Silver National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) - Workplace Skills Assessment (ACT WorkKeys) Level 4 Overview

Oct 9, 2026

Uploaded by Damian

Silver National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) earners reach a minimum Level 4 score across the ACT WorkKeys Applied Math, Graphic Literacy, and Workplace Documents assessments. The NCRC level is set by the lowest of the three scores, even if higher levels are earned in one or more areas. The document outlines what each Level 4 assessment measures, including problem-solving and ratio calculations for Applied Math, decision-making with low to high-moderate workplace graphics for Graphic Literacy, and extracting main ideas and instructions from workplace documents for Workplace Documents.

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ACT WorkKeys Silver NCRC Level 4 Overview

Applied Math (Level 4)

Graphic Literacy (Level 4)

Workplace Documents (Level 4)

National Career Readiness Certificate Silver Silver National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) earners have scored a minimum level score of four on the ACT WorkKeys Applied Math, Graphic Literacy, and Workplace Documents assessments. An earner may have scored higher than Level 4 on one or two of the assessments, but the NCRC level is determined by the lowest score achieved on the three assessments. ACT’s Occupational Profile website can be used to identify the WorkKeys skills needed for every O*NET occupation. By earning the Silver NCRC, the individual has demonstrated at a minimum the following skills: The Applied Math assessment measures critical thinking, mathematical reasoning, and problem-solving techniques for situations that occur in today’s workplace. While individuals may use calculators and conversion tables to help with the problems on the assessment, math skills are still needed to think them through. Applied Math Level 4 Characteristics of Items • Information may be presented out of order • May include extra, unnecessary information • May include a simple chart, diagram, or graph Skills • Solve problems that require one or two mathematical operations. They can add, subtract, or multiply using positive or negative numbers (such as 10 or -2), and they can divide positive numbers (such as 10) . • Calculate the average or mean of a set of numbers (such as (10+11+12) /3)) . For this, they may use whole numbers and decimals. • Figure out simple ratios (such as ¾), simple proportions (such as 10/100 cases), or rates (such as 10 mph) . • Add commonly known fractions, decimals, or percentages (such as ½, 0. 75, or 25%) . • Add or subtract fractions with a common denominator (such as ¼ + ¾ + ¼) . • Multiply a mixed number (such 12 1/8) by a whole number or a decimal. • Put information in the right order before performing calculations. View Level 4 Sample Item The Graphic Literacy assessment measures skills that people use when they work with workplace graphics such as tables, graphs, charts, digital dashboards, flow charts, timelines, forms, maps, and blueprints. They use this skill when they find, summarize, compare, and analyze information to make decisions using workplace graphics to solve work-related problems. Graphic Literacy Level 4 At Level 4, workplace graphics will be of low to high moderate difficulty. Low moderate graphics are common with familiar content, and have the following characteristics: • A moderate amount of data • Usually more than one level of data, nesting unlikely • Several variables • If there are axes, there will be one or two (such as an x and/or y axis) • If two simple graphics are required to solve a problem, they should be considered a low moderate graphic At Level 4, employees have demonstrated all of the skills defined at Level 3 and they can use one or two low moderate graphics at a time to perform the following tasks: • Locate information in a graphic using information found in another graphic • Compare two or more pieces of information • Identify a trend/pattern/relationship • Make an inference or decision • Identify the graphic that accurately represents the data High moderate graphics may be less common, the content may be less familiar, and have the following characteristics: • A moderate amount of data • More than one level of data; nesting allowed • Many variables (such as types of wood, drill speeds, hole diameter, and type of bit) • If there are axes, there will be one or two (such as an x and/or y axis) • If a low moderate graphic and a simple graphic or another low moderate graphic are required to solve a problem, the combination should be considered a high moderate graphic At Level 4, employees have demonstrated all of the skills defined at Level 3 and they can use one high moderate graphic to perform the following tasks: • Locate information • Identify the next or missing step in a process View

FAQs

How is the Silver NCRC level determined?

The Silver NCRC level is determined by the lowest score achieved across the three ACT WorkKeys assessments: Applied Math, Graphic Literacy, and Workplace Documents.

What skills are tested in the Applied Math Level 4 assessment?

It tests critical thinking and mathematical reasoning, including solving problems using basic operations, calculating averages, working with ratios and proportions, and handling fractions, decimals, and percentages.

What does Graphic Literacy Level 4 require?

At Level 4, employees use one or two low-moderate graphics or a high-moderate graphic to locate information, compare details, identify trends, make inferences or decisions, and choose graphics that represent data accurately.

Oct 9, 2026

Uploaded by Damian