Test of Workplace Essential Skills TOWES Test of Workplace Essential Skills

What is TOWES? TOWES (Test of Workplace Essential Skills) is an effective assessment that accurately measures Reading Text, Document Use and Numeracy using the IALS (International Adult Literacy Survey) Test takers must assume the role of a worker and use information embedded in authentic documents to solve real workplace problems, i.e. catalogues, order forms, labels, and schematics etc.

What is it used for? Recruitment, selection and succession planning Career planning Workplace Essential Skill training College or institutional training programs, i.e. Business Human Resources Apprenticeship technical training As an exit credential To help establish standards In research For prior learning recognition

Who is it intended for? Organizations and individuals looking to assess, improve and increase awareness of Essential Skills. Educators, i.e. LBS, OBS etc. Employers Labour Organizations, i.e. unions, adjustment committees etc. Employment Services

About the Test Takes 2 – 3 hours long Comprised of 18 problem sets Although you may not be familiar with the subject matter of the document, all the information needed to answer the questions is contained within the material provided. Cost $68.00/test + HST a problem set is made up of an authentic workplace document and a series of questions or "tasks" directly related to the document You should be able to answer the question or "perform" the task because your Essential Skills are transferable from one environment to another!

Types of TOWES http://www.towes.com/en/products-- services/towes-assessments/product- comparison-chart

TOWES Process Contact a TOWES distributor Test takers are given a TOWES preparation guide a minimum of 24 hours before the test http://www.towes.com/en/test- taker/test-taker Before taking the test, test takers are given thorough instructions Write the test TOWES administrator sends test to Bow Valley College where it is marked – they are returned within 48 hours (business days) Test results are sent either directly to the test taker or to the test administrator (test taker indicates his/her preference) Test results are strictly confidential Once test results are received an appointment is scheduled to review results

TOWES Assessment Results ES scores in Reading Text, Document Use, and Numeracy Explanation of results Recommendations for improvement Career matches, complete with NOC Career matches one level up National Certification

Benefits of TOWES Employers can identify and develop the Essential Skills of workers and prepare them for a wide range of jobs Employees, students, and job seekers can identify and develop their Essential Skills, enabling them to make better informed career and education decisions and to access higher paying jobs Educators and trainers can pinpoint areas of strength and weakness and develop focused intervention strategies TOWES scores based on IALS – international language understood across employment and education programs TOWES results linked to numerous ES resources, i.e. Measure Up, OLES, HRSDC job bank and Essential Skills sites, LBS curriculum, AWAL

TOWES Certification Must have the permission of a TOWES distributor to take the certification course At this point, colleges are the only distributors in the province There has been some discussion re Third Party certification/testing, but not in place yet Third party testing is to be done for the third party only – testing for other organizations must have distributor permission

For more information on TOWES www.towes.com For more information on testing Samantha Buckingham-Perry 519 421 0144 s_buckingham-perry@fanshawec.ca