Tips and Tricks to Ace the OSSLT on · PDF filesentences before and after the sentence to see ... What are the Writing Tasks Worth? Two Short Writing Tasks ... Scoring for Short Writing:

Tips and

Tricks to Ace

the OSSLT on

Thursday,

March 26, 2015

Important Reminders! Be on time!

Check the room lists before the test.

If late, report to the office: no additional time provided

Bring pens (blue or black ink) and pencils and an eraser highlighter will be provided

No cell phones or electronic devices allowed in the room (EQAO Rule!) Leave in your locker or it will be placed in a

bin during the test

Test at a Glance

Activity Allotted Time

Booklet 1

(Reading and Writing) 75 minutes

Break 15 minutes

Booklet 2

(Reading and Writing) 75 minutes

Questionnaire

(Booklet 2) 10 minutes

Test Day Schedule (subject to change)

8:55 a.m. Students proceed to test rooms

9:00 a.m. Students admitted to test rooms and

instructions are read

9:10 - 10:25 a.m. Booklet 1 of the OSSLT

10:25 - 10:40 a.m. Break (refreshments provided)

10:45 - 12:00 p.m. Booklet 2 of the OSSLT

12:05 - 12:10 p.m. Time for questionnaire

12:10 - 1:00 p.m. Lunch (no cafeteria service)

1:00 - 3:10 p.m. Independent Study

Format of the Test Booklets

Only answers in the Answer Booklet will be scored!

Booklet Tip

More Booklet Tips

What’s Inside the Booklets?

What do I Need to Pass?

You need a score of 300 points to reach the

provincial standard of Level 3 and pass the OSSLT.

Level 3 = “B” or 75%

That’s why we say:

“Take a guess, Jess!”

“No blanks, thanks!”

“Fill the space, Grace!”

Reading Tips

Read the questions first.

• This will help you predict what the reading selection is going to be about.

Skim the selection and then read it closely.

Underline or highlight important information and ideas as you read.

Reading Tips

As you read, think about what you are reading and ask yourself questions about it.

If you don’t understand a word, read to the end of the sentence and look for clues to its meaning. If this doesn’t help try reading the sentences before and after the sentence to see if you can find the meaning from the context.

Types of Reading Questions

There will be two types of questions about what you have read:

1. Multiple Choice

2. Open Response (6 lines)

Multiple Choice Instructions

Be sure your answers are in the Answer Booklet!

Multiple-Choice Questions

Instructions from the test:

Choose the best or most correct answer for each

question.

What does this mean?

More than one answer may sound good.

There may be a few answers that seem correct.

Only the BEST answer will do.

Only the MOST CORRECT answer will do.

Multiple Choice Questions

on Readings

There are two types of multiple choice reading questions.

1. “Right There” or Explicit Questions

The answer is actually IN the reading.

Go back to the reading and find the

answer. Don’t trust your memory!

“From the sheet, Pete!”

Sample “Right There” Questions

What happened first?

According to this selection, what happened to Doug

Gilmour’s Stanley Cup ring?

What do confectioners do?

In what year did the events of the story take place?

Where were the members of the crew of the Milan

taken when they were rescued?

“From the sheet, Pete!”

Multiple Choice Questions on

Readings

2. “Detective” or Implicit Question

This question asks you to find the answer

after doing several things or reading in

several places and then putting that

information together.

“From your head, Fred!”

Sample “Detective” Questions

What does the final sentence suggest about Jon?

In paragraph 5, Sahid “wrinkled his nose” to

show Jon that he does not…

Which word has the same meaning as

“congestion” as used in paragraph 2?

Which word best describes the first

championship rings?

“From your head, Fred!”

1. READ the questions first.

2. ELIMINATE: Find the answers that are clearly wrong.

• Cover up all answer choices but one.

• Look at that one answer choice and look for anything that is clearly

wrong. Eliminate that answer.

• Uncover each of the other answers and repeat the last step.

