The Graphic Literacy Assessment

Workplace graphics come in a variety of formats, but all communicate a level of information. From charts to graphs, diagrams to floor plans, identifying what information is being presented and understanding how to use it are critical to success. The Graphic Literacy assessment measures skills that individuals use when they read and comprehend graphical materials to solve work-related problems.

Number of items: 38

Test length: 55 minutes (WorkKeys Internet Version and Paper)

 

What it Measures

There are five levels of difficulty. Level 3 is the least complex, and Level 7 is the most complex. The levels build on each other, each incorporating the skills assessed at the preceding levels.

For example, Level 5 includes skills used at Levels 3, 4, and 5. Examples are included with each level description.

 

Graphic Literacy Level 3

At Level 3, workplace graphics are common with familiar content, and are of simple or low moderate difficulty.

Characteristics of simple graphics include:

• A limited amount of data (i.e., usually no more than twenty data points/fields)
• One level of data (such as number of items in inventory)
• One or two variables (such as day of the week and number of items in inventory)
• If there are axes, there will be one or two (such as an x and/or y axis)

Characteristics of low moderate graphics include:

• A moderate amount of data
• Usually more than one level of data; nesting unlikely
• Several variables
• If there are axes, there will be one or two (such as an x and/or y axis)
• If two simple graphics are required to solve a problem, they should be considered a low moderate graphic.

At Level 3, employees use one simple or low moderate graphic at a time to perform the following tasks:

• Locate information
• Identify the next or missing step in a process

View Level 3 Sample Item

 

Graphic Literacy Level 4

At Level 4, workplace graphics will be of low to high moderate difficulty.

Low moderate graphics are common with familiar content, and have the following characteristics:

• A moderate amount of data
• Usually more than one level of data, nesting unlikely
• Several variables
• If there are axes, there will be one or two (such as an x and/or y axis)
• If two simple graphics are required to solve a problem, they should be considered a low moderate graphic 

At Level 4, employees have demonstrated all of the skills defined at Level 3 and they can use one or two low moderate graphics at a time to perform the following tasks:

• Locate information in a graphic using information found in another graphic
• Compare two or more pieces of information
• Identify a trend/pattern/relationship
• Make an inference or decision
• Identify the graphic that accurately represents the data 

High moderate graphics may be less common, the content may be less familiar, and have the following characteristics:

• A moderate amount of data
• More than one level of data; nesting allowed
• Many variables (such as types of wood, drill speeds, hole diameter, and type of bit)
• If there are axes, there will be one or two (such as an x and/or y axis)
• If a low moderate graphic and a simple graphic or another low moderate graphic are required to solve a problem, the combination should be considered a high moderate graphic 

At Level 4, employees have demonstrated all of the skills defined at Level 3 and they can use one high moderate graphic to perform the following tasks:

• Locate information
• Identify the next or missing step in a process
  

View Level 4 Sample Item

 

Graphic Literacy Level 5

At Level 5, workplace graphics will be of low moderate, high moderate, or difficult complexity. 

Low moderate graphics are common with familiar content, and have the following characteristics:

• A moderate amount of data
• Usually more than one level of data, nesting unlikely
• Several variables
• If there are axes, there will be one or two (such as an x and/or y axis)
• If two simple graphics are required to solve a problem, they should be considered a low moderate graphic 
  
  

At level 5, employees have demonstrated all of the skills defined at Levels 3 and 4, and they can use a low moderate graphic to perform the following tasks:

• Compare two or more trends/patterns/relationships
• Interpret a trend/pattern/relationship
• Make a reasonable inference or decision based on one graphic after finding information in another graphic
• Justify an inference or decision based on information
• Identify and/or justify the most effective graphic for a task 
  
  

High moderate graphics may be less common, the content may be less familiar, and have the following characteristics:

• A moderate amount of data
• More than one level of data; nesting allowed
• Many variables (such as types of wood, drill speeds, hole diameter, and type of bit)
• If there are axes, there will be one or two (such as an x and/or y axis)
• If a low moderate graphic and a simple graphic or another low moderate graphic are required to solve a problem, the combination should be considered a high moderate graphic. 
  
  

At Level 5, employees have demonstrated all of the skills defined at Levels 3 and 4, and they can use one high moderate graphic to perform the following tasks:

• Locate information in a graphic using information found in another graphic
• Compare two or more pieces of information
• Identify a trend/pattern/relationship
• Make an inference or decision
• Identify the graphic that accurately represents the data 
  
  

Difficult graphics are likely to be less common or a composite of graphics with less familiar content, and have the following characteristics: 

• Data presented is dense
• More than one level of data; nesting likely
• Many variables (such as types of wood, drill speeds, hole diameter, and type of bit)
• If there are axes, there may be two or more
• If a high moderate graphic is used with either a simple, a low moderate, or a high moderate graphic to solve a problem, the combination of graphics should be considered a difficult graphic. 

At Level 5, employees have demonstrated all of the skills defined at Levels 3 and 4, and they can use one difficult graphic to perform the following tasks:

• Locate information
• Identify the next or missing step in a process

View Level 5 Sample Item

 

Graphic Literacy Level 6 

At Level 6, workplace graphics may be less common with less familiar content, and of high moderate or difficult complexity.High moderate graphics may be less common with less familiar content and have the following characteristics:

• A moderate amount of data
• More than one level of data; nesting allowed
• Many variables (such as types of wood, drill speeds, hole diameter, and type of bit)
• If there are axes, there will be one or two (such as an x and/or y axis)
• If a low moderate graphic and a simple graphic or another low moderate graphic are required to solve a problem, the combination should be considered a high moderate graphic.

At level 6, employees have demonstrated all of the skills defined at Levels 3, 4 and 5, and they can use a high moderate graphic to perform the following tasks:

• Compare two or more trends/patterns/relationships
• Interpret a trend/pattern/relationship
• Make a reasonable inference or decision based on one graphic after finding information in another graphic
• Justify an inference or decision based on information
• Identify and/or justify the most effective graphic for a task

Difficult graphics are likely to be less common or a composite of graphics with less familiar content, and have the following characteristics:• Data presented is dense.

• More than one level of data; nesting likely
• Many variables (such as types of wood, drill speeds, hole diameter, and type of bit)
• If there are axes, there may be two or more
• If a high moderate graphic is used with either a simple, a low moderate, or a high moderate graphic to solve a problem, the combination of graphics should be considered a difficult graphic

At Level 6, employees have demonstrated all of the skills defined at Levels 3, 4 and 5, and they can use one difficult graphic to perform the following tasks:

• Locate information in a graphic using information found in another graphic
• Compare two or more pieces of information
• Identify a trend/pattern/relationship
• Make an inference or decision
• Identify the graphic that accurately represents the data

View Level 6 Sample Item

 

Graphic Literacy Level 7

At Level 7, workplace graphics will be of difficult complexity. Difficult graphics are likely to be less common or a composite of graphics with less familiar content, and have the following characteristics:

• Data presented is dense.
• More than one level of data; nesting likely
• Many variables (such as types of wood, drill speeds, hole diameter, and type of bit)
• If there are axes, there may be two or more
• If a high moderate graphic is used with either a simple, a low moderate, or a high moderate graphic to solve a problem, the combination of graphics should be considered a difficult graphic

At level 7, employees have demonstrated all of the skills defined at Levels 3, 4, 5 and 6, and they can use a difficult graphic to perform the following tasks:

• Compare two or more trends/patterns/relationships
• Interpret a trend/pattern/relationship
• Make a reasonable inference or decision based on one graphic after finding information in another graphic
• Justify an inference or decision based on information
• Identify and/or justify the most effective graphic for a task