WorkKeys Taken on Paper: North Carolina
Important Dates
The Spring Schedule of Events contains all dates and deadlines for North Carolina's test event. Check it frequently to stay on track for testing.
Spring Testing Window:
- Testing Window: February 19 – March 15, 2024
- Material Ordering Window: January 2 – 12, 2024
Documents will be replaced as they become available for Spring 2024 Testing.
Select Test Dates and Provide Shipping Information
Spring Dates:
January 2 – 12, 2024
Websites:
Resources:
- PearsonAccessnext User Guide (web content) – (select the Test Date and Materials Receipt Selection section)
- Test Coordinator Checklist (pdf)
- Address Change Request Form (webform)
Select Test Staff and Set Up Accounts
Websites
Resources:
- Staff Requirements, Roles, and Responsibilities (web content)(manual section – select the first result listed after applying search filters)
- PearsonAccessnext User Guide (web content) – (select the Managing Contact and User Account Information section)
Tip: When the district test coordinator changes the school test coordinator in PearsonAccessnext, 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
Spring Dates:
January 2 – 12, 2024
Websites:
Resources:
- PearsonAccessnext User Guide (web content) – (select the Managing Test Materials, Accessing Reports, and Submit a Request to Enroll or Unenroll an Examinee sections)
Tip: To verify accessibility supports counts, run an Accommodations and Supports Roster in PearsonAccessnext.
Arrange for Accommodations and/or English Learner (EL) Supports
Resources:
- ACT WorkKeys Accessibility Supports Guide (pdf)
- Pre-Recorded Audio Guidelines (pdf)
- FAQ Sunsetting English Braille American Edition (pdf)
- Testing with Accessibility Supports (web content) (manual section - select the first result listed after applying search filters)
Order Test Materials
Spring Dates:
Order Test Materials - Initial Materials: January 2 – 12, 2024
Order Test Materials - Additional Order Window: January 22 – March 1, 2024
Website:
Resources:
- PearsonAccessnext User Guide (web content) – (select the Managing Test Materials section)
Training:
Tip: Once submitted, the additional order will be assigned a new order number. When the status order is "Transit" or "Delivered" 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
Resources:
Tip: Be sure to plan for all examinees to fill out the demographics portion of their answer sheet before testing.
Provide Examinees Test Prep Information
Website:
Resources:
Prepare Your Facility, Staff, and Test Materials
Resources:
- Test Facilities (web content) (manual section – select the first listed after applying search filters)
- Test Staff (web content) (manual section – select the first listed after applying search filters)
- Test Materials (web content) (manual section – select the first listed after applying search filters)
- Test Administration (web content) (manual section – select the first listed after applying search filters)
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.
Administer the Test
Spring Dates:
Test Window - Standard Time and Accommodations Administration Window: February 19 – March 15, 2024
Resources:
Administration Manual
Supplements
- WorkKeys Administration Supplement (pdf)
- Pre-Recorded Audio Supplement (pdf)
- ACT WorkKeys Test Directions (English) (pdf) - Applied Math Formula Sheet (see page 2)
- Calculator Policy (pdf)
- ACT-Authorized Bilingual Word-to-Word Dictionaries List (pdf)
- Prohibited Device Poster (pdf)
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
Spring Dates:
Test Window - Standard Time and Accommodations Testing Materials Receipt Deadline: March 22, 2024
Resources:
- Collecting, Packing, and Returning Test Materials (web content) (select the first result listed after applying search filters)
- WorkKeys Administration Manual Supplement (pdf) – select the Prepare Materials for Return and Reporting section)
- Secure Storage and Transport Test Materials Form (pdf)
Tip: North Carolina test coordinators should follow the return instructions in the North Carolina Administration Supplement, not those in the manual.
Access and Understand Score Reports
Dates:
See your Schedule of Events for release dates.
Websites:
Resources:
- Online Reports Portal User Guide - NC (pdf)
- Score Reports Available in Online Reports Portal (pdf)
- ACT WorkKeys Scale Score Interpretation Guide (pdf)
- Score Level Interpretation - Applied Math (act.org)
- Score Level Interpretation - Graphic Literacy (act.org)
- Score Level Interpretation - Workplace Documents (act.org)
- NCRC Certificate Levels (image)
Training:
- Online Reports Portal User Guide Career Readiness Reporting (video)
- Exporting and Printing National Career Readiness Certificates (training tutorial)
- The Value of ACT WorkKeys in North Carolina (webinar)
- The Value of ACT WorkKeys in North Carolina (pdf)
Tip: The test coordinator can log in to Validus and use the Reports Portal to access ACT WorkKeys score reports. The ACT WorkKeys Online Reports Portal User Guide provides instructions for this feature. Score Reports Available in Online Reports Portal provides a list and description of all available reports.
Share Reporting Information with Examinees
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®.
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 at myworkkeys.com.
Website:
Resources:
- Occupational Profiling Database (website)
- Using the ACT WorkKeys Occupational Profile Database (video)
- Create a New MyWorkKeys Account (pdf) - Students need to follow these instructions if they did not receive an email or report with a myworkkeys.com username or password.
- Access a Pre-Created (or Existing) My WorkKeys account (pdf) - Students need to follow these instructions if they receive an email or report with myworkkeys.com username and password.
- ACT WorkKeys NCRC Student Benefits Flyer (pdf)
Webinars and Administration Manuals
North Carolina Training Webinars:
Resources:
- WorkKeys Test Administration Training (webinar) - January 18, 2024
- WorkKeys Test Administration Training webinar slide deck (pdf)
- WorkKeys Test Administration Training - Questions and Answers (pdf)
- WorkKeys Test Administration Training - Questions and Answers Report (pdf)
- The Value of ACT WorkKeys in North Carolina (webinar)
- The Value of ACT WorkKeys in North Carolina (pdf)
Administration Manuals:
Resources: