WorkKeys scores: levels, the NCRC and what counts as good
Each WorkKeys test is scored as a level from 3 to 7, or below 3. A level means you can reliably do the skills at that level. Your NCRC is the lowest of your three levels: level 3 on all three is Bronze, 4 Silver, 5 Gold and 6 Platinum. A good score is the level your job or program asks for, which for many is Silver or Gold.
- 3 to 7
- levels on each test
- Lowest
- level sets the NCRC
- Silver
- level 4+ on all three
- None
- published raw cut scores
Last checked · Levels and certificates from ACT
By the LifeScore Editorial Team · Updated · How we check facts · How this is scored
What do WorkKeys levels mean?
A level is the highest level of skill you showed reliably on the test. Level 3 is the entry point; level 7 is the most complex workplace tasks ACT tests.
| Level | What the questions ask (our summary) | Typical trap |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | One step with whole numbers or money: a total, a difference, a simple product | Using the wrong number from the problem |
| 4 | Up to two steps, simple fractions, decimals and percents, one simple conversion | Doing the steps in the wrong order |
| 5 | Several steps, conversions within a system, rectangle area and perimeter, a discount or markup, the better of two deals | Taking the percent of the wrong number |
| 6 | Multi-step problems with mixed units, circle area, box volume, percent change, rounding up to whole units | Rounding down when you must buy whole units |
| 7 | Nonlinear formulas, cylinder volume, several conversions, extra information to ignore, finding an error in a solution | Using the diameter as the radius, or every number given |
ACT writes each level as a description of tasks, and the test is built so that higher-level questions need the skills of the lower levels plus more. A level 5 in Applied Math means you can do the level 3, 4 and 5 tasks reliably; it does not mean you got 5 of 7 right.
| Level | What the questions ask (our summary) | Typical trap |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Find one piece of information in a simple chart or table | Reading the row next to the one asked for |
| 4 | Compare two values or find a trend in a simple graphic | Ignoring the units on an axis |
| 5 | Combine information from several parts of one graphic, or read a less familiar one | Missing the key or the scale |
| 6 | Draw a conclusion or spot a trend across a detailed graphic | Picking a conclusion the graphic does not support |
| 7 | Use several complex graphics together to make a decision or a projection | Extending a trend the data does not show |
| Level | What the questions ask (our summary) | Typical trap |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Find a stated detail in a short, simple document | Choosing a true-sounding answer the document does not say |
| 4 | Follow a set of steps, or find a detail in a longer document | Skipping a step or a condition |
| 5 | Apply a policy to a situation, with an "if" or an exception | Missing the exception sentence |
| 6 | Apply a rule to a new situation, or infer the reason behind a policy | Answering from experience instead of the text |
| 7 | Work out the meaning of jargon or a principle and apply it to an unclear situation | Treating a guideline as an absolute rule |
The three scales line up: a level 5 on any of the tests means the same kind of step up in complexity, from one clear piece of information to several pieces combined with a condition. That is why ACT can set one certificate level across all three tests, and why an employer can ask for, say, level 5 on every test for a technician role.
How do WorkKeys scores turn into an NCRC?
ACT looks at your three levels and takes the lowest. That level decides the certificate, whatever your other two scores are.
| Certificate | What you need | In practice |
|---|---|---|
| Bronze | Level 3 or higher on all three tests | Foundational skills for many entry-level jobs |
| Silver | Level 4 or higher on all three tests | The level many employers and state programs ask for |
| Gold | Level 5 or higher on all three tests | Skills for a larger share of skilled and technical jobs |
| Platinum | Level 6 or higher on all three tests | The highest certificate |
So levels of 6, 6 and 4 earn Silver, the same as 4, 4 and 4. This is the single most important fact for preparing: time spent on your strongest test rarely raises your certificate.
What is a good WorkKeys score?
The level your employer or program asks for. Silver (level 4 on all three) is a common requirement; Gold (level 5) is asked for more often in skilled and technical roles.
Employers that run a WorkKeys job profile with ACT get a target level for each test for that specific job. If you are applying through a job center, an apprenticeship or a state program, ask for the level they need on each test; it may not be the same for all three.
We do not publish average WorkKeys levels here, because ACT's national figures depend on who tested and when, and the number that matters to you is your target, not the average.
How many questions do I need right for each WorkKeys level?
ACT does not publish raw-score cut points. Your level depends on which questions you answer correctly as well as how many, so no fixed number of right answers maps to a level.
Be careful with charts online that claim "24 right is level 5". They are guesses, and they can mislead you into stopping short. Our practice tests show percent right on each test and a practice band instead, and say clearly that the band is not a level.
What you can use is the pattern of your misses. If you miss mostly the last third of Applied Math, the level 6 and 7 skills (circle areas, volumes, several conversions) are where your next level is. The Applied Math page lists them level by level.
What do the practice bands on this site mean?
They are our labels for percent right on our questions: Early practice, Building (50%+), Solid (65%+), Strong (80%+) and Top (90%+). They help you track progress; they are not ACT levels.
| Band | Percent right | Right answers out of 107 |
|---|---|---|
| Early practice | Under 50% | Under 54 |
| Building | 50% or more | 54 or more |
| Solid | 65% or more | 70 or more |
| Strong | 80% or more | 86 or more |
| Top practice band | 90% or more | 97 or more |
Read each test on its own as well as the total. The free WorkKeys practice test reports all three.
How do I raise my WorkKeys score?
Work on your lowest test, and within it, on the skills one level above where you are now. Most people can add a level on one test in one to two weeks.
Take a full practice test, find the lowest test, then sort your misses by type. The day-by-day plan is in how to pass WorkKeys. The WorkKeys test guide covers where to take the test and how to ask about retests.
Frequently asked questions
Is WorkKeys scored as a percentage?
What is the highest WorkKeys score?
What happens if I score below 3?
Can I see my WorkKeys scores online?
Are practice scores the same as WorkKeys levels?
Find the test that sets your level
Eight full WorkKeys-style mocks scored test by test, 12 drills and every answer explained.
The WorkKeys Pass Pack gives you 8 full mocks on the real clock, 12 drills of 12 questions for the sections that cost you points, and a predictor that turns your mocks into the odds of reaching your target. One payment, no subscription, and your free score stays free.
Prep courses for these tests usually cost $19 to $129. The WorkKeys Pass Pack is US$39 (£29), once.
- 8
- timed mocks
- 12
- topic drills
- 1
- score predictor