WorkKeys Business Writing

It is a constructed response. You read one written prompt describing a workplace situation and write an original response. It is delivered online, and the assessment contains one prompt. There are no multiple-choice questions to fall back on, so the entire score comes from the piece of writing you produce in the time allowed.

Test length is 30 minutes for the single prompt. ACT does not publish a required word count, so plan your own structure: a brief opening that states purpose, a middle with the details the reader needs, and a close that says what happens next. Leave two or three minutes at the end to proofread.

Responses are rated against a scoring guide with five skill levels, Level 1 least complex and Level 5 most complex. Level 5 writing shows well-developed ideas with specific supporting details, smooth organization, varied sentences, precise word choice, and only minor errors if any. A score of 0 is given for off-topic, blank, or inappropriate responses. No passing score is published on the assessment page.

ACT reports analytic scores as additional supportive information for examinees, educators, and career coaches. They cover development of content, organization and focus, word choice/tone/style, grammar/usage/word order/word form, and spelling/punctuation/capitalization. These are separate from the holistic score and are not averaged to produce it, so treat them as diagnostic feedback rather than a substitute grade.

The task is short but demanding because everything is judged at once. Level 3 writing is generally organized with adequate but general development, simple transitions, and some errors that do not interfere. Level 5 requires insight, relevant examples and specific details, varied and effective transitions, sentence variety, and precise word choice. The gap is mostly depth and control, not length.

Common problems include sentence fragments and run-on sentences, comma splices, misspellings, missing or incorrect punctuation, extra capitalization, inconsistent verb tense, subject-verb agreement errors, unclear pronoun references, missing words, wrong homophones such as there for their, and casual or rude tone. Weak development, random grouping of points, and missing transitions also depress scores.

ACT does not publish retake rules or a fee for the Business Writing assessment on the pages describing it. WorkKeys assessments are administered through licensed test centers, so contact a center near you to ask about scheduling, cost, waiting periods between attempts, and how scores are reported to employers or programs.

Start with grammar, mechanics, and sentence structure, since sentence-level errors are the easiest to fix and they interfere with communication at every level. Then work on word usage and tone, because business writing must sound professional. Finish with organization, focus, and development of ideas, which take the most practice to improve under a 30-minute limit.

Write full responses to realistic workplace prompts in 30 minutes, then score yourself against the published level descriptions. Check whether your main points are grouped logically, whether examples are specific rather than general, and whether transitions are varied. ACT also offers sample questions and an online practice test for WorkKeys assessments.