WorkKeys Taken on Paper: Alabama

Learn about Test Formats and Policies

Resources:

• Fall What's New (web content)
• Spring What's New (web content)
• Value of WorkKeys (video)
• Testing Policies and Information (web content)
• Test Coordinator Checklist (pdf)
• ACT WorkKeys/NCRC Tips for Educators (pdf)

Select Test Dates and Verify Shipping Address (Manage Participation)

Dates:

Spring - December 9, 2024–January 17, 2025

Websites:

• PearsonAccess^next

Resources:

• PearsonAccess^next User Guide (web content) (select the Test Date and Materials Receipt Selection section)
• Address Change Request Form (web form)

Training:

• Test Date Selection (Manage Participation) (training tutorial)

Select Test Staff and Set Up Accounts

Websites:

• PearsonAccess^next

Resources:

• Staff Requirements, Roles, and Responsibilities (web content) (select the first result listed after applying search filters)
• PearsonAccess^next User Guide (web content) (select the Managing Contact and User Account Information section)

Training:

• Selecting your Testing Staff (training tutorial)
• Manage Contacts (training tutorial)

Tip: When the district test coordinator changes the school test coordinator in PearsonAccess^next, remember to deactivate the existing test coordinator's user account. Updates need to be completed in two places: the manage contacts screen and creating a new user account.

Verify Enrollment Counts

Dates:

 Spring - December 9, 2024–January 17, 2025

Websites:

• PearsonAccess^next

Resources:

• PearsonAccess^next User Guide (web content) (select the Managing Test Materials, Accessing Reports, and Submit a Request to Enroll or Unenroll an Examinee sections)

Tip: If you need to order additional materials, be sure to do so by the additional order date listed on your Schedule of Events.

Training:

• Enroll/Verify/Update Students in PearsonAccess^next (training tutorial)

Learn about Accessibility Supports

Order Test Materials

Spring Dates:

Test Window 1: January 27–February 14, 2025

Websites:

• PearsonAccess^next

Resources:

• PearsonAccess^next User Guide (web content) (select Managing Test Materials section)

Training:

• How to Order Initial WorkKeys Materials (training tutorial) 
• Ordering Additional ACT WorkKeys Materials (training tutorial)

You can track test materials shipments using Orders & Shipment Tracking. See the View Status and Shipment Information section in the PearsonAccessnext User Guide.

Complete Non-Test Activities

Dates:

After materials arrive

Resources:

• Non-Test Activities (web content) (select the first result listed after applying search filters)

Tip: Decide whether examinees will complete the demographics portion of their answer document in a non-test session before test day or as the first part of their test session on test day. If before test day, schedule a time for a non-test session. If on test day, be sure to account for this time in your testing schedule.

Provide Examinees Test Prep Information

Websites:

• ACT WorkKeys Sample Questions (act.org)

Resources:

• WorkKeys Letter for Alabama Parents (pdf)
• WorkKeys Letter for Alabama Parents - Spanish (pdf)

Prepare Your Facility, Staff, and Test Materials

Resources:

• Test Facilities (web content) (select the first result listed after applying search filters)
• Test Staff (web content) (select the first result listed after applying search filters)
• Test Materials (web content) (select the first result listed after applying search filters)
• Test Administration (web content) (select the first result listed after applying search filters)

Training:

• Fall - On Demand Ordering Test Materials Training (webinar) 
• Fall - Ordering Test Materials Training slide deck (pdf) 

Tip: Review the "Receipt and Check-In of Test Materials" section of the Test Coordinator Information Manual before receiving your shipment. Have it available to refer to while unpacking your test materials.

Tip: Remember to hold a training session with all testing staff (new and old) before test day. This is required and is separate from the briefing session that happens on test day. Suggested topics to cover during the training session are in your administration manual.

Update Examinee Information

Spring Dates:

 December 9, 2024–January 17, 2025

Websites:

• PearsonAccess^next

Resources:

• PearsonAccess^next User Guide (web content) (select the Manage Examinee Information section)

Administer the Test

Fall Dates:

Test Window 1: Standard Time Administration Date: October 16, 2024

Test Window 1: Accommodations Administration Window: October 16 -28, 2024

Test Window 2: Standard Time Administration Date: October 30, 2024

Test Window 2: Accommodations Administration Window: October 30 - November 8, 2024

Spring Dates:

Test Window 1: Accommodations Administration Window: February 26–March 10, 2025

Resources:

Administration Forms

• Test Administration Form - ACT WorkKeys Standard Time Paper (pdf)
• Test Administration Form - ACT WorkKeys Accommodations Paper (pdf)
• Student Identification Form (pdf)

Administration Manuals

Fall:

• ACT WorkKeys Administration Manual - Standard Time Paper (pdf)
• ACT WorkKeys Administration Manual - Accommodations Paper (pdf)
• ACT Test Coordinator Information Manual (pdf)

Spring:

• ACT WorkKeys Administration Manual - Standard Time Paper (pdf)
• ACT WorkKeys Administration Manual - Accommodations Paper (pdf)
• ACT Test Coordinator Information Manual (pdf)

Supplements

• ACT WorkKeys Test Directions (English) (pdf)
• Calculator Policy (pdf)
• ACT-Authorized Bilingual Word-to-Word Dictionaries list (pdf)
• Prohibited Device Poster (pdf)

Tip: Ensure you are using the correct materials for your test date. Using test booklets assigned for another test date will result in the cancellation of scores.

