- ACT WorkKeys
- A job-skills assessment system from ACT that measures real-world workplace skills. The three core tests build the National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC).
- NCRC
- National Career Readiness Certificate — a portable credential earned by completing the three WorkKeys assessments: Applied Math, Graphic Literacy, and Workplace Documents.
- The three NCRC assessments
- Applied Math, Graphic Literacy, and Workplace Documents. Each is multiple choice, about 55 minutes long, and scored on Levels 3–7.
- Applied Math (length)
- 34 questions in 55 minutes. Measures workplace math: arithmetic, fractions, percentages, conversions, area, volume, and rates.
- Graphic Literacy (length)
- 38 questions in 55 minutes. Measures finding, comparing, and drawing conclusions from charts, graphs, tables, diagrams, and maps.
- Workplace Documents (length)
- 35 questions in 55 minutes. Measures reading and applying real workplace texts such as memos, policies, emails, and instructions.
- WorkKeys score scale
- Each of the three assessments is scored on a level scale of 3 to 7. Higher levels mean the test-taker handled more complex tasks.
- NCRC certificate tiers
- Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Your tier is set by the lowest of your three assessment levels.
- Bronze NCRC
- Awarded when you score at least Level 3 on all three assessments. It reflects skills needed for about 16% of jobs in the WorkKeys database.
- Silver NCRC
- Awarded when you score at least Level 4 on all three assessments — the most common tier, reflecting skills for roughly 67% of jobs profiled.
- Gold NCRC
- Awarded when you score at least Level 5 on all three assessments, reflecting skills needed for about 93% of profiled jobs.
- Platinum NCRC
- Awarded when you score at least Level 6 on all three assessments — the highest tier, reflecting skills for about 99% of profiled jobs.
- Why the lowest score sets your tier
- The NCRC tier is the lowest level among your three assessments, so your weakest test caps your certificate. Strengthen your weakest area to raise the whole credential.
- Applied Math calculator
- Calculators are permitted on the Applied Math assessment. A formula sheet and conversion tables are provided (embedded in the online test or printed in the paper booklet), but you still need the math skills to apply them.
- Applied Math formula sheet
- An on-screen reference listing common formulas and conversions (area, volume, length/weight/volume conversions) so you don't have to memorize them. Know how to apply them.
- Job profiling (WorkKeys)
- Employers analyze a job to set the minimum WorkKeys levels it requires, then compare applicants' NCRC scores to those targets.
- Miles per gallon (rate)
- Fuel efficiency = miles ÷ gallons. A car going 150 miles on 5 gallons gets 150 ÷ 5 = 30 miles per gallon.
- Convert a fraction to a decimal
- Divide the numerator by the denominator. 3/4 = 3 ÷ 4 = 0.75; 3/8 = 3 ÷ 8 = 0.375.
- Convert a fraction to a percent
- Divide to get a decimal, then multiply by 100. 3/4 = 0.75 = 75%. To reverse, drop the % and divide by 100.
- Add fractions with unlike denominators
- Find a common denominator first. 1/3 + 1/4 → 4/12 + 3/12 = 7/12.
- Percent of a number
- Multiply: part = percent × whole. 25% of $80 = 0.25 × 80 = $20.
- Find a percent discount price
- Multiply the price by the discount to get the savings, then subtract. $120 at 15% off: 0.15 × 120 = $18 off, so $120 − $18 = $102.
- Find a markup selling price
- Multiply cost by the markup percent and add it. $40 marked up 30%: 0.30 × 40 = $12, so $40 + $12 = $52.
- Add sales tax
- Tax = rate × price; add it to the price. $50 with 6% tax: 0.06 × 50 = $3, total $53. Shortcut: multiply price by 1.06.
- Work backward from a discounted price
- After a 20% discount you pay 80% of the original. If the sale price is $64, original = 64 ÷ 0.80 = $80.
- Work backward from a price with tax
- An after-tax total is 100% + tax%. With 5% tax a $210 total = 105% of the price, so price = 210 ÷ 1.05 = $200.
- Rate × time problems
- distance = rate × time (and rearrangements). A printer making 480 pages in 6 minutes runs at 80 pages/min, so 800 pages take 800 ÷ 80 = 10 minutes.
- Proportion (scale/ratio)
- Set two ratios equal and cross-multiply. If 2 inches = 8 feet, then 5 inches = (8 ÷ 2) × 5 = 20 feet.
- Mean (average)
- Add the values and divide by how many there are. The mean of 8, 12, 10, 14 = 44 ÷ 4 = 11.
- Area of a rectangle
- length × width. A 12 ft by 9 ft floor has area 12 × 9 = 108 square feet.
- Area of a triangle
- ½ × base × height. A triangle with base 6 and height 4 has area ½ × 6 × 4 = 12 square units.
- Area of a circle
- π × r². With r = 3 ft and π ≈ 3.14: 3.14 × 3² = 3.14 × 9 = 28.26 square feet.
