OverviewACT WorkKeys is a job skills assessment system that helps employers select, hire, train, develop, and retain a high-performance workforce. This series of tests measures foundational and soft skills and offers specialized assessments to target institutional needs.

There are three components to WorkKeys, which can be used independently but are designed to be use in concert. They are:• Skills Assessments: WorkKeys assessments measure “ foundational workplace skills” in applied mathematics, applied

technology, business writing, listening, locating information, observation, readiness, reading for information, teamwork, and writing.

• Job Analysis: Determines what types of skills are needed for success in a particular job. Job profiles have been done for entry level jobs through post-secondary.

• Training: ACT offers a variety of training options

As part of ACT's Work Readiness System, ACT WorkKeys has helped millions of people in high schools, colleges, professional associations, businesses, and government agencies build their skills to increase global competitiveness and develop successful career pathways.

Successful completion of ACT WorkKeys assessments in Applied Mathematics, Locating Information, and Reading for Information can lead to earning ACT's National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC), a portable credential earned by more than 1 million people across the United States.

WorkKeys Benefits for Students

• Enables you to rank above other job applicants who do not have needed skills• Shows prospective employers concrete proof of your skills • Increases the chances you will be hired after graduation• Enables you to see the importance of your courses• Improves your success in entry-level and subsequent jobs• Determines skill improvement and training needs• Improves chances of better entry-level salaries through increased skills

WorkKeys Benefits for EDUCATORS

• Helps identify gaps between student skills and employment needs• Align curricula to meet the job skills employers needs• Develop career pathways aligned to critical occupations• Enable students to see a reason to take coursework seriously• Improve students’ success in entry-level and subsequent job• Provide students with a structured career pathway• Helps ensure the education community graduate enough new talentACT WorkKeys helps ensure that individuals are ready for work—and for life.

WorkKeys Benefits for the COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

• Encourages businesses to stay in the community• Increases the tax base through more profitable business partners• Decrease unemployment rates• Improve the quality of life for community residents• Provide focused education and training needed to meet both individual and organization goals

WorkKeys Benefits for Employers

• Establishes a standard skills metric for selection, performance, and advancement• Reduces costs from hiring mis-matches• Determines the training workers need for effective job performance, and for skills upgrades• Reduces training time and training cost• Documents an individuals skills• Reduced overtime• Reduced Turnovers• Increased Productivity• Higher Employee Morale

What the WorkKeys Applied Mathematics Test Measures

SKILL LEVEL CHARACTERISTICS OF ITEMS

SKILLS

Level 3 Translates easily from a word problem to a math equationAll needed information is presented in logical orderNo extra information

Solve problems that require a single type of mathematics operation (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) using whole numbersAdd or subtract negative numbersChange numbers from one form to another using whole numbers, fractions, decimals, or percentagesConvert simple money and time units (e.g., hours to minutes)

Level 4 Information may be presented out of orderMay include extra, unnecessary informationMay include a simple chart, diagram, or graph

Solve problems that require one or two operationsMultiply negative numbersCalculate averages, simple ratios, simple proportions, or rates using whole numbers and decimalsAdd commonly known fractions, decimals, or percentages (e.g., 1/2, .75, 25%)Add up to three fractions that share a common denominatorMultiply a mixed number by a whole number or decimalPut the information in the right order before performing calculations

Level 5 Problems require several steps of logic and calculation (e.g., problem may involve completing an order form by totaling the order and then computing tax)

Decide what information, calculations, or unit conversions to use to solve the problemLook up a formula and perform single-step conversions within or between systems of measurementCalculate using mixed units (e.g., 3.5 hours and 4 hours 30 minutes)Divide negative numbersFind the best deal using one- and two-step calculations and then compare resultsCalculate perimeters and areas of basic shapes (rectangles and circles)Calculate percent discounts or markups

What the WorkKeys Applied Mathematics Test Measures

SKILL LEVEL CHARACTERISTICS OF ITEMS

SKILLS

Level 6 May require considerable translation from verbal form to mathematical expressionGenerally require considerable setup and involve multiple-step calculations

