ISNA High​

OSSLT Preparation Guide

Prepared by Ms. Lamadanie​

March 2023
Table of Contents
1.​ OSSLT Breakdown
2.​ The Reading Section
3.​ The Writing Section
4.​ The Grammar Section
5.​ General Test Taking Strategies

You’ve got this! The OSSLT is a very important test, as it is a prerequisite for graduation. With that
said, all of the work that you have done in your classes has been preparing you for this. By giving
your all in these preparation and practice sessions to orient yourself towards the test, you will be
set up for success, inshaAllah.

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The OSSLT Breakdown
From the OSSLT Framework Document:

Test structure:

Breakdown from The OSSLT Framework:

The OSSLT is a computer-based assessment that comprises two sessions (Session A and
Session B) containing a total of 33 questions:

31 selected-response questions (e.g., multiple-choice, drag and drop, drop-down menu,

checklist) and two open-response questions. The practice test will allow you to experience
these.

Each session is designed to be completed in 60 minutes, and students complete each session
in one sitting.

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 The two sessions are presented to students in six groupings of the following types of
questions:
●​ Real-Life Narrative (RLN): a reading selection and seven selected response reading
questions.
●​ Information Paragraph (IP): a reading selection and six selected response reading
questions.
●​ News Report (NR): a reading selection, one open-response question and five selected
response reading questions.
●​ Dialogue (DI): a reading selection and five selected response reading questions.
●​ Writing Selected-Response (WSR): eight selected response writing questions.
●​ Opinion Essay (OP): one open-response question composed of a series of paragraphs
supporting an opinion.

The types of questions you may receive on the readings, as well as strategies, will be included in
the reading section of this booklet. A breakdown of the writing portion, including rubrics, will be
presented in the reading section.

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 The Reading Section
1.​ Annotation Tools
2.​ Reading Strategies
3.​ Types of Questions

Annotation Tools
These tools are available to you during the OSSLT.

Recommended General Reading Strategy Using The Tools

Consider the following reading strategy using the tools:

1.​ Read the title of the text first.

2.​ Read the passage once through for overall understanding.
a.​ Pay special attention to:
i.​ Main ideas and key supporting details (including what role they play)
ii.​ Order of events
iii.​ Cause and effect (if applicable)
3.​ Read the questions before re-reading the text and make note of what you will be looking for as you
read through again.
4.​ Read the passage and highlight the parts that correspond to the questions.
5.​ Answer the questions.
6.​ Check that you can support your answer with specific textual evidence, if time permits.
7.​ Flag any questions that you want to revisit.

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 Some of the Types of Questions You Will Encounter
1.​ Ordering events in a text

2.​ Finding information in a text

3.​ Vocabulary questions, such as identifying synonyms for a given word in the text

4.​ How information is organized in a text, for example:

○​ Chronological: past to present
○​ From problem to solution
○​ Compare and contrast
○​ Order of importance
○​ From general to specific
○​ Pros and cons

5.​ Identify the quote that best demonstrates a piece of information

6.​ Identifying examples for a concept within a text

7.​ What role particular paragraphs or sentences play in building ideas

Examples - Sentence
○​ Definition
○​ Example
○​ Claim
○​ Proof
○​ Comparison
Examples - Paragraph
○​ Information about a given topic
○​ Refutation of an idea
○​ Problem/ solution
○​ Compare and contrast
○​ Pros and cons

8.​ What impact particular writing choices (words choice, grammar, phrasing) have on the
reader and/ or message of the text

9.​ What details in the text suggest about characters (fiction) or individuals (non-fiction)

10.​What text features (graphs, sections, images) add to the message of the text

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 Optional Strategies for Different Question Types Using The Tools
Question Type Reading Strategy

Ordering Events Using the rough notes to write a numbered jot-note summary of each paragraph
helps with questions that ask you about ordering events.

How Information In A Use the rough notes to create an ordered list of the ideas introduced in the
Paragraph Is Organized paragraph.

Vocabulary If you don’t already know the word you are being asked about, examine the
sentence that it is used in and the paragraph that sentence is in. What can you
infer the meaning of the word is, based on the context of the sentence and
paragraph? If you replace that word with the other words that are options, which
makes the most sense?

Finding Information Look for and highlight quotes that directly answer the question.

Quotes as Proof For questions about which quote best demonstrates a claim, concept, or
otherwise, highlight all of the key words in the question. Look for the quote that
most completely demonstrates all of these ideas.

Text Features First, identify what information is conveyed by the text feature. Then, ask what that
information adds to the larger ideas of the text.

