***Changes for OSSLT 2021:

Students no longer need to:

Write a news report

Read and answer questions on a graphic text

Write a short answer open response (not connected to a reading passage)

Writing tasks have word limits.  Students may only go 10 words over the limit. 

Sessions are set to take 65 and 75 minutes.

For the reading component, students are asked to read a variety of selections and answer questions about each selection. The reading questions are designed to measure student achievement in these areas:

• understanding of ideas and information that are stated directly in the reading selection (Reading 1)

• understanding of ideas and information that are stated indirectly and that require the reader to make inferences (Reading 2)

• making of connections between personal knowledge and experience and the ideas and information in the reading selections (e.g., interpretation of meaning) (Reading 3) 

The reading selections reflect the types of reading materials students should encounter every day, including the following:

• informational materials, such as explanations and instructions

• literary materials, such as stories, descriptions, and dialogues.

The questions on the selections include short-answer questions, multiple choice questions, and questions that require a brief explanation.

For the writing component, students are asked to produce four pieces of writing. The writing tasks are designed to measure student achievement in these areas:

• developing a main idea with sufficient supporting details (Writing 1)

• organizing information and ideas in a coherent manner (Writing 2)

• using conventions (i.e., spelling, grammar, punctuation) in a manner that does not distract from clear communication (Writing 3)

The kinds of writing include the following:

• a short response based on a reading passage 

• a series of paragraphs expressing an opinion