Use fractions, negative numbers, ratios, percentages, or mixed numbersRearrange a formula before solving a problemUse two formulas to change from one unit to another within the same system of measurementUse two formulas to change from one unit in one system of measurement to a unit in another system of measurementFind mistakes in questions that belong at Levels 3, 4, and 5Find the best deal and use the result for another calculationFind areas of basic shapes when it may be necessary to rearrange the formula, convert units of measurement in the calculations, or use the result in further calculationsFind the volume of rectangular solidsCalculate multiple rates

Level 7 Content or format may be unusualInformation may be incomplete or implicitProblems often involve multiple steps of logic and calculation

•Solve problems that include nonlinear functions and/or that involve more than one unknown•Find mistakes in Level 6 questions•Convert between systems of measurement that involve fractions, mixed numbers, decimals, and/or percentages•Calculate multiple areas and volumes of spheres, cylinders, or cones•Set up and manipulate complex ratios or proportions•Find the best deal when there are several choices•Apply basic statistical concepts

What The Workkeys Locating Information Test Measures

SKILL LEVEL CHARACTERISTICS OF ITEMS

SKILLS

Level 3 Elementary workplace graphics such as simple order forms, bar graphs, tables, flowcharts, maps, instrument gauges, or floor plansOne graphic used at a time

Find one or two pieces of information in a graphicFill in one or two pieces of information that are missing from a graphic

Level 4 Straightforward workplace graphics such as basic order forms, diagrams, line graphs, tables, flowcharts, instrument gauges, or mapsOne or two graphics are used at a time

Find several pieces of information in one or two graphicsUnderstand how graphics are related to each otherSummarize information from one or two straightforward graphicsIdentify trends shown in one or two straightforward graphicsCompare information and trends shown in one or two straightforward graphics

Level 5 Complicated workplace graphics, such as detailed forms, tables, graphs, diagrams, maps, or instrument gaugesGraphics may have less common formatsOne or more graphics are used at a time

Sort through distracting informationSummarize information from one or more detailed graphicsIdentify trends shown in one or more detailed or complicated graphicsCompare information and trends from one or more complicated graphics

SKILL LEVEL CHARACTERISTICS OF ITEMS

SKILLS

Level 6 Very complicated and detailed graphs, charts, tables, forms, maps, and diagramsGraphics contain large amounts of information and may have challenging formatsOne or more graphics are used at a timeConnections between graphics may be subtle

Draw conclusions based on one complicated graphic or several related graphicsApply information from one or more complicated graphics to specific situationsUse the information to make decisions

What The Workkeys Locating Information Test Measures

What the WorkKeys Reading for Information Test Measures

SKILL LEVEL

CHARACTERISTICS OF ITEMS SKILLS

Level 3 Reading materials include basic company policies, procedures, and announcementsReading materials are short and simple, with no extra informationReading materials tell readers what they should doAll needed information is stated clearly and directlyItems focus on the main points of the passagesWording of the questions and answers is similar or identical to the wording used in the reading materials

Identify main ideas and clearly stated detailsChoose the correct meaning of a word that is clearly defined in the readingChoose the correct meaning of common, everyday workplace wordsChoose when to perform each step in a short series of stepsApply instructions to a situation that is the same as the one in the reading materials

Level 4 Reading materials include company policies, procedures, and noticesReading materials are straightforward but have longer sentences and contain a number of detailsReading materials use common words but do have some harder words, tooReading materials describe procedures that include several stepsWhen following the procedures, individuals must think about changing conditions that affect what they should doQuestions and answers are often paraphrased from the passage

Identify important details that may not be clearly statedUse the reading material to figure out the meaning of words that are not definedApply instructions with several steps to a situation that is the same as the situation in the reading materialsChoose what to do when changing conditions call for a different action (follow directions that include "if-then" statements)

What the WorkKeys Reading for Information Test Measures

SKILL LEVEL CHARACTERISTICS OF ITEMS

SKILLS

Level 5 Policies, procedures, and announcements include all of the information needed to finish a taskInformation is stated clearly and directly, but the materials have many detailsMaterials also include jargon, technical terms, acronyms, or words that have several meaningsApplication of information given in the passage to a situation that is not specifically described in the passageThere are several considerations to be taken into account in order to choose the correct actions

