The EQAO explained for Ontario parents
EQAO (the Education Quality and Accountability Office) runs Ontario's province-wide assessments of reading, writing and math. Students write them in Grade 3 and Grade 6 in elementary school, and again in math in Grade 9. They are separate from the report card and from class marks.
The EQAO at a glance
- Who takes it
- Students in Grades 3 and 6, and in Grade 9 math. Parents can ask their school if they have questions about their child taking part.
- What it covers
- Reading, writing and math, in line with the Ontario Curriculum for the grade.
- When
- Schools schedule the assessments in the spring. EQAO publishes the dates and format each year, so check eqao.com or ask your school.
- How results are described
- Results use the same four levels as the report card. Level 3 is the provincial standard. Some students receive a result below Level 1, which means there was not enough evidence to give a level.
- Report card link
- EQAO results do not change a student's report card marks. Families receive an individual student report from the school, which gives one more snapshot of reading, writing and math.
Dates and details change from year to year. Your school and EQAO and the Ontario Ministry of Education have the current information.
How to help your child feel ready
- Keep routines simple: regular sleep, a good breakfast and a calm morning.
- Read together often, then ask your child to retell what happened and explain why.
- Encourage short, regular writing: a journal line, a note or a postcard.
- Practise math with real problems, such as shopping, cooking and travel times, as well as number facts.
- Tell your child it is a check of what they know, not a test they can fail.
Practise the grade-level skills with Gradelings: Grade 3 and Grade 6.
Common questions
What does EQAO stand for?
The Education Quality and Accountability Office. It is the agency that runs Ontario's province-wide assessments of reading, writing and math.
Is EQAO part of my child's report card?
No. It is separate from the report card. Your child's report card describes classroom learning through the year using the four levels of achievement.
Should my child study for EQAO?
Cramming is not needed. The assessments check skills built over years. Short, regular practice in reading, writing and math is more helpful than a last-minute push, and so is a calm, positive attitude.
What do EQAO levels mean?
Results use Levels 1 to 4, and Level 3 is the provincial standard. Level 2 approaches the standard and Level 4 surpasses it. Talk with your child's teacher about what the result means for your child.
Can Gradelings help my child get ready?
Gradelings practises the math and language skills taught in Grades 3 and 6 with kind feedback and no timers unless you want them. It isn't a copy of the EQAO assessments and doesn't predict a result.
Also see: Ontario report cards explained and Learning skills and work habits.
Ready to try Gradelings?
Curriculum-matched practice for Kindergarten to Grade 9 in British Columbia and Ontario, with kind hints, learning games and no ads. Free for 30 days, no card needed.