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WorkKeys Assessments
Purpose of assessment:
ACT WorkKeys® assessments measure foundational skills required for success in the workplace, and help measure the workplace skills that can affect job performance. These assessments are developed to solve actual workplace problems. For more information visits the ACT WorkKeys home page.
Arlington Public Schools (APS) has been giving WorkKeys Assessments to our students for over 10 years. APS utilizes WorkKeys assessments in different ways. The first is through the WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC). The NCRC consists of three separate assessments: Applied Math, Graphic Literacy, and Workplace Documents. This certificate may satisfy the industry credentialing graduation requirement for students pursuing the Standard Diploma, and additionally this certificate can be used in place of the W!SE test. Secondly, the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) allows for the Workplace Documents assessment as a substitute test for the SOL Reading, and the Business Writing as a substitute for the SOL Writing. These assessments are available for testing online, and except for Business Writing may also be given in paper form. Accommodations are available and need to be verified by your school counselor.
APS gives the following WorkKeys:
- Applied Math – “measures critical thinking, mathematical reasoning, and problem solving techniques for situations that actually occur in today’s workplace.”
- Graphic Literary – “measures the skill needed to locate, synthesize, and use information from workplace graphics.”
- Workplace Documents – “measures the skills people use when they read and use written text such as memos, letters, directions, signs, notices, bulletins, policies, and regulations on the job.”
- Business Writing – “measures the skill individuals use when they write an original response to a work-related situation”
Grades Taking the assessment: High School students
Dates: Varies by test and student need.
What to expect during the assessment:
- Applied Math – 34 questions taken in 55 minutes
- Graphic Literary – 38 questions in 55 minutes
- Workplace Documents – 35 questions in 55 minutes
- Business Writing – 1 prompt – 30 minutes
Practice links:
- Applied Math – review the sample items here.
- Graphic Literary – Review the sample items here.
- Workplace Documents – Review the sample items here.
- Business Writing – Review the sample items here.
What Does the Scores Mean:
In order to be used as a State Substitute Test to replace specific SOLs, the following scores are needed for each:
Workplace Documents: 4 or 6
Business Writing: 3 or 4
To receive the National Career Readiness Certificate and satisfy industry credentialing for the Standard Diploma or the W!SE certification:
Applied Math: 3 or higher
Graphic Literacy: 3 or higher
Workplace Documents: 4 or higher
Resources based on the results: