ACT WorkKeys – Reading for Information

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVgL4MsOsFo

WorkKeys Characteristics and Skills

There are five levels of difficulty. Level 3 is the least complex and Level 7 is the most complex.

The levels build on each other, each incorporating the skills assessed at the previous levels.

For example, at Level 5, individuals need the skills from Levels 3, 4, and 5.

Examples are included with each level description.

Reading for Information

Students will have 33 Multiple Choice Questions and 45 minutes to complete the

test.

They say timing is everything!

Timing …At a glance

ACT Reading 40 multiple choice questions (4 passages with 10

questions each) = 35 minutes

• That means about 9 minutes on each passage.

ACT Reading for Information 33 multiple choice questions = 45 minutes

That means about 1 and ½ minutes on each question.

Getting Ready for the Big Game!

Just like playing a sport or an instrument, students need practice

before game day.

Preparing a game plan!

Let’s take a look …

Work Keys Complex Text Elements by Level

Elements Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6 Level 7

Length Short Somewhat longer

Long

Details Limited to needed information

More detailed than Level 3

Significantly more detailed,broader topics

More details,denser

More complex concepts

Clear/Orderly

All information clear: no reading between the lines

Some details implied: no reading between the lines

No reading between the lines, more complex, somewhat less orderly

Some reading between the lines, less logical order

More reading between the lines

Sentences Simple, short Some and complex sentences

Mixed (some simple, some complex)

Complex and formal

Significantly longer and denser

Paragraphs Short Longer, more complex

Significantly longer and denser

Let’s Try Level Five

Preparing for the WorkKeys Assessment Pages 33 – 36

3 Questions – 6 Minutes

Debrief

At your table discuss the strategies you used.

How did you feel? How did you do?

Techniques & Tips for Reading

Students must be able to: Skim and scan Find the main idea Identify “key words and phrases” to answer detail

questions Use context clues Understand cause and effect

Teach skills, rather than levels, and let students apply the skills they have learned once they go to the computer and work on the software.

Text in the Middle

Practice for WorkKeys – WIN Courseware

Outline of the Modules (We have provided a sample of Level 4) Introduction, Informal Assessment, or Review Lessons (example Lesson 7) Summary Post-Test

Think about . . .

How might you use these tools back in your classroom?

What activities might you try with your students?

Questions?