WorkKeys Applied Math study guide
WorkKeys Applied Math · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
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. Topics on this exam: Level 3, Level 4, Level 5, Level 6, and Level 7. The WorkKeys Applied Math study guide has 3 sections and about 1,767 words.
01Level 3: Whole-Number Operations in Practical Contexts
Level 3 problems ask you to apply one or two basic operations - addition, subtraction, multiplication, division - to whole numbers in a plain everyday situation. Typical settings: counting inventory, totaling a bill, splitting items into equal groups, or finding a remainder. The math itself is simple; the challenge is reading carefully and choosing the right operation. Place value and regrouping when adding or subtracting multi-digit numbers.
697 words, about 3 min02Level 4: Fractions, Decimals, and Percentages in Everyday Math
Level 4 introduces parts of a whole: fractions, decimals, and percentages, usually in shopping, measurement, or scheduling contexts. You need to move fluidly among the three forms and apply them to a base amount. Equivalent forms : 1/4 = 0.25 = 25%; 1/5 = 0.20 = 20%; 3/4 = 0.75 = 75%. Memorize the common eighths, fifths, and tenths.
695 words, about 3 min03Level 7: Multi-Step Analysis and Reasonable-Answer Judgment
Level 7 questions are the most demanding: several steps, mixed operations, and often a request to judge whether an answer is reasonable or to choose the best plan. The math is within reach; the work is in organizing it. Chained operations : cost plus tax plus shipping; a discount followed by a coupon; a rate applied over a variable time. Break-even and comparison : total cost = fixed cost + (rate × quantity); set two plans equal to compare.
375 words, about 2 min