Ways to prepare for the OSSLT, compared

Start here, whatever else you choose

Take EQAO's free practice test first. It runs on the platform students write on, it has every question type and the built-in tools, and its results page shows the right answer for every question with the rubrics and sample responses for the two written parts. Nothing else on this page replaces it.

After that, the choice depends on what the student needs most. The OSSLT is two online sessions with 37 questions, and the two written answers, a short answer about a reading selection and an opinion essay, carry about half of the raw score points. The thing most options cannot give you is feedback on your own writing, and that is the thing most students need. How to prepare for the OSSLT has the four to five month plan; this page is about what to use along the way.

EQAO's practice test

What it is: a free, two-session practice test on EQAO's own platform, with an introductory session for the tools and an alternative version for students who need it.

Cost: free.

Marks your writing: no. You compare your written answers with EQAO's sample responses and rubrics.

Best for: everyone, as the first step. Learning the platform, the question types and the pace.

Your school's resources

What it is: the practice your teachers run in class, the school's literacy sessions, and the released EQAO materials many schools keep.

Cost: free.

Marks your writing: your teacher, when time allows. A class of thirty and one teacher means feedback on one or two essays, not ten.

Best for: practice that matches what your class is doing, and a teacher who knows where you stand.

Printed workbooks

What it is: consumable paper workbooks built around the test's reading selections and writing tasks, with answer keys.

Cost: about $10 to $15 for the OSSLT titles sold by Ontario school bookstores, checked October 30, 2026.

Marks your writing: no. Answer keys cover the selected-response questions; the writing is self-checked against a rubric.

Best for: students who work better on paper, and families who want a structured set of exercises without a screen. Keep in mind that the real test is online.

A tutor

What it is: one-on-one or small-group sessions with a tutor, in person or online. Many tutors prepare students for the OSSLT alongside their regular English work.

Cost: by the hour, quoted on request. Most tutoring is priced per session, so the total depends on how many weeks you book.

Marks your writing: yes, by the tutor, within the hours you pay for.

Best for: students who need someone beside them, accountability, or help with reading that goes beyond the test.

Online practice with marked writing

What it is: a platform with lessons and practice built on the OSSLT's reading selections and question types, where every piece of writing comes back marked against the two OSSLT rubrics with feedback on each paragraph.

Cost: Litguide's student plan is in early access. Request access on the pricing page; students at schools that license Litguide use it at no cost through their school.

Marks your writing: yes, in seconds, every time. Anyone can try it now: the free essay grader marks an opinion essay with both rubric codes and paragraph feedback, no account needed.

Best for: students who need a lot of writing practice with feedback on each attempt, which is where most marks are won.

Which to choose

• A first-time writer with four to five months: EQAO's practice test, then weekly reading and writing practice with feedback. A workbook is a fine addition if you like paper.

• Writing it again after a not yet successful result: the Individual Student Report says what to work on. Marked writing practice matters most, because the written answers are where second-attempt students most often fall short. What happens next covers the options.

• An English language learner: start earlier, read the four text types every week, and get every paragraph marked. The OSSLT for English language learners has a plan.

• A student who needs one-on-one help: a tutor, with online practice between sessions so the tutor's hours go to teaching rather than marking.

• A school that already licenses Litguide: ask the teacher for the class code. There is nothing to buy.

Free things to use today

The free Litguide practice test explains every answer. The printable practice pack has four reading selections, an opinion essay and a full answer key. The 40 writing prompts give you topics, and the free essay grader marks what you write. Parents will find what to expect in the OSSLT guide for parents.

Litguide is an independent practice platform and is not affiliated with EQAO.