The WorkKeys Graphic Literacy test is one of 8 sections of the ACT® WorkKeys test that assess work-related “hard” and “soft” skills and competencies. This section measures your ability to analyze data displayed as graphical materials.
Passing the graphic literacy section of the test is necessary for receiving the National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC).
Scoring high on the WorkKeys test will demand exceptional data analysis capabilities, best achieved with proper practice and guidance. Make sure to check our:
On this page, you will find all you need to ace the ACT WorkKeys graphic literacy test, with practice questions, detailed solutions, and preparation tips.
David, ACT WorkKeys Expert at JobTestPrep
Have a question? Contact me at:
The ACT WorkKeys graphic literacy test assesses the ability to comprehend, incorporate, and apply information presented in graphical material used in the workplace. The questions are set in real-life work-related situations.
The test has 5 difficulty levels, ranging from 3 to 7. The levels build on one another, each combining the competencies assessed in previous levels with new skills and challenges. For example, in level 5, you will need the skills from levels 3 and 4.
You will have 55 minutes to answer 38 questions.
This section of the WorkKeys test can be administered by computer or pencil-and-paper, depending on the testing center you registered at.
If you're looking for free practice, you can check our Free Workkeys Practice Test.
In level 3 of the WorkKeys graphic literacy test, you will be presented with simple and low-moderate complexity graphs with one or two axes, several levels of data, several variables, and up to 20 data fields. You will need to demonstrate skills such as locating, finding, and identifying information.
Let's see how it looks –
The following chart shows the average temperature, in °F, for Monday (orange), Tuesday (yellow), and Wednesday (blue). What was the approximate temperature on Tuesday?
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
According to the chart, the temperature on Tuesday (represented by the yellow bar) reached approximately 60°F.
The correct answer is D
The graph below charts the number of items sold each month. Approximately, how many items were sold in month 12?
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
According to the chart, the number of items sold in month 12 was approximately 60,000.
The correct answer is E
In addition to the type of questions you answered in level 3, you will be presented with high-moderate complexity graphs with several levels of data, many variables, and a moderate number of data fields. You will need to demonstrate skills such as comparing various pieces of data and identifying trends.
Let's check it out –
As a university program coordinator, you must track and analyze student acceptance rates over the course of several years. According to the chart below, which of the statements below is correct?
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
Answer choice (C) states that it was more difficult to be accepted to the program in 2007 than in previous years. This checks out, since a smaller percentage of applicants were accepted to the program out of the overall number of applicants. This means that each applicant had less of a chance of being admitted into the program. This could be the result of a more difficult entry exam or fewer open spots, but either way, being accepted is rarer in 2007.
Answer choice (A) is incorrect because it states that the student acceptance rate has grown over the years, while it can be clearly seen in the table that it has decreased. More specifically, it was 50% in 2000, and while it was higher than that between 2002–2005, it decreased from 2005 and onwards down to 20%. Therefore, the claim that it has grown is wrong.
Answer choice (B) presents a claim about the number of students accepted. No claims can be made about the absolute number of students since the chart represents percentages.
Answer choice (D) posits that the acceptance rate will further decrease in 2008. This is not a valid claim because it is impossible to predict without additional information what would happen in the next year.
The correct answer is C
You are a promotions junior manager at a big broadcasting company. Which channel did most people watch between 16:00–18:00? (The table below presents rating per channel with rating measured by the percentage of viewers nationwide.)
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
According to the diagram, Ivo van Damme was the runner from Belgium. His running time is marked as 1:43.86.
The correct answer is A
In addition to the type of question you answered in levels 3 and 4, you will be presented with difficult complexity graphs that have more than two axes and densely presented data fields. You will need to demonstrate skills such as comparing several trends and justifying the effectiveness of one graph over another.
Although the skills you are required to demonstrate in levels 5, 6, and 7 stay the same, the complexity of the graphs increases, and they become more elaborate and complicated.
Let's view practice questions –
You are working for the UN Economic Commission for Europe. Your current task is to analyze the demographics of Central European countries. What percent of Central Europe's total population is Sweden's population?
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
In this question, you are given two graphs: a bar graph and a pie graph. The bar graph represents information about the age distribution in each country, and the pie chart demonstrates the population of these countries. Since the question concerns the whole population relative to the specific European countries noted, without referral to the age group, you are required to locate the information on the pie chart.
Sweden is marked in light blue. Sweden's population is equal to 2.5% of the population of all Central European countries.
The correct answer is E
Below is a pie chart depicting the viewing habits of different age groups in relation to different genres in a specific movie theatre. Each segment of the pie represents about 4% of all movies viewed in an average year. Each segment represents a genre according to the segments key. Each chart is divided into four parts so that each part describes a different age range. These age ranges are represented by different rectangles at the side of the chart.
