1. Test of Workplace Essential Skills
TOWES
Test of Workplace Essential Skills

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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!

6. Types of TOWES
services/towes-assessments/product- comparison-chart

7. TOWES Process Contact a TOWES distributor
Test takers are given a TOWES preparation guide a minimum of 24 hours before the 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

8. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. For more information on TOWES www.towes.com
For more information on testing
Samantha Buckingham-Perry