WorkKeys
What is WorkKeys?
The WorkKeys system measures “soft” skills, specifically Applied Math, Graphic Literacy, and Workplace Documents. These are skills that employers feel are critical to job success. WorkKeys test results help students understand their strengths and weaknesses and how they can improve their skills in order to qualify for better-paying jobs. Students who take the WorkKeys tests may be eligible to receive a “credential” known as the National Career Readiness Certificate which enables them to document their abilities to future employers. This credential is portable across all US states and shows that the student is work and career ready.
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 to college first. The WorkKeys system stresses skills development, which is important for every type of employment. WorkKeys job analyses are conducted for every type of employment. WorkKeys job analyses are conducted for a wide range of jobs across the U.S. economy, from jobs that require short-term on-the-job training to those requiring a bachelor’s degree or higher.
For more information concerning WorkKeys, please go to:
ACT WORKKEYS CAREER ASSESSMENTS
Who Takes the WorkKeys Tests and How to Prepare
Seniors and mid-year senior graduates and junior early grades that meet the criteria to be designated a CTE Concentrator according to their transcripts are required to take the WorkKeys tests for free. A CTE Concentrator is a student that has earned a minimum of 2.0 credits in a specific CTE Career Pathway. One of the credits earned must be a second level CTE concentrator course. Some examples include, Interior Design, Apparel, Adobe, General Management, Sports Marketing, Foods and Nutrition, Fire Fighter Tech, Automotive, Health Science and Aviation. Because the State of North Carolina pays for identified Concentrators to take the test and because the WorkKeys test is one of the 5 tools the state uses to measure school accountability for CTE, testing for CTE Concentrators is mandatory.
Unlike EOC’s, CTE Post Assessments or NC Final Exams, students cannot study for the WorkKeys tests because the tests do not examine specific courses. However, students and parents alike can get a feel for the types of questions they will be asked by reviewing sample test questions on the ACT website. To access the sample questions for each test category, click on the link provided above, scroll down the page to Applied Mathematics, Graphic Literacy, or Workplace Documents and click on the box containing the same title. To view the sample questions, scroll down the new page and click on "View Sample Item" for each level.
Finally, it is important to understand that the WorkKeys test scores do not affect college acceptance in any way. In fact, if a student wants to use their WorkKeys scores as part of a college application, they must specifically site the credential on their application. WorkKeys scores can ONLY help the student. Scores will not hurt the student in any way, regardless of their performance on the test. It is a benefit qualified students receive and doing their best on the WorkKeys tests could potentially show employers a student's employability skills, career readiness and higher wage earnings in the future.
The Fall ACT WorkKeys Test Date for Senior CTE Concentrators at West Forsyth is Thursday, November 14th, 2024 (a makeup day will be provided in the spring semester for any absentee students).
REMEMBER THIS ASSESSMENT IS REQUIRED FOR ALL 2025 GRADUATING STUDENTS (SENIORS AND EARLY GRAD JUNIORS) IDENTIFIED AS A CTE CONCENTRATOR.
Any CTE Concentrator senior student that is absent during fall testing on Thursday, November 14th, 2024 will take the makeup ACT WorkKeys test during the Spring semester in February 2025. All senior CTE concentrators as well as senior mid-year grads and any junior early grads that are also CTE concentrators will test in the fall. This is a required assessment for ALL CTE concentrators graduating this school year in January 2025 or June 2025.
Students that complete the ACT Workkeys assessment on Thursday, November 14th, 2024 will receive an email from ACT acknowledging their scores are ready to be viewed. Students can setup an ACT account online to access their WorkKeys scores.
Students will be contacted in early November if required to sit for the ACT WorkKeys assessment on Thursday, November 14th, 2024. Students required to test will report to the West Forsyth campus on Thursday, November 14th at 8:30am. Students will report directly to their testing location on campus (locations TBD). Testing should begin by 9:00am (or after all buses have arrived) and end by 1:00pm. Students are required to stay the duration of time until all testing is complete in their assigned room. Once all testing is complete in the assigned room, students will be dismissed to their afternoon classes and/or lunch break. A lunch time will be provided regardless of the dismissal time.
Students should bring the following items on test day:
A photo ID
School-issued Chromebook--fully charged
If a school-issued CB is not available, then the student will borrow a ChromeBook from the media center for test day
Pencils, scratch paper and calculators (for the math section) will be provided on test day
Students will be required to makeup the Workkeys Assessment if absent on the scheduled test day. Workkeys is a required assessment for All CTE Concentrators prior to graduation and is an Accountability Standard for all high schools.
National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC)
The National Career Readiness Certification (NCRC) is designed to meet the needs of both employers and job seekers in our transitioning economy.
For employers, the NCRC offers a reliable means of determining whether a potential employee has the necessary literacy, numeracy and problem solving skills to be “job ready.”
For job seekers, the NCRC serves as a portable credential that can be more meaningful to employers than a high school diploma or a resume citing experience in a different job setting.
The NCRC is based upon WorkKeys, a nationally recognized skills assessment tool developed by ACT Inc. The NCRC measures and certifies the essential employability skills needed for success in jobs across industries and occupations. It is awarded at four levels, based on the scores achieved on the component assessments. They are:
Platinum: Scores of Level 6 or higher on all three exams
Gold: Scores of Level 5 or higher on all three exams
Silver: Scores of Level 4 or higher on all three exams
Bronze: Scores of Level 3 or higher on all three exams
For more information concerning the NCRC, go to:
Career Readiness Certificate Information
Sharing Your Credential:
Once you have received your WorkKeys test scores, you should include them in college applications, job applications, and your resume. You can register your credentials using the ACT WorkKeys website after setting up an account. Use the following link to read more about the ACT WorkKeys credential and how it can benefit you as a potential job seeker and potential employer.