Skip to the content
  • Assessments
    • ACT®
    • SAT®
    • WorkKeys®
    • State-Based Assessments
  • Products
    • Professional Development
    • Practice Testing + Online Course
    • Curriculum
    • Bell Ringers
    • Boot Camp
    • The College Playbook
  • State Solutions
    • Alabama
    • Florida
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Mississippi
    • North Carolina
    • Oklahoma
    • Tennessee
    • Texas
  • Resources
    • About Us
    • Blog
    • Customer Stories
    • Webinar Recordings
    • News and Media
  • Pricing
  • Partnerships
    • Partnerships
    • ACT Online Prep, Powered by MasteryPrep
  • Customer Login
    • MasteryPrep Login
  • Assessments
    • ACT®
    • SAT®
    • WorkKeys®
    • State-Based Assessments
  • Products
    • Professional Development
    • Practice Testing + Online Course
    • Curriculum
    • Bell Ringers
    • Boot Camp
    • The College Playbook
  • State Solutions
    • Alabama
    • Florida
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Mississippi
    • North Carolina
    • Oklahoma
    • Tennessee
    • Texas
  • Resources
    • About Us
    • Blog
    • Customer Stories
    • Webinar Recordings
    • News and Media
  • Pricing
  • Partnerships
    • Partnerships
    • ACT Online Prep, Powered by MasteryPrep
  • Customer Login
    • MasteryPrep Login
AdobeStock_457200666-2

Preparing Students for WorkKeys Success with MasteryPrep

  • January 5, 2026

The U.S. is facing a serious national talent shortage—and a major reason is that our education system hasn’t kept pace with a rapidly changing job market. Research from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce shows that skill gaps exist across multiple industries, driven largely by an unmet need for workers with the postsecondary credentials required for today’s in-demand careers.

ACT® WorkKeys® is an increasingly used assessment program designed to help bridge the gap between qualified job seekers and employers. WorkKeys includes three core assessments that measure an individual’s ability to use math to solve problems, interpret graphics, and read and act on workplace documents.

A growing number of states and districts are adopting WorkKeys as a measure of college and career readiness for high school students, with some even incorporating it into graduation pathways—particularly for students in career and technical education (CTE) programs. Even where it is not required, WorkKeys can open doors for graduating students as they transition into the workforce or postsecondary education. Beyond high schools, WorkKeys is also used by state workforce development programs across the country.

However, the skills assessed on WorkKeys do not always align neatly with traditional high school curricula. And like any standardized assessment, strong performance requires focused preparation and familiarity with effective test-taking strategies. That’s where MasteryPrep’s WorkKeys solutions come in.

  • Why ACT® WorkKeys Scores Matter

Test-takers who earn qualifying scores on the ACT WorkKeys assessments are eligible for the National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC). To receive the credential, individuals must meet minimum score requirements across all three core WorkKeys assessments: Workplace Documents, Graphic Literacy, and Applied Math.

The NCRC is available at four levels—Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. ACT has profiled more than 22,000 jobs and identified the skill levels associated with the tasks required in those roles, enabling participating employers to use specific NCRC levels as part of their hiring and placement criteria. A Silver certificate indicates that a test-taker demonstrates the skills needed for more than two-thirds of the jobs in the ACT database. Currently, more than 29,300 employers recognize the NCRC, and some colleges and universities also offer course credit or placement benefits to students who achieve certain WorkKeys scores.

  • Boot Camp for WorkKeys: Format Options

For many students, the WorkKeys exam can be a source of stress and test anxiety—and the skills needed to excel on standardized assessments rarely develop on their own.

MasteryPrep offers two solutions to help students prepare for WorkKeys: MasteryPrep Curriculum for WorkKeys and the Boot Camp for WorkKeys. Schools and economic development organizations can use either solution on its own or combine them to help students perform at their best.

MasteryPrep Curriculum for WorkKeys

The MasteryPrep program is designed to help students—regardless of their starting point—achieve a Silver-level National Career Readiness Certificate. It provides a comprehensive curriculum that can be integrated into CTE classes or electives, used for targeted interventions, or implemented in shorter segments as classroom warmups or practice sessions.

Participating students receive three workbooks, one for each WorkKeys assessment area, containing more than 2,000 authentic practice questions that reflect the full range of WorkKeys item types, as well as two full-length practice tests. Educators receive teacher editions with additional guidance, explanations, and support materials.

WorkKeys-AppliedMath-Mockup

Applied Math

  • Convert between fractions, decimals, and percentages
  • Work with and convert among different units of measurement
  • Solve real-world problems involving money and time
WorkKeys-GraphicLiteracy-Mockup

Graphic Literacy

  • Read and interpret maps, plans, tables, graphs, and diagrams
  • Complete more complex forms
  • Locate, understand, and use data effectively
WorkKeys-WorkplaceDocs-Mockup

Workplace Documents

  • Read and understand letters, emails, instructions, memos, notices, policies, and regulations
  • Pay attention to detail and follow multi-step instructions
  • Identify the key issue or task when a document contains a lot of information

Boot Camp for WorkKeys

The Boot Camp for WorkKeys is a four-hour, high-impact workshop delivered in person or virtually to help students build essential test-taking skills and review key concepts in the weeks leading up to the exam—ultimately supporting students in earning a Silver or Gold NCRC.

Because success on test day involves more than content knowledge, the Boot Camp for WorkKeys helps students learn how to pace themselves, manage time effectively, and approach challenging questions with confidence. Students practice proven strategies specific to the WorkKeys assessments and learn practical tips for tackling the most common item types.

The virtual Boot Camp combines a high level of interactivity and student engagement. Regardless of format, each participating student also receives a workbook to reinforce learning and support continued practice through test day.

