What is it. How will it help me. Why do I have to take it. When is it What is it? How will it help me? Why do I have to take it? When is it? How is it scored? What to do with my scores? What’s on it?

WHAT IS IT? Job Skills Assessment Measures real world job skills that employers are looking for Administered by ACT Officially called: “ACT National Career Readiness Certificate” or “CRC” or “WorkKeys”

HOW WILL IT HELP ME? Recognized and recommended by thousands of employers and colleges Credential to offer employers that gives you an advantage in getting a job Certifies that you have basic job skills in three areas: Locating Information Applied Mathematics Reading for Information

WHY DO I HAVE TO TAKE IT NC requires all seniors who complete a CTE Career Cluster to take the test before graduation A CTE Career Cluster consists of 4 courses in a certain occupational area. We have ____ seniors who completed one or more of the clusters below. Which cluster(s) did you complete? Agriculture, Foods, & Natural Resources Architecture & Construction Arts, A/V Technology & Communications Business Management & Administration Education & Training Finance Government & Public Administration Health Science Hospitality & Tourism Human Services Information Technology Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security Manufacturing Marketing Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics Transportation, Distribution & Logistics  

Examples of completers Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources Agriscience Applications Horticulture I Horticulture II CTE Internship Architecture & Construction Core & Sustainable Construction Carpentry I Carpentry II Arts, A/V Technology & Communications: Microsoft Word, PowerPoint & Publisher Digital Media I Digital Media II Personal Finance Health Science Health Team Relations Health Science I Health Science II Foods I

Concentrator letters sent home A reminder letter will be sent home with each student that is required to take the Workkeys test. In this letter, you will receive your: Test date Test location Information about workkeys

When is it? Review on Ohio Employment Security Commission Website Review test dates: _____________________ You will be called to the Career Center computer lab (D building, room 41) on one of these days. You will be testing in groups of 20. We will be starting review testing at the beginning of 2nd period. Everyone will be required to review for the Workkeys test on one of these days through the Ohio Employment Security Commission website: https://jobseeker.comohiomeansjobs.monster.com/Assessments/Home. aspx Through this testing software, students are able to see: Types of questions to expect on REAL workkeys test You will be able to see which questions you answered correctly You will be able to see which questions you answered incorrectly and an explanation is given for incorrect answers.

WHEN IS IT? ACTual workkeys test Test dates: ___________________ Makeup days: ________________ We will start promptly at 8:00am each day. Allow 3 hours 3 parts, back to back, allowed to leave when finished Make arrangements now to be off work. If you have a CTE internship 1st period, you must be here at 8:00am on your assigned day. If you have conflicts with this schedule, see Mrs. West or Mrs. Parris at the end of this session.

HOW IS IT SCORED? 4 Levels of Scores: Certificate Level Level Score Requirements Platinum Minimum score of 6 on each of the three tests Gold Minimum score of 5 on each of the three tests Silver Minimum score of 4 on each of the three tests Bronze Minimum score of 3 on each of the three tests SMHS GOAL *SMHS has never had a Platinum Credential – Will you be the first?

Scoring continued. It is NOT the average…it is by your lowest score Scoring continued *It is NOT the average…it is by your lowest score. Ex: You score the following: Locating Information – Gold Reading for Information – Gold Applied Mathematics – Bronze YOU WOULD ONLY RECEIVE A BRONZE CERTIFICATE

Percentage of U.S. High School Students Earning The Certificate* <1% 47% 22% 18% Of all individuals taking the WorkKeys Assessments (including students and adults), these percentages earned the respective credential. 13% of the examinees did not receive a certificate SMHS GOAL *13% Score below Bronze 12

What To Do With My Scores Include NCRC information and WorkKeys scores on resumes and job applications Take NCRC information to job interviews Inform employers of your demonstrated skill level as it relates to job requirements

www.myworkkeys.com Make scores and NCRC available to employers Keep track of WorkKeys scores For more information, go to: www.act.org/certificate/order.html

Job Qualification of Certificate Holders (Essential Foundational Skills) Qualifies for 16% of jobs Qualifies for 99% of jobs Qualifies for 93% of jobs Qualifies for 67% of jobs So, what does the certificate mean? Earning a bronze certificate indicates the individual is qualified for 16% of the jobs in the national JobsPro database. Earning silver means one is qualified for two-thirds of the jobs, etc. Source: ACT JobPro Data 2006-2010 15

WHAT’S ON IT? Different Level of Questions: 3 Sections: Locating Information Applied Mathematics Reading for Information Different Level of Questions: Level 3 = Bronze Level – easiest questions – everybody should get these correct Level 4 = Silver Level – a little tougher, but still easy questions that everyone should be able to figure out Level 5 = Gold Level – tougher questions that require more thought and problem solving skills, may require 2 or 3 steps to complete or answer Level 6 = Platinum Level – the toughest questions requiring critical thinking skills

Locating Information 38 word problems (55 minutes) Each question uses one or more graphics (1-9) = Level 3 - Bronze (10-18) = Level 4 - Silver (19-28) = Level 5 - Gold (29-38) = Level 6 - Platinum Slow down, score more! Ex: Attempt all 38, get 17 right  Level 4 Attempt 28, get 19 right, LOTD on remaining 10 (+2 more) = 21  Level 5 17

Types of graphics Forms Tables and charts Graphs Diagrams

Applied Mathematics 33 word problems (55 minutes) Math  real-world situations (1-6) = Level 3 - Bronze (7-13) = Level 4 - Silver (14-20) = Level 5 - Gold (21-27) = Level 6 - Platinum (28-33) = Level 7 – no designation – you have scored the highest this test measures Question # is related to item difficulty so spend more time in beginning to ensure you get them right! 19

Math – Tips & Tricks Break it down into small pieces RTFQ (read the full question) Ignore extra info Pace yourself You’re calculator is only as smart as you are! Use the formulas provided! The math test is more of a reading test – every problem is a word problem Break it down – when there’s something to figure out, stop, figure it out and write it down before you move on Calculator – be sure you know what you’re doing; use common sense Use 3.14 for pi instead of the pi key on calculator 20

Math Topics Fractions, Decimals and Percent's Rates and Averages Proportions and Recipes (Sample) Geometry Conversions Fractions: Bowtie method for adding/subtracting fractions and comparing fractions EX: ¾ - ½ = EX: Which drill bit falls between ½” and ¼” Recipe Box (sample) Conversions = Proportions Use UKPS / box method to solve Deals – can you find the best deal (cheapest option)? - Deals found on second half of test only 21

Reading for Information 33 questions (55 minutes) (1-16) = Level 3 - Bronze (17-20) = Level 4 - Silver (21-24) = Level 5 - Gold (25-28) = Level 6 - Platinum (29-33) = Level 7 – no designation – you have scored the highest this test measures

RI – Passage Types Memo Announcement Notice Emails Steps/Procedures Policy Regulations/Legal Regulations

QUESTIONS? Traci West SMHS, Career Development Coordinator twest@jcpsmail.org Missy Parris SMHS, CTE Administrative Assistant mparris@jcpsmail.org Angie Dills JCPS, CTE Director adills@jcpsmail.org