport opinion: reasons, examples and facts

Types of writing questions:Types of writing questions:Types of writing questions:Types of writing questions:

•• Short writing tasks (write in complete Short writing tasks (write in complete sentences sentences –– 6 lines per answer)6 lines per answer)

•• MultipleMultiple--choice questions (questions will choice questions (questions will check your understanding of the three check your understanding of the three c ec you u de sta d g o t e t eec ec you u de sta d g o t e t eewriting skills)writing skills)

GENERAL TEST INSTRUCTIONSGENERAL TEST INSTRUCTIONSGENERAL TEST INSTRUCTIONSGENERAL TEST INSTRUCTIONS

Punctuality and AbsenteeismPunctuality and AbsenteeismPunctuality and AbsenteeismPunctuality and Absenteeism

•• You received a letter with a room number in it You received a letter with a room number in it ––this is where you will be writing your test this is where you will be writing your test

•• Room numbers will also be posted in the atrium Room numbers will also be posted in the atrium on Thursday morningon Thursday morning

bb•• Be in your seat by 8:20 a.m.Be in your seat by 8:20 a.m.•• If late you will not have any extra timeIf late you will not have any extra time•• If absent you will need to write the test next If absent you will need to write the test next

yearyear

Once you are in the Test RoomOnce you are in the Test RoomOnce you are in the Test RoomOnce you are in the Test Room

•• Teacher will direct you to your seatTeacher will direct you to your seat•• Key Terms will be given to you before the test Key Terms will be given to you before the test

begins begins •• Wait for instructions: do not open book until toldWait for instructions: do not open book until told•• Wait for instructions: do not open book until toldWait for instructions: do not open book until told•• Instructions are on the inside of each booklet Instructions are on the inside of each booklet ––

please follow these carefullyplease follow these carefully•• Review answers if you finish Review answers if you finish •• Check that you haven’t missed any sectionsCheck that you haven’t missed any sections•• Work on your own Work on your own –– questions are not allowedquestions are not allowed•• Do not leave anything blankDo not leave anything blank•• Write clearlyWrite clearly clear handwriting will not be scoredclear handwriting will not be scored•• Write clearly Write clearly –– clear handwriting will not be scoredclear handwriting will not be scored•• Offensive language Offensive language -- will not be markedwill not be marked

TEST TAKING TIPSTEST TAKING TIPS

To answer MULTIPLE CHOICE To answer MULTIPLE CHOICE questions:questions:

•• Answer on Student Answer Sheet in pencilAnswer on Student Answer Sheet in pencil•• Do not leave anything blankDo not leave anything blank –– guess if youguess if youDo not leave anything blank Do not leave anything blank guess if you guess if you

do not know the answerdo not know the answer•• To change your answer erase incorrectTo change your answer erase incorrect•• To change your answer, erase incorrect To change your answer, erase incorrect

answer and fill in the circle of your new answer and fill in the circle of your new answeranswer –– make correct answer darkermake correct answer darkeranswer answer make correct answer darker make correct answer darker

To answer WRITTEN questions:To answer WRITTEN questions:To answer WRITTEN questions:To answer WRITTEN questions:

•• Use blue or black ink or pencil and write in the Use blue or black ink or pencil and write in the booklet on the lines providedbooklet on the lines provided

•• Number of lines = expected length of answerNumber of lines = expected length of answer•• Use rough space to plan answers, but write your Use rough space to plan answers, but write your

h l dh l dresponse in the lined spaceresponse in the lined space•• To change your answer, cross out the incorrect To change your answer, cross out the incorrect

t d it th tlt d it th tlpart and write the new answer neatlypart and write the new answer neatly•• DO NOT USE LIQUID PAPER / WHITE OUTDO NOT USE LIQUID PAPER / WHITE OUT

FOR FINAL REVIEWFOR FINAL REVIEWFOR FINAL REVIEWFOR FINAL REVIEW•• www.markvilless.comwww.markvilless.comwww.markvilless.comwww.markvilless.com

–– Go to: “Liter8 Program”Go to: “Liter8 Program”–– Go to: “Student AreaGo to: “Student Area

•• Literacy Practice BookletsLiteracy Practice Booklets

•• www.eqao.comwww.eqao.comGo to: “English”Go to: “English”–– Go to: EnglishGo to: English

–– Go to: “Student Resources”Go to: “Student Resources”–– Go to: “Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test”Go to: “Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test”y yy y–– Go to: “Getting Ready Guide”Go to: “Getting Ready Guide”

ANY QUESTIONS?ANY QUESTIONS?