Listening for Understanding Assessment Evaluates Important Workplace Capability

ACT’s new WorkKeys^® Listening for Understanding computer-based assessment relies on the latest methods for measuring listening skills and the ability to understand and follow directions in the workplace.

Although these skills are addressed with another assessment—WorkKeys Listening—the new test offers improvements, including immediate scoring. Examinees listen to brief audio segments describing work activities, then respond to multiple-choice questions about the information they have heard. They can move through the audio segments and questions at their own pace. A maximum time of 45 minutes is allotted for completing all of them. Examinees receive their results within seconds after submitting their responses for scoring.

The audio segments presented in Listening for Understanding describe work-related scenarios. Skill levels measured by the test, as well as scores, range from Level 1 to Level 5. At Level 1, a single speaker typically presents the information, which is simple, logical, and clearly stated. In contrast, at Levels 4 and 5, information is complex and abstract and often presented by two speakers. At the higher levels, relevant details may be implied rather than directly stated, requiring examinees to prioritize information, make inferences, and understand reason.

ACT will continue to offer the WorkKeys Listening assessment. Both Listening and Listening for Understanding contribute to better decisions about selection and training initiatives for employers and hiring managers, said Martin Scaglione, president, ACT Workforce Development Division.

“Starting with the 1991 US Department of Labor skills report known as SCANS, study after study has found that good listening skills are foundational to workplace success and are highly valued by employers,” he said. “Many of those studies have also lamented the lack of effective listening skills among workers. This new assessment helps employers evaluate the listening skills of their current and future workforce. Effective listening can be directly related to increased productivity, as well as to more efficient coaching and development on the job.”