OSSLT dates for 2026–27
The fall OSSLT window runs from Tuesday, November 3 to Monday, November 30, 2026. The spring window runs from Tuesday, March 30 to Monday, April 19, 2027. Your school chooses the day or days you write within the window.
November 3 to 30, 2026
- Opens
- Tuesday, November 3, 6:00 a.m. ET
- Closes
- Monday, November 30, 6:00 p.m. ET
- Individual results
- By the end of January 2027
March 30 to April 19, 2027
- Opens
- Tuesday, March 30, 6:00 a.m. ET
- Closes
- Monday, April 19, 6:00 p.m. ET
- Individual results
- By the end of May 2027
The last two days of each window are kept for students who missed their scheduled session or had extenuating circumstances.
Two sessions, written online
The OSSLT is written on a computer in two sessions. Your school decides whether you write them back to back with a break, or on two different days. Each session is written in one sitting.
The other 35 questions are selected-response: single and multiple selection, drag and drop, drop-down menus and checklists. EQAO's free OSSLT practice test is the best way to get used to them before test day.
Bring
- A pencil or pen
- An eraser
- Headphones
Leave at home
- A dictionary or thesaurus
- Translation tools
- Textbooks, notes or other study materials
- Examples of test questions
The test platform has its own tools, including text-to-speech, zoom, a line reader, high contrast, a highlighter and a space for rough notes. Some schools provide extra resources, so check with yours. If you have an IEP, ask your school which accommodations apply to you.
Most students write it in Grade 10
Students working toward an Ontario Secondary School Diploma write the OSSLT for the first time in their second year of secondary school. That includes students who join Grade 10 from outside Ontario, unless the principal grants a deferral.
Students who have had two chances to write the test and were unsuccessful at least once can take the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC) instead. A principal can allow this sooner, and mature students can enrol in the course directly.
January for fall, May for spring
EQAO reports fall 2026 results by the end of January 2027 and spring 2027 results by the end of May 2027. Results go to schools, and each student receives an Individual Student Report.
The OSSLT is scored on a scale from 200 to 400, and a score of 300 or higher is a successful result. The score is a position on EQAO's scale, not points out of 400. How the OSSLT is scored
Planning the weeks before November 3
- Five or more weeks out
Have students take EQAO’s practice test once, to learn the platform and the question types.
- Four weeks out
Practise the opinion essay and the reading response, with feedback on every attempt.
- Two weeks out
Check who is still struggling and give them targeted practice on those skills.
- Test week
Confirm session times, headphones and accommodations against your school’s schedule.
Litguide gives your students marked practice on reading and writing, and shows you who still needs help before the window opens.
Common questions about OSSLT dates
When is the OSSLT in 2026?
The fall 2026 window runs from Tuesday, November 3 to Monday, November 30. Each school picks the day or days its students write within those dates.
When is the spring 2027 OSSLT?
The spring window runs from Tuesday, March 30 to Monday, April 19, 2027.
How long is the OSSLT?
It has two sessions. Session A takes about 65 minutes and Session B about 75 minutes. Schools can run them on the same day with a break, or on two different days.
When do OSSLT results come out?
EQAO reports fall 2026 results by the end of January 2027, and spring 2027 results by the end of May 2027. Results go to schools, and each student receives an Individual Student Report.
What happens if I miss my OSSLT date?
The last two days of each window are kept for students who missed their scheduled session or had extenuating circumstances. Tell your school as soon as you know.
What score do you need to pass the OSSLT?
A scale score of 300 or higher, on a scale that runs from 200 to 400.
