WorkKeys Tests Senioritis

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Kayla Carden

Back to test prep books, seniors!

Kayla Carden, Writer

Last Tuesday morning, seniors shuffled into the auditorium for a mysterious talk with a special speaker. Rumors circulated, with a variety of bets placed on talk of graduation and some horrifying speculation that there could be a new standardized test in the future. To the students’ despair, the latter came true: WorkKeys was coming to the class of 2015.

Dr. Denny Smith, Director of the ACT Center at Calhoun, began the trio of speeches by introducing the reluctant class to Bob Jones’s first try at testing their students with the ACT WorkKeys, a test designed for employers to review the potential employee’s workplace skills. There are multiple sections that can be offered to a student to test on, but for Alabama students, Applied Mathematics, Locating Information, and Reading for Information are the skills to be tested on February 10th.

Student reaction appears overall negative. Senior Olivia Kile specifically noted, “I know what they’re trying to do, but colleges really don’t care about what you do in high school, and for someone like me that’s going to college, it’s useless. They dropped the news about it to us so suddenly, too; health internships have clinicals the same day as the test, so in the end those kids [with a career path] are missing something they need.”

Some of these grumblings may be justified, but many are urging students to see the benefits of taking the WorkKeys test before they enter college.

Even though many seniors may be college-bound and simply be looking for their golden degree, the WorkKeys test is not some pseudo-GED designed to insult one’s intelligence. Sheila Roberts, the college and career adviser, says, “…WorkKeys is an opportunity for students to learn where they may have a weakness in actual work skills. Many companies and organizations look for specific skills in their work environment….”

So, no, the WorkKeys test is not being forced on seniors out of a fear that they’ll all not actually attend college – it’s a marker of where you are in terms of workplace skills that everyone should be aware of before they’re thrown into the job market. Having a 30 on the ACT doesn’t do much when you have no idea how to operate in a normal workplace, after all.

Besides, how many times have you heard others ask (or even asked yourself), “When will we use this stuff in real life?” WorkKeys problems assess everyday problems with money as opposed to some math courses they may never see again. Dr. Denny Smith emphasizes this real-world usefulness, saying, “Each day in my role as Director of Testing and Assessment at Calhoun Community College, we work with employers who are using WorkKeys for hiring and selection purposes…. I encourage students to think long-term about their futures when taking the WorkKeys on February 10th. The choice to do well on the exam now can have a impact for future employment opportunities after your college graduation that might help someone secure their first full-time position.”

Moreover, the test is free for students to take. While most seniors get bombarded with ACT/SAT scores, and college costs, Dr. Denny Smith says that the Alabama Board of Education wishes to give everyone the opportunity to have the test taken. The price has recently increased as well, giving the break even more of a benefit. This break also speaks to need of students to know their workplace skills, as Mrs. Roberts notes, “…most likely the demand for certain skills in the workforce has prompted the state to look deeper into the benefits of this particular exam for all students.”

A few students are looking on the positive sides of WorkKeys. Senior Michael Dawkins said, “I obviously can’t judge it entirely since I haven’t taken the test yet, but I have high hopes for the test. It could really get you the work experience you need to get a job.”

However, many seniors still have valid reservations about the test. Olivia Kile and many other anonymous seniors expressed their unhappiness with the mandatory nature of the WorkKeys and would prefer that they take it at a time they’d be more willing to invest effort into workplace skills.

No matter your opinion, Mrs. Roberts reminds students, “[You] have nothing to lose, since it is required by the state board of education and will eventually have to take more of [your] time at a later date to do a make-up exam. After taking the test, students may discover the value of the results and be glad they had the opportunity, at no expense, to take it.”