The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test

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The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test is administered to all students in the province in March of their Grade 10 school year. Successful completion of the test is a graduation requirement. The test is composed of reading selections with multiple-choice and open-response items, writing prompts with multiple choice writing items.

All students across the province write the test on the same date, usually in late March each year.

The test is administered in one day in two 75-minute blocks.

Accommodations can be provided to students with Individual Education Plans and special provisions are available to students new to English.

Since 2000-2001, all secondary students must successfully complete the provincial secondary school literacy test in order to earn a secondary school diploma. This test will normally be written in Grade 10, in April. Accommodations will be made to ensure that students who are receiving special education programs and services, and who have an Individual Education Plan (IEP) have a fair and equal opportunity to successfully complete the secondary school literacy test. The accommodations made will be the same as those that are set out in the student’s IEP and/or that are available to the student in the course of his or her regular school work, including examinations and other forms of evaluation. While accommodations such as alternative forms of print and extra time are acceptable, the actual content of the secondary school literacy test must not be altered.

Students who are not successful on the test, will have the opportunity to write it again. If the second attempt does not prove successful, students will have the opportunity to take the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course. The achievement of credit in this course will fulfill the literacy requirement for diploma purposes.

Deferrals

Students who might benefit from a deferral of the test may include students who have been identified as exceptional and students registered in English as a Second Language/English Literacy Development (ESL/ELD) courses, who have not yet acquired the level of proficiency in English for successfully completing the test. If a parent or an adult student requests a deferral, the principal will determine whether or not the deferral should be granted and, if so, for what period of time.

Exemptions

Students whose IEP indicates that the student is not working towards the attainment of a secondary school diploma may, with parental consent, and the approval of the principal, be exempted from participating in the secondary school literacy test. Students who do not successfully complete the literacy test will not be able to receive a secondary school diploma. Should the learning expectations contained in the student’s IEP be revised at some point so as to allow the student to work towards the attainment of the secondary school diploma, the student would be expected to complete the secondary school literacy test.