- Circumference of a circle
- π × diameter (or 2 × π × r). A circle 10 ft across: 3.14 × 10 = 31.4 feet around.
- Perimeter of a rectangle
- 2 × (length + width). An 8 ft by 5 ft rectangle: 2 × (8 + 5) = 26 feet.
- Volume of a rectangular box
- length × width × height. A 4 ft × 3 ft × 2 ft box holds 4 × 3 × 2 = 24 cubic feet.
- Volume of a cylinder
- π × r² × height. With r = 2 ft, h = 10 ft: 3.14 × 4 × 10 = 125.6 cubic feet.
- Inches in a foot / feet conversion
- 1 foot = 12 inches. So 4 feet = 4 × 12 = 48 inches. (A common error is using 10 instead of 12.)
- Pounds in a ton
- 1 ton = 2,000 pounds. A 5,000-pound shipment = 5,000 ÷ 2,000 = 2.5 tons.
- Liters and milliliters
- 1 liter = 1,000 milliliters. So 3 liters = 3,000 mL, and 750 mL = 0.75 liter.
- Minutes to hours
- Divide minutes by 60. 90 minutes = 90 ÷ 60 = 1.5 hours.
- Negative number arithmetic
- Combine signs carefully. A balance of −$45 plus a $70 deposit = −45 + 70 = $25; charges −25, −30 and a +40 credit net to −$15.
- Hourly pay
- pay = hourly rate × hours. $18/hour for 35 hours = 18 × 35 = $630 before deductions.
- Fraction of a quantity
- Multiply the whole by the fraction. 3/5 of a 60-gallon tank = (3 × 60) ÷ 5 = 36 gallons.
- Convert a decimal to a fraction
- Read the place value, then reduce. 0.25 = 25/100 = 1/4; 2.5 = 5/2.
- Cost from area
- Find the area, then multiply by the unit price. A 15 ft × 20 ft room is 300 sq ft; at $4/sq ft carpet costs 300 × 4 = $1,200.
- Order of operations (PEMDAS)
- Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division left to right, then Addition/Subtraction left to right. Following it avoids most calculation errors.
- Spot a percentage error
- Reducing $200 by 10% means subtracting 10% of 200 ($20) — not a flat $10. The correct total is $180, not $190.
- Graphic Literacy assessment
- Measures your ability to locate, compare, summarize, and draw conclusions from graphics — charts, graphs, tables, diagrams, maps, and gauges used at work.
- Legend (key)
- The part of a graphic that explains what each color, symbol, or line stands for. Always check it before reading values off the graphic.
- Axis
- A labeled reference line on a graph. The horizontal (x) axis and vertical (y) axis tell you what each direction measures and in what units.
- Bar graph
- Uses bar height (or length) to compare amounts across categories. The tallest bar is the largest value; the shortest is the smallest.
- Line graph
- Shows how a value changes over time. A rising line means increase, a falling line means decrease, and a flat line means no change.
- Pie chart
- A circle divided into sectors showing parts of a whole; all sectors total 100%. A half-circle sector equals 50%. If sectors don't sum to 100%, there's an error.
- Read a value from a pie chart
- Multiply the sector's percent by the total. 60% Satisfied out of 200 people = 0.60 × 200 = 120 people.
- Table
- Organizes data in rows and columns. To find a value, locate where the correct row and column intersect.
- Flow chart
- Shows a process as a sequence of steps connected by arrows. A diamond shape marks a decision point (yes/no branch).
- Decision point in a flow chart
- A diamond-shaped box that asks a yes/no question; the answer determines which branch (arrow) you follow next.
- Gauge / dial
- A graphic with a needle pointing to a value on a scale. A needle halfway between E and F means about half full; colored zones flag safe vs. danger ranges.
- Scale (on a map or blueprint)
- A ratio telling you how a distance on the drawing relates to real distance, e.g. 1 inch = 100 feet. Use it to convert measured distances to actual ones.
- Double / multi-axis chart
- Plots two measures with different units on one graphic (e.g. sales bars on the left axis, satisfaction line on the right) so you can compare related data sets.
- Stacked bar graph
- Each bar is split into segments. Segment size shows a part; the whole bar shows the combined total across those parts.
- Trend
- The overall direction of data over time — rising, falling, or steady. Identifying a trend means reading the general pattern, not a single point.
- Make an inference from a graphic
- Draw a supported conclusion the graphic implies but doesn't state directly — answer only from what the data shows, not outside knowledge.
- Misleading axis
- A vertical axis that starts above zero exaggerates small differences, making bars look more different than they are. Check where the axis begins.
- Organizational chart
- A diagram of reporting relationships — who reports to whom. Lines connect each role to the position above it.
- Floor plan / blueprint
- A scaled overhead drawing of a space showing rooms, walls, doors, and dimensions. Use the legend and scale to locate features and measure distances.
- Compare values across a graphic
- Read each item against the same axis or units. Identify the largest, smallest, equal, or different values the question asks for.
- Locate vs. integrate (Graphic Literacy)
- Easier items ask you to locate one value; harder items ask you to compare or integrate information across multiple graphics to reach a conclusion.
