This WorkKeys cheat sheet distills all three NCRC assessments into a printable rundown of the facts examiners lean on most. It's a premium cheat sheet built by Capital Prep — the one premium prep we trust — and it's yours free. Reinforce it with the rest of your free WorkKeys toolkit: the practice test, study guide, and flashcards.
WorkKeys exam at a glance
- Assessments: 3 — Applied Math, Graphic Literacy, Workplace Documents
- Questions: Applied Math 34, Graphic Literacy 38, Workplace Documents 35
- Time: 55 minutes per assessment (taken separately)
- Score scale: Level 3 to Level 7 per assessment — no pass/fail
- Certificate: NCRC medal set by the lowest of your three levels
- Cost: Varies by test site and sponsor (sometimes free; verify at ACT.org)
What’s on the WorkKeys cheat sheet
- Graphic Literacy (36%, 38 Qs) — reading axes and legends, locating and comparing values, sector percent × total, and drawing supported trends from charts, tables, gauges, and maps — the largest assessment.
- Workplace Documents (33%, 35 Qs) — main idea versus detail, following steps by signal words, applying if-then rules, and inferring word and acronym meaning from memos, policies, and instructions.
- Applied Math (31%, 34 Qs) — fraction-decimal-percent conversions, discounts and markups, area, volume, and rate formulas — worked with the provided formula sheet and calculator.
- NCRC scoring — the Level 3 to 7 scale and the Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum medal tiers, with the reminder that your lowest assessment sets the medal.
How to use it in your final week
- Lock in the Applied Math conversions — 12 in = 1 ft, 2,000 lb = 1 ton, 60 min = 1 hr — and the percent method (decimal × price, then add or subtract) so setup is automatic.
- Spend the most reps on your lowest assessment; since the lowest Level score sets your NCRC medal, that is where a single tier jump is hiding.
- Skim the Graphic Literacy rules (read the legend and axes first, sector percent × total = a count) and the Workplace Documents if-then check right before each 55-minute assessment.
- Pair each review pass with a short timed drill so 55 minutes per assessment feels routine on test day.
The cheat sheet is your review layer — your WorkKeys practice test drives the exam-readiness ring at the top of this page. Download it, review, then take a full practice exam (or drill with the study guide and flashcards) to see where you stand.
WorkKeys cheat sheet FAQ
Yes — the WorkKeys cheat sheet downloads as a PDF with no sign-up and no paywall. It sits alongside Career Employer's free WorkKeys practice test, study guide, and flashcards so your whole prep stack costs nothing.
It condenses the highest-yield facts from all three NCRC assessments — Applied Math conversions and formulas, Graphic Literacy reading rules, and Workplace Documents if-then logic — plus the Level 3 to 7 score scale and the Bronze-to-Platinum medal tiers on one quick reference.
No — WorkKeys is not pass/fail. Each assessment earns a Level score from 3 to 7, and your NCRC medal (Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum) is set by the lowest level across all three, so the cheat sheet focuses on lifting your weakest assessment rather than clearing a single cutoff.
Cram whichever assessment is your lowest level, because that one caps your medal. If you are unsure, the sheet's quick facts on all three let you self-check fast, then send you into the practice test to confirm your weakest area.
Tap the download button or the preview card at the top of this page to open the PDF instantly. Bookmark the page so it is one click away in the final week before your test date.
References
- 1.ACT, Inc.. “ACT WorkKeys Assessments.” ACT.org, 2026. ↑
- 2.ACT, Inc.. “ACT WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC).” ACT.org, 2026. ↑
- 3.ACT, Inc.. “ACT WorkKeys Applied Math.” ACT.org, 2026. ↑
- 4.ACT, Inc.. “ACT WorkKeys Graphic Literacy.” ACT.org, 2026. ↑
- 5.ACT, Inc.. “ACT WorkKeys Workplace Documents.” ACT.org, 2026. ↑
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