2. WHAT IS THE WORKKEYS?
ACT WorkKeys is a job skill assessment
system used in the United States. It was
created in the late 1980s by ACT, Inc. It is
used by businesses to measure workplace
skills of employees and job applicants and
by schools and colleges to help prepare
students for the workplace.

3. WHY DO YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT?
 You agreed to take them as part of the requirement's for
the Public Safety Project participants.
 The Public Safety Project is funded by a grant awarded
by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and
Training Administration.
 The PSP team’s main goal is to help you receive an
education and most importantly, get you ready for work.
 Receive the National Career Readiness Certification
(NCRC).

4. WHAT IS THE NCRC?
The National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) is
an industry-recognized, portable, evidence-based
credential that certifies essential skills needed for
workplace success.

5. NCRC LEVELS
Platinum 95% need 6 and above
Gold 90% need 5 and above
Silver 65% need 4 and above
Bronze 35% need 3 and above
Actual quote from a human resources manager at Energizer
“When we hire, we typically have 1,000 applicants for 30
positions. If they pass the tests and get a certificate, they are
closer to getting ahead in the job-application process.”

6. WHAT AM I TESTED ON??
Applied Mathematics
Reading for Information
Locating Information
An individual must score at least a level 3 on three WorkKeys® assessments:
Applied Mathematics, Locating Information, and Reading for Information

7. WHAT IS APPLIED MATHEMATICS?
This assessment measures the skill people
use when they apply mathematical
reasoning, critical thinking, and problem-
solving techniques to work-related
problems.
Number of questions: 33
Time: 55 minutes
Levels: 3,4,5,6,7

8. Level 3
In your job as a cashier, a customer
gives you a $20 bill to pay for a can of
coffee that costs $3.84. How much
change should you give back?
$15.26
$16.16
$16.26
$16.84
$17.16
ANSWER: 1 step
$20-$3.84 = $16.16
Level 6
You are preparing to tile the floor of a
rectangular room that is 15½ feet by 18½ feet
in size. The tiles you plan to use are square,
measuring 12 inches on each side, and are
sold in boxes that contain enough tile to cover
25 square feet. How many boxes of tiles must
you order to complete the job?
11, 12, 34, 59, 287
ANSWER: 4 steps
1) Convert to 18.5 and 15.5
2) 18.5 X 15.5 = 286.75
3) 286.75/25 = 11.47
4) 11.47 =12 (12 boxes)
EXAMPLES OF APPLIED MATH TEST QUESTIONS

9. WHAT IS READING FOR INFORMATION?
It measures the skill people use when they read
and use written text in order to do a job. The written
texts include memos, letters, directions, signs,
notices, bulletins, policies, and regulations.
Number of questions: 33
Time: 55 minutes
Levels: 3,4,5,6,7

10. EXAMPLE OF READING FOR INFORMATION:
LEVEL 3ATTENTION CASHIERS:
All store employees will now get 20% off the price of clothes they buy here. Please
follow the
new directions listed below.
 Selling clothes to employees
Ask to see the employee's store identification card.
Enter the employee's department code number into the cash register.
Use the cash register to take 20% off the price. Then push the sales tax button.
Write your initials on the sales receipt.
Sell clothes to employees during store hours only.
 Accepting clothing returns from employees
Employees receive a store credit certificate for clothes they return to the store.
Store credit certificates are next to the gift certificates.
Employees may not get a cash refund for clothes they return to the store.