For example: 75% of the movies viewed by 4–12 year olds are animated films.
Which age group watches more movies than any other?
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
Because each segment of the chart represents a certain percentage of the films viewed, and because all segments are equal, the age group that has more segments watches more movies.
Counting the number of segments in each age group shows that there are eight segments in the age group 21–45. The rest of the age groups have fewer segments. This age group watches 32% of the films in the cinema, more than any other age group.
The correct answer is C
You are a police officer in Ciny Town. You have just turned right from Maple St. on your way to the Police Stop Station on Laurence Rd. when you are called to attend an emergency meeting near the other police stop. Which way would you take to arrive at your destination as quickly as possible?
An arrow on a street indicates that, unless otherwise specified, along the entire street traffic is only allowed to travel in the direction in which the arrow is pointing.
Note: Police officers do not have to adhere to traffic regulations during emergencies.
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
It is an emergency meeting, and therefore you do not need to regard the traffic regulations.
Answer (B) is incorrect because it would take longer to arrive.
Answer (C) is incorrect because making a right turn on Smith Ln. is going in the wrong direction.
Answers (D) and (E) are incorrect because these routes do not take you to the Police Stop Station.
The correct answer is A
You work as a data analyst for a public health services organization. Your task is to find correlations between major global events of a certain year and the rate of smoking in each country.
What was the smoking prevalence in the UK in the fourth biggest age group in 2002?
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
The first step is to find the fourth biggest age group in the UK in 2002. The age distribution in the UK between 1990–2010 is given in the pie chart. The 1st age group by size is 50+, which comprises 20.8% of the population. The 2nd is 0–15 with 20.2%. The 3rd biggest age group is 35–49, which makes up 21.4% of the population. The fourth biggest age group is 25–34 with 14.2% of the population.
Since now you know the required age group, you can look at the smoking prevalence, which is given in the line chart. The 25–34 age group is represented by a light blue line and star indicators. In 2002, the prevalence of smoking in this age group was 34%.
The correct answer is D
In year 3, what was the approximate ratio of the median salary of the agriculture sector to the median salary of the self-employed sector?
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
Median salary in year 1 (agriculture): £21,000.
Between years 1 and 3 there were two 5% increases in the median salary.
So, the median salary in year 3 was: 21,000 X 1.05 X 1.05 = £23,152.5
Median salary in year 1 (self-employed): £12,000.
Between years 1 and 3 there was a decrease of 6% in the median salary and then a 3% increase.
So, the median salary in year 3 was: 12,000 X 0.94 X 1.03 = £11,618.4
The ratio of the median salary of the agriculture sector to the median salary of the self-employed sector IN YEAR 3 is 23,152.5:11,618.4 = 1.99:1, which is approximately 2:1
The correct answer is E
Which month reflects an increase in the monthly gross income from the prior month, with the largest drop in the monthly net income?
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
Note that the monthly gross income increases from June to July, while at the same time, the monthly net income decreases from 6000$ to 1800$. This is the largest drop in the monthly income in the presented plot. Therefore, we can see that July has the largest drop in the monthly net income among the months, with an increased gross income from the prior month.
The correct answer is C
Think you got it? Check out our full WorkKeys practice test
----
JobTestPrep's WorkKeys assessment PrepPack guides you through practice tests of the WorkKeys Graphic Literacy test, honing the specific skills needed for the various difficulty levels of the test.
Learn more about JobTestPrep's WorkKeys assessment test PrePack
Answer every question
The WorkKeys Graphic Literacy Test score is calculated based on the number of correct answers, and there is no penalty for an incorrect answer. Thus, if you can't figure it out, it is better for you to guess than leave it unanswered.
Eliminate unnecessary data
The questions contain a lot of information, not all relevant to the answer. Sorting out the relevant data can be pretty challenging under a strict time limit; thus, you need tricks to help you quickly locate the required information. You can find these techniques in our WorkKeys assessment test PrePack
Pay attention to every detail
Now that you know what information you are searching for, you need to focus on the fine details. Your answer can be found in every piece of data given, especially in the high-level questions, where you need to compare several graphs.
Prepare for the proper WorkKeys type of questions
The WorkKeys Graphic Literacy test assesses specific skills needed daily in many positions. This is why it's essential for you to prepare for these particular types of questions and not waste your time on generic numerical practice tests.
JobTestPrep's PrepPack is specifically tailored for the WorkKeys assessment test, providing you with all the tools to ace the test and receive your National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC).
Or read more about our ACT WorkKeys Preparation Pack
Money Back Guarantee
Since 1992, JobTestPrep has stood for true-to-original online test and assessment centre preparation. Our decades of experience make us a leading international provider of test training. Over one million customers have already used our products to prepare professionally for their recruitment tests.