Related Reading

Building Confidence in a Day: The Framework Behind MasteryPrep Boot Camps
Boot Camps are built around an engagement model that turns a single day into meaningful gains in skill development and test-day readiness.
READ MORE
  • Effective Preparation with Real Results

MasteryPrep for WorkKeys has helped students across the country succeed on the exam and strengthen their employability with a nationally recognized certification.

At Logansport and Stanley High Schools—both located in rural, low-income communities in Louisiana—the implementation of the MasteryKeys curriculum contributed to substantial gains in student performance. At Logansport High School, the seniors’ index increased from 50 to 80.5 in one year, the school reported to MasteryPrep. At Stanley High School, seniors’ index of 81 rose to 100.6. Educators at these schools report that the WorkKeys assessment has been especially impactful in their rural context, opening opportunities that many students did not previously believe were available to them.

MasteryPrep Curriculum and Boot Camp for WorkKeys help students build confidence, understand what to expect on test day, and more easily navigate the exam.

MasteryPrep Test Prep Solutions for WorkKeys

Explore how MasteryPrep’s WorkKeys readiness solutions can boost scores and help more students earn National Career Readiness Certificates.
Learn More

More Posts

6 Practical Tips for Kentucky Schools Transitioning from ACT to SAT

The district’s seven high schools have seen measurable academic growth across all subjects, fueled by stronger student engagement and a new culture around ACT preparation.

Read More »
November 18, 2025

A Stronger Path to Readiness: MasteryPrep’s 6-Point Implementation Plan

The district’s seven high schools have seen measurable academic growth across all subjects, fueled by stronger student engagement and a new culture around ACT preparation.

Read More »
November 13, 2025

How Alabama’s Cullman County Improved ACT Readiness Across Seven Schools

The district’s seven high schools have seen measurable academic growth across all subjects, fueled by stronger student engagement and a new culture around ACT preparation.

Read More »
November 4, 2025
« Previous Next »
MasteryPrep-Logo-RGB-reg mark
Facebook-f Instagram Twitter Linkedin

Company:

  • Blog
  • Join Our Team
  • Contact Us
  • Partnerships
  • ACT Online Prep Partnership
  • Customer Stories
  • MasteryPrep Help Center
  • Blog
  • Join Our Team
  • Contact Us
  • Partnerships
  • ACT Online Prep Partnership
  • Customer Stories
  • MasteryPrep Help Center

Assessments:

  • ACT®
  • SAT®
  • WorkKeys®
  • ACT®
  • SAT®
  • WorkKeys®

Products:

  • Professional Development
  • Practice Testing + Online Course
  • Curriculum
  • Bell Ringers
  • Boot Camps
  • The College Playbook
  • Professional Development
  • Practice Testing + Online Course
  • Curriculum
  • Bell Ringers
  • Boot Camps
  • The College Playbook

State Solutions:

  • Alabama
  • Florida
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Mississippi
  • North Carolina
  • Oklahoma
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Alabama
  • Florida
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Mississippi
  • North Carolina
  • Oklahoma
  • Tennessee
  • Texas

View our Privacy Policy  |  View our Terms of Use

Copyright 2025 MasteryPrep. All Rights Reserved. ACT® is the registered trademark of ACT Education Corp. Some items in MasteryPrep programs are the copyrighted content of ACT Education Corp. and are reproduced with permission.
SAT® is a trademark of the College Board. MasteryPrep LLC has no affiliation with College Board. MasteryPrep SAT programs are not approved or endorsed by College Board.
The Texas Success Initiative Assessment 2.0 (TSIA2) is an ACCUPLACER® exam, which is a trademark of College Board. MasteryPrep has no affiliation with College Board or the Texas Success Initiative (TSI).
WorkKeys® is a registered trademark of ACT Education Corp. The WorkKeys programs are not approved or endorsed by ACT Education Corp.

View our Cookie Policy

MasteryPrep-Logo-RGB-reg mark
Facebook-f Instagram Twitter Linkedin

Company:

  • Blog
  • Join Our Team
  • Contact Us
  • Partnerships
  • ACT Online Prep Partnership
  • Customer Stories
  • MasteryPrep Help Center
  • Blog
  • Join Our Team
  • Contact Us
  • Partnerships
  • ACT Online Prep Partnership
  • Customer Stories
  • MasteryPrep Help Center

Assessments:

  • ACT®
  • SAT®
  • WorkKeys®
  • ACT®
  • SAT®
  • WorkKeys®

Products:

  • Professional Development
  • Practice Testing + Online Course
  • Curriculum
  • Bell Ringers
  • Boot Camps
  • The College Playbook
  • Professional Development
  • Practice Testing + Online Course
  • Curriculum
  • Bell Ringers
  • Boot Camps
  • The College Playbook

State Solutions:

  • Alabama
  • Florida
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Mississippi
  • North Carolina
  • Oklahoma
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Alabama
  • Florida
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Mississippi
  • North Carolina
  • Oklahoma
  • Tennessee
  • Texas

View our Privacy Policy

Copyright 2024 MasteryPrep. All Rights Reserved.
ACT® is the registered trademark of ACT, Inc. Some items in MasteryPrep programs are the copyrighted content of ACT, Inc. and are reproduced with permission. SAT® is a trademark of the College Board. MasteryPrep LLC has no affiliation with College Board MasteryPrep SAT programs are not approved or endorsed by College Board. The Texas Success Initiative Assessment 2.0 (TSIA2) is an ACCUPLACER® exam, which is a trademark of College Board. MasteryPrep has no affiliation with College Board or the Texas Success Initiative (TSI), and the TSIA2 Mastery program is not approved or endorsed by College Board or the TSI. WorkKeys® is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc. The WorkKeys programs are not approved or endorsed by ACT, Inc.

View our Cookie Policy

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.