11. CHOOSE AND ANSWER
You are a cashier. According to the notice shown, what
should you write on a store employee's receipt?
1) The employee's identification number
2) The employee's department number
3) The amount of sales tax
4) The 20% discount price
5) Your initials
Correct Answer is: Your initials
Simple , short, find a fact

12. EXAMPLE OF READING FOR INFORMATION
LEVEL 5
Goldberg's Auto Parts is served by more than fifty different accounts, each with its own
sales
representative, company name, corporate address, and shipping address. As a shipping
and receiving clerk at Goldberg's, you are required to return defective merchandise to the
manufacturer.
Standard procedure for returning an item begins with your written request to the company
for authorization. Always send the request to the corporate address, not to the shipping
address. Unless the company file folder contains a form for this procedure, write a business
letter to the manufacturer supplying the item's stock number, cost, and invoice number; the
date it was received; and the reason for its return.
The manufacturer's reply will include an authorization number from the sales
representative, a sticker for you to place on the outside of the box to identify it as an
authorized return, and a closing date for the company's acceptance of the returned item. If
you do not attach the provided sticker, your returned box will be refused by the
manufacturer as unauthorized, and you will need to obtain a new letter, authorization,
sticker, and closing date. Always send a returned box to the shipping address, not to the
company's corporate address.

13. CHOOSE AND ANSWER
According to the policy shown, what should you do if you lose an authorization
sticker?
1) Send a request for a return authorization along with the rejected part
directly to the manufacturer's shipping address.
2) Send a request for return authorization along with the rejected part
directly to the manufacturer's corporate address.
3) Repeat the standard procedure to obtain a new letter, authorization,
sticker, and closing date.
4) Use a sticker from another company's folder.
5) Send the rejected part to your sales representative.
Correct Answer is: #3
Sentences are: longer, more steps, jargon and special terms, conditions, apply
instruction in a new situation.

14. WHAT IS LOCATING INFORMATION?
It measures the skill people use when they work with
workplace graphics. Examinees are asked to find
information in a graphic or insert information into a
graphic. They also must compare, summarize, and
analyze information found in related graphics.
Number of questions: 38
Time: 55 minutes
Levels: 3,4,5,6 (only 4 levels)

15. EXAMPLE OF LOCATING INFORMATION
LEVEL 3
You regularly check the pressure gauge on a large tank. According
to the gauge shown, what is the current pressure (in PSI)?
30
35
40
45
100
Answer: 35
Found one piece of information from a single graphic

16. EXAMPLE OF LOCATING INFORMATION: LEVEL 6
You are a road contractor and you have analyzed a soil that you want to use for
road fill. Your analysis shows that the soil contains 15% sand, 65% silt, and 20%
clay. You need to know what the shrink-swell potential is for the soil because it will
affect the durability of the road. Based on the diagram and table shown, what is the
shrink-swell potential at a 30-inch depth for this soil? ANSWER:
Moderate

17. HOW DO THE SCORES HELP YOU?
• The NCRC complements high school diplomas, community
college degrees, and certificates of technical proficiency.
• The NCRC relies on standardized assessments and confirms
an individual’s competence in a specific set of workplace skills
• You will gain knowledge of the areas you need to work on
while you are in college to become more competitive in the
workforce.
• It adds to your resume and is considered a certification as well
as a credential.
• You will see how smart you are! Your confidence from this
knowledge will show in your job interviews!

18. WHAT ARE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT TAKING THE TEST?
 Its time consuming and I don’t have time to take it.
a. We have dates set up for you take them for your convenience!
b. The Joplin Missouri Career Center has several options each month.
c. Tell your boss about the test to let them know you want to see what areas you can work
on for your current job! They may see that as a professional development activity.
 I am afraid that I will have low level scores and won’t earn the
NCRC.
a. You can study for it. Become of member of the MO Career Center and you get to study
the test for free! Don’t worry if you get a low score. You can take it again.
b. You will have the opportunity to see the areas you need to study. You will then have more
options in the future for employment!!!!

19. DATES AND TIMES FOR TESTING
You must register with the Missouri Career Center before you take the test.
(takes about 15 minutes) 730 Wall Street
Location:
The Southwest Center
(between the Webb City Fire Department and the Webb City Crowder Center)
When:
Monday, April 7th , 2014 5:30-9 pm
Saturday, April 12th, 2014 9:00am-12:30
Bring your ID and a positive attitude!