North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has entered into a partnership with ACT, a 51–year old not-for-profit organization that provides educational assessment, research, information, and program management services. North Carolina 11th graders will take the ACT® test and 10th graders will take the PLAN® test. Some students will also take the WorkKeys® assessment. These assessments will measure what students have learned in their courses and help educators identify the information that students still need to learn to succeed in college or a career.
Why the ACT Test?
The ACT test measures what students have learned in their courses and measures their skills in English, math, science and reading. The ACT helps students:
- Understand what they need to learn next so they can build rigorous high school course plans.
- Identify career areas that align with their interests.
- Increase the likelihood that they will consider pursuing a college education.
Why the PLAN Program?
The PLAN program helps 10th graders build a solid foundation for future academic and career success. As a comprehensive guidance resource it helps students:
- Measure their current academic development
- Explore career/training options
- Make plans for the remaining years of high school and post-graduation years.
Why the WorkKeys System?
The WorkKeys system is used to help students understand how they can improve their skills for better-paying jobs. Scores help employers determine whether individuals are qualified for positions.
- Students who take the WorkKeys tests have a clear way to demonstrate their abilities to future employers.
- The WorkKeys system measures skills such as reading, math, listening, locating information, and teamwork. These are skills that employers feel are critical to job success.
