The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) is an independent provincial agency which conducts tests at key points in every student's primary, junior and secondary education, and reports the results to educators, parents and the public.
EQAO assessments measures student achievement in reading, writing and mathematics against Ontario Curriculum expectations. The assessments produce individual student, school, board and provincial results.
EQAO conducts four province-wide assessments for both English and French-speaking students.
- Grade 3 Assessment of Reading, Writing and Math
- Grade 6 Assessment of Reading, Writing and Math
- Grade 9 Assessment of Math
- Grade 10 Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT)
Provincial testing
Ontario children in Grades 3 and 6 are tested on their reading, writing and mathematics skills to see if they are meeting the standards of The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 1-8.
Every student who writes the test gets an Individual Student Report (ISR). The ISR is not part of your child's report card, but can help you know if your child needs extra help.
The Education Quality and Assessment Office (EQAO) hires teachers to write the test questions and grade the test results.
The EQAO is an agency funded by the Ontario government. It is responsible for designing and implementing tests for elementary and secondary schools.
Students need to show what they know and what they can do. They must apply their knowledge and skills. For example, students may have to argue in favour of an idea, identify the main ideas in a reading passage or calculate the time it takes to complete a trip.
The assessments involve real-world problems/tasks and measure a student's ability against the expectations in the provincial curriculum. The assessment activities are similar to what students do in class every day. Remember - No single test can tell all there is to know about your child.
Schools will provide more information closer to the testing dates. Tentative dates are:
- Grades 3 and 6 EQAO will be written between Wednesday, May 8, 2024 and Wednesday, June 12, 2024.
- Grade 9 EQAO will be written by students who have Grade 9 destreamed math in second semester, between Wednesday, May 29, 2024, and Wednesday, June 26, 2024.
- The spring window for the Grade 10 Ontario Secondary Schools Literacy Test (OSSLT) is between Wednesday, March 20, 2024, and Wednesday, April 24, 2024.
While all children are required by law to write the tests, children with an Individual Education Plan (IEP) can get an accommodation.
This means your child may receive extra time or some kind of special help during the tests. Your child's teacher will decide if your child needs an accommodation.
Talk to your child's Program Support teacher to discuss accommodations for writing the test.
Yes. Grade 3 children have supports and Grade 6 students write the test in English.
You can help your child prepare for the EQAO test by:
- bringing a bottle of water on the day of the test;
- eat a healthy breakfast;
- get a good night's sleep;
- bring healthy snacks;
- breathe;
- believe in yourself; and
- be eager and motivated.