Do EQAO Tests Matter? Understanding the Ontario EQAO Testing
Parent Resources
For several years, calls have intensified to examine the efficacy of, and potential damage caused by, standardized testing in our public education system. Parents concerned about test stress and frustrated educators alike have wondered: How can a standardized test really provide a snapshot of an entire population with disparate backgrounds, socioeconomic realities and learning abilities?
Perhaps no year before has standardized testing seemed so out-of-context as it does in this first full in-person academic year after the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents have already been concerned about learning losses and teachers are scrambling to get students back up to speed. Yet, the Ontario government has revived its standardized testing performed by the EQAO (Education Quality and Accountability Office) for the 2021-22 school year.
Here’s what you need to know.
What Is the EQAO?
According to the EQAO itself, the EQAO is “an arm’s length government agency that contributes to the quality and accountability of Ontario’s publicly funded education system for K-12 and post-secondary institutions.” The EQAO was created after the 1995 Royal Commission on Learning recommended the introduction of standardized tests in Grades 3 and 11. The EQAO provides standardized language and math literacy testing for grades 3, 6, 9, and 10.
These tests were suspended for one year due to the pandemic. Now the assessments are back for the 2021-2022 academic year, and are completely digital for the first time ever. Grades 3 and 6 will be assessed on math, reading and writing. Students in Grade 9 will be assessed on math skills.
The EQAO also administers the OSSLT (Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test) which has been reintroduced in Grade 10 for the 2021-22 school year.
Does the EQAO matter?
As the EQAO evolved through subsequent provincial governments, the focus of its testing was professed to be solely for internal use – a sort of self-assessment for the effectiveness of the Ontario education system in implementing math and language curriculum.
The EQAO test is meant to provide a snapshot of the state of Ontario education in order to “keep the public education system accountable to taxpayers,” according to the EQAO. “The agency provides schools and school boards with detailed reports about their students’ achievement, as well as contextual, attitudinal and behavioural information from questionnaires… These data are used to improve school programming and classroom instruction.”
However, in practice, the EQAO results tend to cause more comparison amongst individual schools and students. What was intended to reveal inequality across school boards and the province has exacerbated it by encouraging parents to locate themselves in preferable school districts with higher EQAO rankings. This, along with a broader controversy about the inefficacy and inequality of standardized tests, has led many to question whether EQAO testing should be cancelled altogether.
Should EQAO Testing Be Banned?
Support for standardized testing is waning in modern times. In fact, the very teachers mandated to deliver the EQAO tests are some of its most vocal opponents.
According to the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario, there are 3 main issues with the EQAO assessments:
1. The tests are unnatural and, thus, not accurate assessments. Silent, multiple-choice testing doesn’t reflect a normal learning experience or allow all children to demonstrate their skills to the best of their ability. Test data is hyper-focused, doesn’t reflect well-being and other skills, and doesn’t account for the many other aspects of the school experience.
2. The $30 million investment in the EQAO would be better spent on enhanced staffing and resources for smaller class sizes, more 1:1 support for learning disabilities, and stronger systems for equity and inclusion. These investments would enhance learning for all students.
3. The EQAO results are used to “rank” schools unfairly, without consideration for background factors affecting school averages. This further serves to encourage inequity across districts and school by school, by attracting parents and real estate markets to particular school districts based on ranking.
Should My Child Study for the EQAO Test?
If you’re like most parents, the EQAO test likely doesn’t cross your mind until your child comes home stressing about their performance. It’s natural for children to pick up on the stress teachers and administrators might be facing in preparation for the EQAO assessment.
The EQAO test is meant to provide a snapshot of the state of Ontario education in order to “keep the public education system accountable to taxpayers,” according to the EQAO. “The agency provides schools and school boards with detailed reports about their students’ achievement, as well as contextual, attitudinal and behavioural information from questionnaires… These data are used to improve school programming and classroom instruction.”
If your child feels worried about their EQAO “performance,” remind them these are tests of the school system and not them as individuals. As with any testing situation, staying calm is the best strategy.
The EQAO results do not impact your child’s grades or their success at school. Talk to your child’s teacher or suggest your child speaks with their teacher if they feel pressured to perform in a certain way on the day of the tests. You can also minimize the attention paid to the EQAO results when they come in.