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The Writing Section
1.​ Types of Writing Prompts with Rubrics
2.​ Strategies for The Writing Questions

Types of Writing Prompts with Rubrics

1.​ Open Response (Text Based)
This prompt will be based on one of the readings. Here are some examples from past
years:
●​ What do Anton’s words and actions reveal about his character? Use specific details from the
selection to support your answer (2017-2018).
●​ Why is the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program a good option for some students? Use specific
details from the selection to support your answer (2017-2018).
●​ Explain whether this archaeological find settles the historical question about who invented pasta.
Use specific details from the selection and your own ideas to support your answer (2008-2009).
●​ Why might the Keewatin have been a popular ship for travellers? Use specific details from the
selection to explain your answer (2016-2017).
●​ State the main idea of this selection, and provide one specific detail from the selection that
supports it (2016-2017).

Key look fors:

Reading Comprehension: shows a complete and accurate understanding of the text
Support: uses accurate, specific, and relevant ideas and information from the text.

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Writing strategy for the open-response prompts: PEA

Click for PEA Review Slides

●​ Prompt: underline or highlight the key words in the prompt → you will include these in
your point.
●​ Point (topic sentence): claim/ answer + rationale
●​ Evidence: relevant details from the text.
○​ Consider which details show what you say in your rationale.
○​ Introduce your evidence with any context from the larger reading that the reader
would need to understand your evidence
○​ You can directly quote, paraphrase, or summarize → be sure to cite with whatever
information you’re given.
●​ Analysis:
○​ How does your evidence show your rationale?
○​ How does this support your point?

This can be written in as little as 4 short sentences.

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 2.​ Opinion Essay: this prompt will ask you to develop and justify an opinion.

Here is part 1 of the prompt: Write a minimum of three paragraphs expressing an opinion on the
topic below. Develop your main idea with supporting details (proof, facts, examples, etc.).

Here are some examples of topics from past years:

➔​ Does homework improve learning?

➔​ Is what you are learning in school affecting the way you live your life now?
➔​ Do teenagers place too much importance on what they wear?
➔​ Do students benefit from the two-month summer break?

You should outline your essay using the rough notes tool in a format similar to:

Your audience is an adult who is interested in your opinion.

You will need an introduction (primarily a thesis statement), body paragraph(s), and a
conclusion.

Your thesis statement should outline your answer and rationale. Your answer should take a clear
position (yes or no) – not blend multiple answers (sometimes).

Your body paragraphs should be PEA in nature. Begin your topic sentences with transition
words that indicate the logical relationships between ideas. Here is a complete guide to
transition words from The Writing Center at University of Wisconsin – Madison. Review it
thoroughly.

Your evidence will come from your own knowledge and experiences, not a text.

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Here is a shorter version from Cardinal Ambrozic C.S.S:

Your conclusion should use transition words and connect back to your thesis with an emphasis
on your point.

Materials adapted from:

Don’t Panic – More Practice for the OSSLT by Corina MacLeod and Carla Douglas 2008,
Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test www.eqao.com, and Garth Webb SS
Powerpoint, HDSB. http://goo.gl/DuFmGo

To revise and edit, follow the following method:

Revision: check for →
➔​ Introduction and clearly stated thesis (point)
➔​ Point/ thesis: clear answer and three specific rationale
➔​ Evidence: at least one evidence per point that is specific
➔​ Analysis: discuss how your evidence and rationale supports your point. Make sure your
thesis statement, topic sentences, and analysis use the same key words.
➔​ Conclusion: this should connect back to your thesis and use transition words
➔​ Logical flow: does the ordering of your rationale and evidence make sense? Do you have
clear transition words that add to the clarity of your message?

Editing: check for →

➔​ Read backwards from the end of the essay to the beginning. Work sentence by sentence.
Look for errors in grammar, spelling, capitalization, sentence structure, and punctuation.
➔​ Do your pronouns agree with the subjects? Did I indent my paragraphs?

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Rubrics and Examples Marked On The Rubric:

Key look fors:

Focus: related to the assigned prompt | clear and consistent opinion
Support: sufficient, specific supporting details that are thoughtfully chosen
Organization: coherent, thoughtful progression of ideas.

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Open for released marked examples from 2018

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The Grammar Section
Use the grammar packet to review:

Click To Access The Grammar Packet

Common Mistake That You May Be Asked To Identify:

Issues of Agreement

Subject-Verb Noun-Pronoun

At a basic level, subjects and verbs must Nouns and corresponding pronouns must
agree in: agree in:
●​ Number ●​ Number
●​ Tense ●​ Gender
Click for More Rules/ Examples

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General Strategies
➔​ For questions where you are unsure, select your best guess and then flag it. Come back
to it after you have completed the rest of the test, if you have time.
➔​ Answer all questions! If you leave a question blank, the question will be scored zero. To
the best of your ability make an educated guess!
➔​ For the reading portion, please use the strategies in the reading section.
➔​ For the writing portion, please use the strategies in the writing section.

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