- Workplace Documents assessment
- Measures reading and applying real workplace texts — memos, emails, policies, handbooks, notices, and instructions — to do a job task correctly.
- Main idea
- The central point or purpose a document is communicating — broader than any one detail. It's often stated near the beginning, in a title, or a topic sentence.
- Supporting detail
- A specific fact, example, or instruction that backs up the main idea. To find a detail, scan for the exact term the question asks about.
- Following steps in order
- Many workplace instructions must be done in sequence. Signal words — first, next, before, after, then — tell you the required order.
- Signal words
- Words like first, next, before, after, then, and until that show the order or timing of steps in a procedure.
- Conditional (if–then) rule
- A rule that applies only when a condition is met. 'If hours exceed 40, then overtime applies' means hour 41 onward is paid at the overtime rate.
- Apply a conditional to a situation
- Check whether the 'if' condition is true before applying the 'then' result. If a fee applies only after 30 days, paying on day 40 triggers the fee.
- Meaning from context
- When you don't know a workplace word (torque, purge, calibrate), use the surrounding sentence and the action it describes to infer its meaning.
- PPE
- Personal Protective Equipment — gear like gloves, goggles, and hard hats worn to protect workers from hazards.
- OSHA
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration — the U.S. agency that sets and enforces workplace safety and health standards.
- SDS
- Safety Data Sheet — a document detailing the hazards, handling, and emergency measures for a chemical product.
- Integrate information across sections
- Hard document items require combining facts from two or more parts. A $100 price plus a separate '20% members off' section means a member pays $80.
- Apply information to a new situation
- Take a procedure written for one case and adapt it to a similar one — e.g. a method learned on Machine A applied to a nearly identical Machine B.
- Identify document types
- Recognize a memo, email, policy/handbook, contract, regulation, notice, or set of instructions, and read each for its purpose.
- Memo
- A brief internal message announcing or directing something to staff — for example, a manager's note about a schedule change.
- Policy / handbook
- A formal written set of rules describing acceptable conduct and procedures employees must follow.
- Contract
- A signed agreement between parties that sets out binding terms, such as delivery dates and prices between a company and a supplier.
- Regulation
- A government-issued rule that sets legal requirements (often safety) businesses must follow, such as OSHA standards.
- Implied purpose
- The reason behind a rule that isn't stated outright. Requiring hairnets implies concern for food safety; banning eating at lab stations implies preventing contamination.
- Why documents use real materials
- The assessment uses authentic workplace texts because it measures reading skills the way they're actually used on the job, not abstract reading comprehension.
- WorkKeys question format
- All three assessments are multiple choice. They can be taken on a computer or on paper at an authorized WorkKeys test site.
- Is WorkKeys pass/fail?
- No. WorkKeys is not pass/fail. Each assessment earns a level score (3–7), and your NCRC tier reflects your skills rather than a passing line.
- Highest assessment level
- Level 7 is the top of each assessment's 3–7 scale. Note: the highest NCRC certificate (Platinum) only requires Level 6 on all three.
- Raise your NCRC tier
- Improve your weakest assessment. Since the tier is the lowest of three levels, many test-takers retake just one assessment to move up a medal.
- Simple interest
- interest = principal × rate × time. $1,000 at 5% for 2 years earns 1,000 × 0.05 × 2 = $100 in interest.
- Ratio / proportion
- Set two ratios equal and cross-multiply. A 1-to-4 cleaner-to-water mix with 3 cups of cleaner needs 3 × 4 = 12 cups of water.
- Volume of a cone
- (1/3) × π × r² × height. With r = 3, h = 4, π ≈ 3.14: (1/3) × 3.14 × 9 × 4 = 37.68 cubic feet.
- Volume of a sphere
- (4/3) × π × r³. With r = 3, π ≈ 3.14: (4/3) × 3.14 × 27 = 113.04 cubic inches.
- Combined work rate
- Add each worker's per-hour rate. Two workers each making 15 items/hour produce 30/hour together, or 120 in 4 hours.
- Org chart
- An organizational chart shows reporting relationships — who reports to whom. Lines connect each role to the position above it.
- Scale on a map
- A ratio telling you how a drawn distance equals a real one, e.g. 1 inch = 100 feet. Use it to convert measured distances to actual ones.
- Justify a conclusion from a graphic
- At higher levels you must support an inference by pointing to the specific data — the value, trend, or comparison in the graphic that makes your conclusion correct.
- Answer only from the document
- Workplace Documents questions are answered using the text in front of you, not outside knowledge. The correct choice is the one the document supports.
- Combined conditions (and / or)
- With 'and,' every condition must be true for the rule to apply; with 'or,' any one is enough. Check each part before acting.
- SKU
- Stock Keeping Unit — a code identifying a specific product. 'Verify the SKU before shipping' means confirm the correct item.
- Apply info to a new situation
- Take a procedure written for one case and use it on a similar one — e.g. refund steps for one product applied to another defective item.