3. CHOOSE the best answer amongst the “good ones.” Compare the remaining “good” answers and try to see which one is best

It is true more often?

It is stated more completely?

Look for words like always, sometimes, often, occasionally,

never.

Re-read the question and re-read a section of the text

if appropriate.

What’s the Best Approach?

Open Response Reading Task

Instructions

Write legibly (neatly) on the lined space provided in the

Answer Booklet.

There is space in the Answer Booklet for rough notes.

Nothing you write in these spaces will be scored.

Sample Open Response

Questions to Readings

Explain why this project is a good learning experience for

the students involved. Use specific details from the

selection and your own ideas to support your answer.

Explain whether or not Jon and Sahid are good friends.

Provide specific evidence from the selection and your own

ideas to support your answer.

TIP: Underline or highlight everything you are required to do.

Strategies for Open-Response

Reading Tasks

Read the question carefully highlighting what you need to

do to answer the question fully.

In your first sentence, answer the question using the key

words of the question in your answer.

In the next sentence(s) provide specific and relevant

details from the reading selection and your own ideas

to support your answer.

Re-read your response and correct any errors you notice.

Keep your answer within the six lines provided.

Common Reading Question! State a main idea of this selection and provide one specific detail from

the selection that supports it.

A main idea of this selection is…

One specific detail that supports this idea is…

Rough Notes

Use the space below for rough notes. Nothing you write in this space will be scored.

Scoring for Open Response

Reading Questions

Code Descriptor

Code 10 response indicates minimal reading comprehension

response provides minimal or irrelevant ideas and information

from the reading selection Write something for at least 10

points!

Code 20 response indicates some reading comprehension

response provides vague ideas and information from the

reading selection; it may include irrelevant ideas and

information from the reading selection

Code 30 response indicates considerable reading comprehension

response provides accurate, specific and relevant ideas and

information from the reading selection

Writing Tasks

Multiple Choice Questions on Grammar and

Organization

Opinion Paragraphs (6 lines each) - 1 in each booklet

News Article (one page) - Booklet 1?

Series of Paragraphs Expressing an Opinion (2-page

essay) - Booklet 2?

Multiple Choice Grammar

Multiple Choice Strategies

Answer every question—no blanks Eliminate wrong answers—if two seem correct,

choose the BEST one Don’t skim for answers—you MUST read the text

carefully—even if it seems obvious, double check! Read the questions “aloud” in your head. Grammar questions will include: punctuation,

capitalization, combining ideas into one sentence, fill-in-the-blanks, sentence structure, etc.

What are the Writing Tasks Worth? Two Short Writing Tasks (6 lines): 50 points each

Topic Development: 10, 20 , or 30

Conventions: 10 or 20

Series of Paragraphs (2 pages): 100 points

Topic Development: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 or 60

Conventions: 10, 20, 30, or 40

News Report (1 page): 100 points

Topic Development: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 or 60

Conventions: 10, 20, 30, or 40

From your head, Fred! No right or wrong here—you make up all the information.

Short Writing Tasks

Previous OSSLT Short Writing Tasks Identify an important environmental issue. Use specific details to explain why it is important.

Identify the ideal destination for a high school field trip. Explain your choice with specific details.

What is the best advice you have ever given to someone? Use specific details to explain your answer.

Suggest one improvement that could be made to your school building or its grounds. Use specific details to explain why it would be an improvement.

What would be the ideal job for you? Use specific details to explain your choice.

Strategies for Short Writing

Tasks (6 lines) Read and re-read the question carefully and highlight what

you need to do to fully answer the question.

Think of links between the topic and your knowledge and personal experiences.

Use the Rough Notes area to plan your answer.

Develop ONE main idea using specific and relevant details.

Re-read your response and correct any errors you notice.

“From your head, Fred!”

“Have a plan, Stan!”

How to Structure your Answer In your first sentence, state your answer to the question.

Hint: Repeat the key words of the question. e.g. “What was your favourite game as a child? Explain why you liked it.”

“My favourite game as a child was hide-and-go-seek.”