Figure out the correct meaning of a word based on how the word is usedIdentify the correct meaning of an acronym that is defined in the documentIdentify the paraphrased definition of a technical term or jargon that is defined in the documentApply technical terms and jargon and relate them to stated situationsApply straightforward instructions to a new situation that is similar to the one described in the materialApply complex instructions that include conditionals to situations described in the materials

Level 6 Reading materials include elaborate procedures, complicated information, and legal regulations found in all kinds of workplace documentsComplicated sentences with difficult words, jargon, and technical termsMost of the information needed to answer the items is not clearly stated

Identify implied detailsUse technical terms and jargon in new situationsFigure out the less common meaning of a word based on the contextApply complicated instructions to new situationsFigure out the principles behind policies, rules, and proceduresApply general principles from the materials to similar and new situationsExplain the rationale behind a procedure, policy, or communication

SKILL LEVEL

CHARACTERISTICS OF ITEMS

SKILLS

Level 7 Very complex reading materialsInformation includes a lot of detailsComplicated conceptsDifficult vocabularyUnusual jargon and technical terms are used but not definedWriting often lacks clarity and directionReaders must draw conclusions from some parts of the reading and apply them to other parts

Figure out the definitions of difficult, uncommon words based on how they are usedFigure out the meaning of jargon or technical terms based on how they are usedFigure out the general principles behind policies and apply them to situations that are quite different from any described in the materials

Understanding WorkKeys Scores

Level Scores: Employers use level scores to decide who to hire and promote. Level scores are based on WorkKeys job profiles—a snapshot of the skills needed for a particular job.

Scale Scores: Scale scores are used by educators to show growth in skills over time. Scale scores are not used for hiring or promotion decisions..

Reading for Information Scale Score Level65-72 <373-74 375-78 479-81 582-84 685-90 7

Applied MathematicsScale Score Level65-70 <371-74 375-77 478-81 582-86 687-90 7

Locating InformationScale Score Level65-71 <372-74 375-79 480-86 587-90 6

Conversion Tables Scale Scores to Levels

Bronze - scores at least a level 3 in each of the three core areas and has the necessary foundational skills for 16 percent of the jobs in the WorkKeys database

Silver - scores at least a level 4 in each of the three core areas and has the necessary foundational skills for 67 percent of the jobs in the WorkKeys database

Gold - scores at least a level 5 in each of the three core areas and has the necessary foundational skills for 93 percent of the jobs in the WorkKeys database

Platinum - scores at least a level 6 in each of the three core areas and has the necessary foundational skills for 99 percent of the jobs in the WorkKeys database

National Career Readiness Certifications

WorkKeys in the North Carolina Public Schools

Students who complete the four-course Career and Technical Education sequence are administered the WorkKeys examination in the 12th grade. The cost of testing for these students is paid for and monitored through NCDPI .

WorkKeys in the Public Schools of Hoke County

All senior in the public schools of Hoke County are are given the opportunity to take the WorkKeys assessment, the cost of testing these students is paid for by the school systems and the Lumber River Council of Government.

All students enter the workforce eventually—whether they get a job right out of high school, work part-time while continuing their education, or go through extensive postsecondary training. WorkKeys stresses skills development important for virtually every type of employment. In fact, the fastest growing segments of the WorkKeys job analyses are being done for professional, technical, and managerial jobs that require at least a bachelor’s degree. The abilities to learn, listen, communicate, work in teams, and solve problems—all areas addressed by WorkKeys—are important assets for any employee, regardless of career choice. They are also extremely important in today’s higher education. WorkKeys provides a gauge of career readiness and is widely recognized as an industry credential. WorkKeys assessments measure “real world” skills critical to job success. These skills are valuable for any occupation – skilled or professional – at any level of education, and in any industry.

Source: www.ACT.org/workkeys www.NationalCareerReadiness.org www.ACTworkreadycommunities

North Carolina Career Readiness CertificateNorth Carolina Department of Public InstructionACT WorkKeys Skill ReportsWorkKeys Secondary Education Guide