WorkKeys Applied Math
ACT WorkKeys Applied Math
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ExploreAbout this exam
WorkKeys Applied Math is one of the ACT WorkKeys assessments, a set of workplace-skills tests used by employers, schools, community colleges, adult education programs, and job seekers to document readiness for real jobs. Rather than abstract algebra, the assessment measures critical thinking, mathematical reasoning, and problem-solving applied to situations that actually occur in today's workplace. It contains 34 items and runs 55 minutes, delivered online or on paper. Items are organized into five difficulty levels, from Level 3 (least complex) through Level 7 (most complex); the levels build on one another, so a Level 5 item assumes the skills assessed at Levels 3, 4, and 5. Content ranges from single-operation money and time problems at Level 3 to multi-step ratio, rate, volume, and basic statistics problems at Level 7. Calculators and conversion tables may be used, but the math still has to be reasoned through, and a formula sheet is embedded as a tool in the online test or included in the paper booklet. Preparation should focus on translating word problems into calculations, unit conversions, percentages, area and volume, and checking multi-step work for errors.
What you'll study
About WorkKeys Applied Math preparation
How many questions are on the Applied Math test, and how long is it?
The assessment has 34 items and a test length of 55 minutes. That works out to roughly a minute and a half per question, so plan to move steadily and leave yourself room to return to harder multi-step items rather than stalling on any single problem.
Can I take it online or on paper?
Both. ACT lists the method of delivery as Online and Paper. In the online version the formula sheet is embedded as a tool within the test; in the paper version it appears in the test booklet. The item count and 55-minute limit are the same either way.
Can I use a calculator?
Yes. ACT states that individuals may use calculators and conversion tables to help with the problems, but math skills are still needed to think them through. The calculator does not remove the reasoning step, so practice setting problems up by hand before you reach for it.
How hard is the test? What do the levels mean?
There are five levels of difficulty, with Level 3 the least complex and Level 7 the most complex. The levels build on each other, so a Level 5 item assumes the skills from Levels 3, 4, and 5. Higher-level items involve more steps, more setup, and information that may be out of order or incomplete.
What math topics actually show up?
Expect money and change, fractions, decimals and percentages, averages, ratios, proportions and rates, unit conversions within and between systems, mixed units, perimeter, circumference, area, volume of rectangular solids, cylinders, cones and spheres, discounts, markup and tax, and basic statistics such as weighted means and measures of spread.
What is the most common way people lose points?
Two habits cause most errors: skipping the setup and jumping straight to arithmetic, and ignoring extra or out-of-order information. At Levels 4 and above, problems deliberately include unnecessary data and may present numbers out of sequence, so read the whole item, decide what you actually need, and check units before computing.
What should I study first?
Start with Level 3 and 4 skills: single- and two-step operations, fractions, decimals, percentages, averages, and simple ratios and rates. Those underpin everything above them. Then work up to multi-step percentage problems, mixed units, area and volume, and finally ratio and rate problems where a quantity is a fraction.
How should I manage the 55 minutes?
Work at a steady pace and do not let one multi-step item consume several minutes. Because the levels build on each other, the arithmetic in a hard item is usually simple; the difficulty is in the setup. If a problem will not resolve quickly, make your best choice, flag it mentally, and move on.
Is there a passing score or a retake policy I should know?
This page does not state a passing score, fee, retake policy, or score validity period, so treat those details as unconfirmed. Check directly with ACT or with the employer, school, or testing center that is requiring the assessment before you register or plan a retake.