If you are studying for the ACT WorkKeys NCRC with an older book, a school handout or a list of requirements from an employer, you may see test names that no longer appear on ACT’s site: Reading for Information, Locating Information and Applied Mathematics. These are the earlier versions of today’s three NCRC tests. This page matches the old names to the new ones, explains what changed and shows which older prep material still helps.

This page is independent practice information and is not affiliated with ACT.

Old names and current names

Older name	Current name	What it measures
Reading for Information	Workplace Documents	Reading and using workplace text: memos, emails, policies, instructions, contracts
Locating Information	Graphic Literacy	Reading workplace graphics: tables, charts, forms, gauges, maps, blueprints
Applied Mathematics	Applied Math	Solving workplace math problems with a calculator and formula sheet

ACT’s technical manual describes the move as a “smooth transition from Reading for Information to Workplace Documents,” and calls Locating Information “the original assessment” behind Graphic Literacy. All three current tests count toward the same National Career Readiness Certificate, with the same Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum levels.

When the change happened

ACT ran the linking and scaling studies for the new tests in spring 2017. ACT does not publish a single launch date, but the new tests are generally dated to 2017, with the older forms phased out around 2017 to 2018. If someone took “Reading for Information” before then, that was the version in use at the time. If an employer or program still lists the older names, they usually mean the current tests.

What changed in Workplace Documents

Workplace Documents was built to continue the skills Reading for Information measured, so the core is the same: read a work document, find the main idea and details, and apply what it says. What the current test spells out clearly:

• A wider range of documents. The test uses instructional, informational, policy and legal documents, and also multiple related documents, meaning two or more documents by two or more authors, such as an email thread or a policy plus a customer email.
• Defined lengths and reading levels. Level 3 documents run about 80 to 150 words at about a sixth-grade reading level; Level 7 documents run about 250 to 500 words at about a first-year college reading level, with details spread out and some that don’t matter.
• A defined skill mix. Of the 30 scored questions, about 10 are on main ideas and details, about 15 on applying information, and about 5 on word meanings, including jargon and acronyms.
• Higher levels ask why. At Levels 6 and 7 you may be asked the reason behind a policy or section, or to apply a principle the document only implies.

The test has 35 questions, five choices each, in 55 minutes. Practice with the Workplace Documents questions.

What changed in Graphic Literacy

This change is bigger than a new name:

• A top level was added. The legacy Locating Information test was scored only from Level 3 to Level 6. Graphic Literacy is scored from Level 3 to Level 7, and the Level 7 questions ask you to interpret or compare trends across dense or combined graphics.
• Four choices, not five. The older Locating Information sample questions you may still find online have five choices. Current Graphic Literacy forms have four.
• Levels follow a clear rule. A question’s level comes from how complex the graphic is (from simple to difficult) and how many thinking steps it takes (from finding one value, to comparing, to interpreting trends).
• A broad list of graphic types. Graphic Literacy names tables, graphs, charts, digital dashboards, flow charts, timelines, forms, maps and blueprints.
• Question sets. After a few single questions, the rest come in sets of two or three about the same graphic or graphics.

There is still no calculator, and the math is kept simple. The test has 38 questions in 55 minutes. See Graphic Literacy tips.

What changed in Applied Math

Applied Math changed the least. It is still workplace word problems with five numeric choices, a calculator, and a formula sheet, now 34 questions in 55 minutes. Two details are worth checking against older material:

• The formula sheet. Some older copies listed 1 kilometer ≈ 0.62 miles; the current sheet drops that line. Use the current Applied Math formula sheet.
• Use 3.14 for pi. The current directions say so, and a calculator’s pi key may give a result that doesn’t match the choices.

Does older prep material still help?

Mostly yes, if you use it with care.

Older material	Still useful for	Watch out for
Applied Mathematics practice	Nearly everything: the skills and question style carry over	Old formula sheet lines; check your pi use
Reading for Information practice	Main idea, details, following procedures, word meaning in context	May have few multi-document sets, such as email threads; add some if yours has none
Locating Information practice	Reading tables, forms, gauges and simple charts	Five choices instead of four; no Level 7 trend questions
Old score charts	Little	Old raw-score charts may not match current forms; use the current scores and levels

A sensible plan is to use older material for extra practice on basic skills, then take at least one full, timed practice test in the current format for each test. That shows you the current question counts, the current choices and the current top level.

If a job posting uses the old names

Some employers and programs still write “Reading for Information” or “Locating Information” in their requirements. They are usually asking for the matching current test at the same level, for example Level 4 in Workplace Documents. If you are not sure, ask the employer or program which tests and levels they accept. For how certificate levels work, see NCRC certificate levels.

For a full overview of the current tests, see the WorkKeys test guide.

Keep practicing

Our timed practice tests use the current format for all three tests: 34 Applied Math, 38 Graphic Literacy and 35 Workplace Documents questions, 55 minutes each, with an estimated level after each test. Start from the home page, or try the Graphic Literacy practice questions.