Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT)
All students working towards an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) must satisfy the provincial literacy requirement for graduation. The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) is an online test created by the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO). Successfully completing the OSSLT satisfies the literacy requirement. Students are eligible to write the test beginning in Grade 10.
The test, based on reading and writing expectations up to the end of Grade 9, is written in the fall and/or the spring. Students who are unsuccessful will have the opportunity to rewrite the test with remedial assistance offered.
Accommodations for identified students are provided; as long as they are part of the student’s IEP and fall within EQAO guidelines. Deferrals and exemptions for the test may be granted on an individual basis due to exceptional circumstances. For more detailed information, email [email protected]
Link to tutorials and resources & sign-ups
Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course
This course is designed to help students acquire and demonstrate the cross-curricular literacy skills that are evaluated by the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT). Students who complete the course successfully will meet the provincial literacy requirement for graduation. Students will read a variety of informational, narrative, and graphic texts and will produce a variety of forms of writing, including summaries, information paragraphs, opinion pieces, and news reports. Students will also maintain and manage a portfolio containing a record of their reading experiences and samples of their writing.
Eligibility Requirements
Students are eligible to write the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test beginning in Grade 10.
As of September 2022, any student in Grade 10 (or older) may enroll in the Literacy course.
It is recommended that students attempt the OSSLT at least once before enrolling in OSSLC.
For questions about the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test or Course, please email [email protected]