Tip: Make sure examinees properly grid the form code into the Test Form block on their answer documents. This is essential to the answer documents being scored properly.

Tip: If you are testing an examinee authorized for English learner supports, have the ACT-Authorized Bilingual Word-to-Word Dictionaries list handy to verify at check in that the examinee's dictionary can be used for testing.

Return Test Materials

Fall Dates:

Test Window 1: Standard Time Testing Materials Receipt Deadline: October 25, 2024

Test Window 1: Accommodations Administration Testing Materials Receipt Deadline: November 8, 2024

Test Window 2: Standard Time Testing Materials Receipt Deadline: November 8, 2024

Test Window 2: Accommodations Testing Materials Receipt Deadline: November 25, 2024

Spring Dates:

Test Window 1: Accommodations Testing Materials Receipt Deadline: March 21, 2025

Resources:

• Collecting, Packing, and Returning Test Materials (web content) (select the first result listed after applying search filters)
• Secure Storage and Transport of Test Materials Form (pdf)

Training:

• How to Return Test Materials (video)

Note: Test coordinators should verify completeness and accuracy of materials received from room supervisors before returning them to ACT. Check that all Test Administration Forms are filled out and check that the test form code is properly gridded on each answer document.

Tip: Do not return unused answer documents from initial testing. Use those for makeup testing.

Tip: Return answer documents following testing so they arrive at ACT by the receipt deadline listed on the Schedule of Events and can be scored.

Tip: Return materials for all accommodations examinees together at the end of the testing window. Do not return individual materials as they are completed.

Tip: If you received any additional orders, the return shipping labels received with these orders will require you to fill in your high school name and code. These fields are already completed on initial order labels.

Access and Understand Score Reports

Dates:

 Fall : Score Report Schedule for ACT WorkKeys (web content) 

 Spring: Score Report Schedule for ACT WorkKeys (web content) 

Websites:

• Online Reports Portal
• PearsonAccess Next

Resources:

• Online Reports Portal User Guide (pdf)
• Score Reports Available in Online Reports Portal (pdf)

Tip: This document provides a list and description of all available reports. Click on the title for an interactive display of the report.

• Scale Score Interpretation Guide (pdf)
• Score Level Interpretation - web page
  • Score Level Interpretation - Applied Math (act.org)
  • Score Level Interpretation - Graphic Literacy (act.org)
  • Score Level Interpretation - Workplace Documents (act.org)
  • NCRC Certificate Levels (pdf)
• ACT WorkKeys NCRC Sample Certificate (pdf)

Tip: Examinees who achieve a minimum score of three (3) or higher on each subject test may be eligible to receive an ACT WorkKeys NCRC.

Training:

• Using the Online Reports Portal -Reports (video)
• Using the Online Reports Portal - Career Readiness Certificate Reports (video)
• Exporting and Printing National Career Readiness Certificates (training tutorial)
• Accessing Paper Test Results (training tutorial)
• Understanding the Scores and Using Data - WorkKeys (webinar) 
• Understanding the Scores and Using Data - WorkKeys (pdf) 

Digital Badging

Website:

• ACT WorkKeys Digital Badging - For Job Seekers
  Tip: Go to our webpage to learn more about Digital Badging. Then share the resources below with your examinees.
• ACT WorkKeys Digital Badging - For Education and Workforce Sites

Resources:

• Help Paper Examinees Access their Digital Badge (pdf)
• Accept Your Digital Badge in 5 Easy Steps (pdf)
• Digital Credentials At-A-Glance (pdf)

Share Reporting Information with Examinees

Websites:

• MyWorkKeys.com

Tip: Examinees who earn an ACT WorkKeys NCRC can access test scores as well as view, print, and share their certificate by either creating an account or accessing an existing account.

Resources:

• How to Use Your WorkKeys Results (pdf)
• How the WorkKeys Assessments Can Work For You (pdf)
• Create a New MyWorkKeys Account (pdf)

Tip: Examinees follow these instructions if they did not receive an email or report with a MyWorkKeys username and password.

• Access a Pre-Created (or Existing) My WorkKeys account (pdf)

Tip: Examinees follow these instructions if they did not receive an email or report with a MyWorkKeys username and password.

• ACT WorkKeys NCRC Student Benefits Flyer (pdf)
• WorkKeys-NCRC Benefits Student Letter (pdf)

How Examinees Can Search for Career Choices Based on WorkKeys Scores

Websites:

• Occupational Profile Database

Resources:

• How to Use ACT's Skills to Jobs Coaching Tool (pdf)

Training:

• Using the Occupational Profile Database (video)