Free OSSLT practice test PDF,
with a full answer key
A 24-page printable OSSLT practice pack for 2026–27: four reading selections, 36 reading and writing questions and an opinion essay, with every answer explained. Print it for your class or use it on your own.
Rather practise on screen? Try the interactive OSSLT practice test.
Four reading selections, then writing
| Section | Selection or task | Questions | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading A | Information paragraph: “Why Maple Syrup Season Is So Short” | 1 to 6 | 3 |
| Reading B | News report: “Students Turn Empty Rooftop into Community Garden” | 7 to 12, including one written answer | 5 |
| Reading C | Dialogue: “The Jersey Fund” | 13 to 17 | 8 |
| Reading D | Real-life narrative: “The Wrong Cake” | 18 to 24 | 10 |
| Writing | Structure, organization, spelling, grammar and punctuation | 25 to 36 | 13 |
| Writing | Opinion essay, with a planner and checklist | 37 | 16 |
| Answer key | Every answer explained, a sample written answer, the rubrics and a skills tracker | 1 to 37 | 19 |
The mix of selections and the number of questions follow the blueprint in EQAO’s OSSLT framework. The answer key codes written work with the rubrics in our OSSLT marking guide.
Using the pack in class
- Run it in two sittings
About 60 minutes for Part 1, reading, and about 60 for Part 2, writing. The OSSLT is also split into two sessions.
- Mark with the key
Every answer names the skill it tests. Tally the misses and you can see which skills the class needs most.
- Code the written work
Give the reading answer one code from 10 to 30 and the essay two codes, using the rubrics at the back of the pack.
- Follow up on one skill
Pick the skill with the most misses and teach it before the next practice. Specific details and inferences are common starting points.
How is this different from the OSSLT?
The OSSLT is written online in two sessions of about 65 and 75 minutes. This pack follows the mix of reading selections and question counts in the blueprint EQAO publishes, but it is on paper, and it is not scored like the OSSLT.
The online test also uses question types, like drag and drop and drop-down menus, that paper can’t show. Use this pack for reading and writing practice, and EQAO’s online practice test to get used to the platform.
Get the essay marked in seconds
Type the pack’s opinion essay into the free OSSLT essay grader for both rubric codes and feedback, or see how Litguide marks every draft for a whole class in a demo.
Questions about the PDF
Is there an official OSSLT practice test PDF?
EQAO’s official practice test is online, on the same platform students use for the OSSLT, and it shows sample responses when you finish. This PDF is a separate, original print pack from Litguide.
Does this OSSLT practice test PDF have answers?
Yes. The answer key covers all 35 multiple-choice questions with the reason each answer is right and the skill it tests, plus a sample written answer and the rubrics for the opinion essay.
Are these real OSSLT questions?
No. Every passage and question was written by Litguide for practice. They are not past or upcoming OSSLT questions, and Litguide is not affiliated with EQAO.
Can I print and copy it for my class?
Yes. The pack is free to print and copy for classroom and personal use.
How long does the practice test take?
About two hours in total: about 60 minutes for the reading part and about 60 minutes for the writing part. The OSSLT itself has two sessions of about 65 and 75 minutes.
How do I mark the opinion essay?
Give it two codes, one for topic development (10 to 60) and one for conventions (10 to 40), using the rubrics at the back of the pack. Or type it into the free OSSLT essay grader to get both codes in seconds.
- Free OSSLT practice test onlineA news report, seven reading questions and an opinion essay prompt, with every answer explained as you go
- Free OSSLT essay graderType your opinion essay and get both rubric codes and paragraph feedback in seconds
- Teaching the OSSLTA four to five month classroom plan, activities for any subject and free resources for teachers
- OSSLT marking guideEvery rubric code explained, where the 78 points come from and how the score works
- How to write the OSSLT opinion essayA paragraph plan, an annotated sample essay and original practice topics
- What your OSSLT score meansThe 200 to 400 scale, the 300 pass mark, the student report and when results arrive
- What is the OSSLT?The OSSLT explained: who writes it, what’s on it and how it’s scored
