1. Make sure your network is capable.
Ask your computer network administrator to review ACT's technical specifications and other informational documents to ensure your network is capable of handling the WorkKeys Internet testing.
2. Participate in WorkKeys Test Administrator Training.
You must complete WorkKeys Test Administrator Training before administering the tests at your school. Training is available at your convenience.
- Self-paced Training - available online anytime
- The portal includes tabs across the top that guide users through an
introduction, general training expectations and into the actual
training tasks and materials.
You will need to complete these modules:
- STAGE I: High Stakes Testing module
- STAGE II: Internet Version modules
- STAGE III: Users Guides and full
WorkKeys manuals
3. Obtain your school's WorkKeys Internet Testing URLs and login information from your district's Alaska Career Ready coordinator.
(The coordinator can obtain the information from EED.)
4. Review ACT's Special Testing Accommodations Guide.
Download the Guide here (PDF). If you have further questions about special testing accommodations, please contact ACT directly at
800-553-6244, extension 1550 or 1875.
5. Enroll your student names.
Instructions for enrolling student names are included in the WorkKeys Test Administrator training.
6. Prepare your 11th graders for the WorkKeys assessments.
Ideally, it would be best if your 11th graders can spend some time in the WIN instructional courseware before taking the WorkKeys assessments. It will give them practice in the types of questions they will encounter on the WorkKeys tests. You may also want to explain to your students what the WorkKeys system is; what the scores mean; what the Alaska Career Ready certificate is; and how the assessments and certificate may help them in getting a job or qualifying for post-secondary training programs. Some resources to help you are listed below:
7. Administer the assessments to your 11th graders.
Students are allowed 55 minutes for each WorkKeys assessment taken via computer. Please include an additional 15 - 20 minutes for students to log in to the test site, update their demographic information, and go through the tutorial and practice questions before the actual test.
We recommend you provide each student with a printed copy of the Mathematics Formula Sheet during the Applied Mathematics test; remember to collect all formula sheets before examinees leave the room. A copy of the formula sheet is available to the student from the testing menu onscreen, but it may be easier for students to have the hard copy available to them.
Provide clean scratch paper to each examinee and collect it before examinees leave the room.
Either provide calculators for each examinee or ask examinees to bring approved calculators with them. Calculator guidelines are the same for the ACT Mathematics Test and the WorkKeys Applied Mathematics test. Please see the ACT website for details: http://www.actstudent.org/faq/answers/calculator.html
8. Review your students' scores with them.
Whether you do it in a group or individually, it is important that you talk with students about what their scores mean. You may print individual instant score reports immediately after the students are finished with each test, or you may batch-print all score reports the next day from your reporting portal.
WorkKeys score interpretation resources are available here:
- Using Your WorkKeys Scores - pamphlet from EED
- Understanding Your WorkKeys Scores - ACT website
- WorkKeys for Students and Parents - brochure
- WorkKeys for Students - ACT website
- Student FAQ for WorkKeys - ACT website
- Sample WorkKeys test questions - ACT website
- Job Profiles- ACT website
- AKCIS (Alaska Career Information System)
- Other Career Guidance Resources
- WIN Careers website - students may enter their WorkKeys scores and search for occupations that match those scores (username wincareers, password akak)
- Alaska Career Readiness Certificate
WorkKeys Paper/Pencil Testing - -- Steps to Successful Testing
1. Submit the order form to ACT at least a month before your testing date. You MUST use the Alaska order form below:
Alaska WorkKeys Paper/Pencil Test Booklet Order Form
2. Participate in WorkKeys Test Administrator Training.
You must complete WorkKeys Test Administrator Training before administering the tests at your school. Training is available at your convenience.
- Self-paced Training - available online anytime
- The portal includes tabs across the top that guide users through an
introduction, general training expectations and into the actual
training tasks and materials.
You will need to complete these modules:
- STAGE I: High Stakes Testing module
- STAGE II: Paper and Pencil modules
- STAGE III: Users Guides and full
WorkKeys manuals
3. Review ACT's Special Testing Accommodations Guide.
Download the Guide here (PDF). If you have further questions about special testing accommodations, please contact ACT directly at
800-553-6244, extension 1550 or 1875.
4. Store the test booklets in a secure place until the testing date(s).
WorkKeys is a secure assessment that must be proctored. Please handle the test booklets with all the security precautions of other standardized testing.
5. Prepare your 11th graders for the WorkKeys assessments.
Ideally, it would be best if your 11th graders can spend some time in the WIN instructional courseware before taking the WorkKeys assessments. It will give them practice in the types of questions they will encounter on the WorkKeys tests. You may also want to explain to your students what the WorkKeys system is; what the scores mean; what the Alaska Career Ready certificate is; and how the assessments and certificate may help them in getting a job or qualifying for post-secondary training programs. Some resources to help you are listed below:
6. Administer the assessments.
Students are allowed 45 minutes for each WorkKeys assessment taken via paper/pencil. Please include an additional 15 - 20 minutes for students to fill out their names and some minimal demographic information on the answer sheet and to read them the test directions before beginning the actual test.
You may provide each student with a printed copy of the Mathematics Formula Sheet during the Applied Mathematics test; remember to collect all formula sheets before examinees leave the room. A copy of the formula sheet also appears within each test booklet.
Either provide calculators for each examinee or ask examinees to bring approved calculators with them. Calculator guidelines are the same for the ACT Mathematics Test and the WorkKeys Applied Mathematics test. Please see the ACT website for details: http://www.actstudent.org/faq/answers/calculator.html
Examinees may use their test booklet for scratchwork.
7. Return the test booklets to ACT for scoring.
Instructions are included with the original test booklet shipment.
ACT will send your students' scores to you by either email or hard copy, approximately 2 weeks after they received the completed answer booklets in their Iowa City office.
8. Review your students' scores with them.
Whether you do it in a group or individually, it is important that you talk with students about what their scores mean. WorkKeys score interpretation resources are available here:
