ACT WorkKeys

What is the ACT WorkKeys?

ACT WorkKeys is a job skills assessment system measuring "real-world" skills that employers believe are critical to job success.  This is an opportunity for you to earn your Career Readiness Certification which you can include on your resume, college applications and you can discuss in scholarship interviews.  

Who takes the WorkKeys and why is it Important?

All seniors who complete a 2nd level CTE Concentrator course are considered a CTE concentrator and are required to take this exam. WorkKeys provides important information no matter what type of skilled or professional career you plan to pursue after high school.  Studies show that occupations requiring higher skills in math, locating information, and reading pay higher entry-level salaries.

Why should parents and students care about WorkKeys?

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 and then start a career.

WorkKeys stresses skills development important for every type of employment.   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 colleges.

By increasing your skill levels while still in school, you increase your opportunities for higher salaries in the future.  Because WorkKeys measures skills valued by employers, you can use your results to get a better picture of your future success in the workforce and improve areas where your skills are weak.  Schools can use the information—along with input from employers—to ensure that courses of study provide adequate work skills training to meet the needs of businesses. 

• You can receive a certificate at one of these levels: Bronze (L3), Silver (L4), Gold (L5), or Platinum (L6).  Please see the chart below for what these four levels mean.

• The test consists of three 55-minute sections: Workplace Documents, Applied Mathematics, and Graphic Literacy.

• The NC Department of Public Instruction will notify the school of your scores with directions on creating an ACT account to access your testing information.  

Taken from - www.act.org