Your teenager reads English every day. They send messages, follow lessons and complete homework. Then they try an Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) practice question and say, “I don’t know what they want me to write.”

For Nigerian and African parents in Ontario, that can come as a surprise. You may have thought your child was doing fine in English, especially if they speak it confidently at home. The concern becomes more pressing when you hear that the literacy test is connected to high school graduation.

The OSSLT assesses reading and writing skills learned across subjects up to the end of Grade 9. Students working toward an Ontario Secondary School Diploma are generally expected to take it for the first time in their second year of secondary school. Your child’s school can confirm when they are eligible to write it.

If your child is anxious about the test, start by finding out which task is difficult. “Struggling with English” is too broad to tell you what help they need.

“My child reads the passage but gets the answers wrong”

This often happens when a student reads quickly and answers from memory or general knowledge. A question might ask what the passage suggests, which detail supports an idea, or how two pieces of information connect. The answer has to fit the text in front of them.

Try this at home with a short article your child has not seen before:

1. Ask them to read one paragraph and tell you its main point in one sentence.
2. Ask, “Which words in the paragraph helped you decide?”
3. Have them read a question twice and underline what it asks.
4. Let them explain why their chosen answer fits the passage.

If they cannot point to evidence, ask them to return to the text. This small habit is more useful than guessing through a large number of practice questions.

“My child has ideas but cannot put them into a paragraph”

Some students can explain an opinion aloud but produce only one or two vague sentences when they write. Others write a long answer that never clearly addresses the question.

Give your child a familiar prompt, such as: Should students have a quiet place to study after school? Ask them to write one paragraph with:

• A clear opening sentence that answers the question
• One reason
• A specific example or explanation
• A final sentence that completes the thought

For example, “Students benefit from a quiet place to study after school because it helps them concentrate” gives the reader a clear position. Your child can then explain what that might look like for a student sharing a busy home with siblings.

The goal is to help them express and support an idea. Correcting every spelling mistake in the first draft may make a reluctant writer less willing to try. Start with clarity, then review sentence structure and spelling.

“My child moved from Nigeria and is still adjusting”

A student who has moved to Ontario may be capable in English but unfamiliar with the way questions are presented in their new school. Even a child born and raised in Canada can find timed reading and writing tasks difficult.

Avoid assuming you know the cause from the result alone. Ask your child which part felt confusing: the passage, the wording of the question, the time available or the writing task. Then ask their English teacher what they have noticed in class. Those answers give you a more useful starting point than another general revision book.

A simple plan for parents

First, try the official practice test. EQAO provides an OSSLT practice test so students can become familiar with the digital format and question types. Let your child try it before deciding what to practise next.

Next, review the mistakes together. Sort them into reading comprehension, understanding instructions, organising ideas or writing clearly. One student may need help finding evidence in a passage; another may need to practise completing a paragraph.

Then, practise one skill at a time. A short, focused session two or three times a week can make it easier to see whether your child is improving. Ask them to explain their answer or read their paragraph aloud. You will hear where their reasoning becomes unclear.

Keep the school involved. Ask the teacher which literacy skills need attention and when your child is expected to write the test. If your child needs an accommodation or has a particular learning need, discuss that directly with the school.

When could a tutor help?

A tutor can help when your child keeps making the same reading mistakes, avoids writing, or needs someone to guide them through feedback on their work. Share a recent English assignment and their experience with the official practice test. A useful first step is to identify the specific gap, then practise it with feedback your child understands.

If your family lives in Toronto, Brampton, Mississauga, Ottawa or elsewhere in Ontario, online lessons can give your teenager a regular space to work through reading and writing tasks. Ask how the tutor will use your child’s schoolwork to guide the lessons and show you what is improving.

Concerned about your Grade 10 child’s reading or writing? Contact Glareminds about one-to-one online tutoring for families in Canada. Tell us your child’s grade, where they struggle and what their teacher has said, so we can discuss the support that fits.