Ontario secondary school students 82% successful in 2015 literacy test

A majority of Ontario secondary school students have passed the Grade 10 literacy test, new numbers reveal. But there's a group of pupils who have seen their success rates drop in recent years.

The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test, which is conducted in April across the province, showed 82 per cent of students writing the test for the first time were able to meet minimum literacy skills required. 

This year in Ontario, 127,867 students wrote the exam. Female students fared better than male students, with a 86 per cent success rate compared with 78 per cent. English language learners, which made up more than a quarter of all students in January 2013, passed the test 73 per cent of the time. More than half of students with special needs successfully passed the benchmark, with 54 per cent of them being successful in 2015.

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Despite the positives, there is one glaring negative in the figures. In 2015, students who previously failed the Grade 6 reading standard test had a 48 per cent pass rate with the Grade 10 literacy test. Five years ago, that number was 59 per cent. 

Representatives from the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) say they are investigating the decline.

"We know that for many students who didn't meet the provincial standard in elementary school, receiving the right attention and support has helped them overcome their early literacy struggles," said Bruce Rodrigues, EQAO CEO. "This effort must continue if we are to ensure that all students have the basic literacy skills they need to participate fully in society."

The literacy performance by high school students in the province has seen a plateau in recent years. The passing rates are as follows:

1. 2015 — 82 per cent.
2. 2014 — 83 per cent.
3. 2013 — 82 per cent.
4. 2012 — 82 per cent.
5. 2011 — 83 per cent.