WorkKeys & Adult Basic Education (ABE)

WorkKeys is included in the select list of assessment instruments on the federal list that can be used to measure gain as part of the DOE National Reporting System. WorkKeys is approved at the following levels of proficiency:

High Intermediate Basic Education
Low Adult Secondary Education
High Adult Secondary Education

Background Information

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and Department of Education (DOE) established common performance measures for Federal Job Training and Employment programs for the Adult and Youth Education Programs. The DOE's National Reporting System is now the standard for these programs. States will continue to be responsible for determining the assessment instruments used within the state to measure numeracy and literacy gain among program participants.

Training and Employment Guidance Letter No. 15-03 (opens new window) contains attachment D which lists the Educational Functioning Level Descriptors–Adult Basic Education Levels.

Types of WorkKeys Scores

Level Scores:
Only level scores should be used for selection, promotion, or other individual high-stakes purposes that are based on WorkKeys profiles—WorkKeys profiles are aligned to level scores.

Scale Scores:
Used to show growth over time, scale scores provide group comparisons in outcome measurement and show evidence of ability to benefit.

The Scale Score Interpretation Guide (PDF; 9 pages, 792KB) explains what the WorkKeys scale score is, how it can be used, and how it was developed. For assistance with this type of file, see these downloading tips.

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