In your next sentence(s), explain your answer giving reasons and specific details.

Hint: Using the word “because” in your answer will help you include explanations.

“I liked hide-and-so-seek because… I also liked it because…

In the final sentence, sum up what you’ve said (conclude).

“Fill the space, Grace!”

(But don’t go over the six lines.)

Scoring for Short Writing: Topic

Development

Code Descriptor

Code 10 Response is not developed or is developed with irrelevant ideas

and information Writing something gets you points!

Code 20 Response is developed with vague ideas and information; it

may contain some irrelevant ideas and information

Code 30 Response is developed with clear, specific and relevant ideas

and information

Scoring for Short Writing: Conventions

Write more than one sentence to earn at least 10 points!

Minor spelling and grammar mistakes will still score 20 points!

The News Report

How to Write the News Report “Have a plan, Stan!”

Your news report must relate to the photo and the headline.

Use the rough notes area to make up the specific facts about the event: the Who? What? Where? When? Why? and How?

Include quotations from participants, organizers, witnesses.

Write in the third person (he, she, they) and past tense.

Organize the information logically into paragraphs.

Use the entire space provided (one page).

Proofread and correct your work.

Who

What

Where

When

Why

How

Quotes:

“ “

On March 26, 2015, the

students at Port Perry High

School received new computers

as a reward.

Principal Thompson said, “This will make a huge

difference for our students.”

TIPS

Write about an event

that occurred recently.

Use the past tense.

Stick to facts - no

opinion. Use third

person (he, she, they).

Begin with “when”.

Use short paragraphs.

Sco

rin

g:

To

pic

Deve

lop

men

t

Scoring: News Report Conventions (spelling, grammar)

Series of Paragraphs (2 pages)

Previous OSSLT Series of

Paragraphs Questions

Do teenagers place too much importance on what they

wear?

Is participation in extracurricular activities an important

part of secondary school life?

Are cellphones necessary in teenagers’ lives?

Strategies for Writing a Series of

Paragraphs (essay)

“Have a plan, Stan!”

Read the topic question and choose your position.

IMPORTANT: Argue one side only.

Come up with 3 arguments/subtopics/main points/reasons for

your opinion.

Come up with the evidence (examples/facts/explanations) to

support each of your arguments

Use the Rough Notes space in the Answer Booklet to make your plan.

Sample Plan for Body

Paragraphs

Reason 1

• evidence

• fact

• example

• explanation

Reason 2

• evidence

• fact

• example

• explanation

Reason 3

• evidence

• fact

• example

• explanation

Sample Plan for Body

Paragraphs

S S S

E E E

E E E

E E E

C C C

Think BURGER –

Intro and Conclusion

Strategies for Writing a Series

of Paragraphs (essay)

Write an introduction that includes your position and your three arguments.

Write a body paragraph for each argument.

Use transition or linking words at the beginning of each body paragraph (One reason, another reason…).

Write a conclusion to sum up.

Proofread and correct your work.

Be sure to indent paragraphs clearly!

Sco

rin

g:

To

pic

Deve

lop

men

t

Scoring Guide: Conventions (spelling, grammar)

For more information… Visit the Students/Literacy test page of our school website

to find…

The schedule for the day

A Getting Ready Guide

Tip Sheet for using the new booklet format

Links to the EQAO site with tests from previous years

and sample scored responses

To Review…

Your goal: Score more than 300!

Read closely and carefully. Don’t skim!

Answer every question.

Answer every part of every question.

Write clearly and in complete sentences.

Fill the spaces by planning your answers.

Provide specific details to support what you say.

Be serious and appropriate. Adults are marking these.

Remember these phrases:

No blanks, thanks!

Your best guess, Jess!

From the sheet, Pete!

Have a plan, Stan!

From your head, Fred!

Fill the space, Grace!

Final Tips:

Get enough sleep the night before.

Eat a good breakfast.

Manage your time to complete all tasks.

Visualize your success.

You have the skills and the knowledge!

Good luck!