If you are concerned about EQAO testing and the impact of test results on education in Ontario, find out more at buildingbetterschools.ca.
Is your child writing an EQAO assessment this school year? Share below!
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Yes my child is writing the test this year. He is definitely not on the bandwagon. Being a black parents certain issues strongly bother me. Here is the real question if these tests are used property what did not make sense for the board to direct financing and energy to school and areas that are not doing as well. If that is not being done it is definitely not beneficial to all. As a matter of fact it seems to benefit the parents who can either live in the more influential areas or afford to send their children to those areas to whatever strings they pull. I do hope someone looks into this in Greater detail. I wasn’t even aware of these tests
I apologize my previous comment was done through voice text oh, and I did not take the time to read it over until after submitting. To be sure and to be clear if these tests are used today in Focus finances and energy in the areas and schools that test no then I understand. I know the school board is aware of the fact that it has segregated schools. I can guarantee that schools in poor neighborhoods suffer from this test. And the worst part is the fact that financially successful homes have the advantage. they afford to live in areas that have higher EQAO. Whereas lower-income parents do not have this option. All the more reason why is results of this test should also result equalizing School opportunities for all students
These are absolutely valid points, David. As we know with economy and education, the already “rich” (in finance or privilege or ability) will always tend to be favoured and accumulate more economic power, privilege and education. I agree wholeheartedly that the solution is an overhaul of the education system, writ large. Thank you for your contribution.
Does this mean that affluent parents can afford to provide private tutor to their kids that helps improve EQAO score? I thought ALL schools have qualified teachers that provide similar education. I also thought the curriculum was similar in all schools. How can money make a difference? Something does not make sense to me. I live in Oakville, which has very high ranked schools. But the elementary school my child goes to has average EQAO score. If I lived 4-5 blocks North, my child would be able to go to a school with one of the highest EQAO score. How can you explain this?
My son is in Grade 3 this year and writing it. He is quite excited about it and thinks it’s fun! Now, my son loves school and loves to learn and is usually “ahead” of the game I really don’t think this testing is necessary. What I think is necessary, is being accurate with each students grades and where they should be. Everyone knows that you don’t fail any grades in the lower grades (1-6-ish), that they believe it does more harm socially to hold a child back from their peers. While I understand that viewpoint, I don’t think this is right. We also don’t skip ahead a grade either, so you have gifted children, bored and falling through the cracks. This is where some focus is needed. Not a standardized test that costs a huge amount of money.
I am a students who finished this test a couple years ago. it was absolute hell.
any tips for a student whos going to take one in grade 9?
Hi Violet! We like to remind our students that EQAO testing is primarily to evaluate the success of the education system.
My daughter has come home saying EQAO is 10% of her final grade and is now full of anxiety.
I’m so sorry to hear that, Shannalea. Did you consider reaching out to the administration to clarify?
My daughter is in first semester of high school, finishing up assignments and odds and ends as it’s the week before her first go at final exams next week and Monday it is sprung on her that she has to do this testing for two full half days and miss class time for other things meanwhile telling her that this mandatory testing is gonna be 10% of her math grade!!! I am one angry Mama! What the hell are we doing this to our kids for? Piece of mind!!?? Ya right! If only out tax dollars could pay for common sense!
Are you angry because it was a surprise that the tests would be 10% of the math mark? Or because you believe that the EQAO testing is not representative of the math curriculum?
Standardized testing is a way to segregate socio-economic communities. This practice is racist and needs to be abolished. The entire system must be completely rebuilt and overhauled. My son is testing this year and has been riddled with stress. As a parent who.disagrees wholeheartedly with this process, I am at a loss because my son is being forced to complete this test regardless of how we feel.
My daughter is in grade 3 this year and she will NOT be participating in the test, for the exact reasons above.
Has anyone had a child who did extremely well on the EQAO but was doing mediocre/poor in school? I know that it is usually the other way around. I hear that teachers feel they can more accurately determine how well a student is doing than standardized testing, but I question this logic. It would appear from my experience that standardized tests remove teacher bias. The standardized test shows what the child can actually do rather than whether my child is pleasing or likable or has influential parents. Does anyone have any advice on how to address this discrepancy between school achievement and the EQAO with the school? I don’t want to rock the boat and make school even worse for my child but I also feel like I need an explanation.
hehe