What is EQAO?
4 min read · updated 2026-09-01
EQAO (the Education Quality and Accountability Office) runs Ontario's standardized provincial assessments, checking literacy and numeracy at key stages of the school journey.
The assessments
- ✓ Grade 3: primary division reading, writing and mathematics
- ✓ Grade 6: junior division reading, writing and mathematics
- ✓ Grade 9: applied and academic stream mathematics
- ✓ OSSLT (Grade 10): the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test, which is a graduation requirement
What the results mean
EQAO results show whether a student is meeting the provincial standard (Level 3 and above). They are checkpoints, not placement exams: their value is early, honest information about literacy and numeracy while there is still time to act.
Where tutoring fits
Support targets the assessed skills (applied math problem-solving, reading comprehension, short writing tasks) in the online format the tests use. Families targeting competitive programs often combine EQAO prep with enrichment beyond the provincial standard.
FAQs
Is the OSSLT a graduation requirement?＋
Yes, the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test taken in Grade 10 must be passed to graduate, with a literacy course available as an alternative route for students who need it.
Should my child study for EQAO?＋
Light familiarisation with the online format plus steady skills practice is the healthy approach; the results are most useful as an early signal of gaps.
Keep reading
Try two free demo classes
The same tutor every week, matched to your child's exam board. No card, no commitment.
Book a free demo →