The purpose of the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) is to ensure that students have acquired the essential reading and writing skills that apply to all subject areas in the provincial curriculum up to the end of Grade 9. All students in public and private schools who are working toward an Ontario Secondary School Diploma are required to write the OSSLT in Grade 10.

Students who have been eligible to write the OSSLT at least twice and have been unsuccessful at least once are eligible to fulfill the requirement through the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC). Principals have the discretion to allow students to enroll in the course before they have a second opportunity to take the test, if the Principal determines that it is in the best educational interests of the student. (Ministry of Education Policy/Program Memorandum 127.) Successful completion of the OSSLT or OSSLC is a graduation requirement.

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