What Is Graphic Literacy on the WorkKeys® Test?

What Is Graphic Literacy on the WorkKeys® Test?

The term graphic literacy is used to describe a specific type of literacy. Literacy on its own describes an individual’s competency in a given topic or area. Graphic literacy, then, describes an individual’s ability to discern information presented in graphic form. In essence, graphic literacy evaluates a test-taker’s ability to accurately find information within graphs, charts, and other visual representations of data.

Graphic Literacy in the Workplace

Graphic literacy is an important part of the WorkKeys test, as countless workplace positions require employees to be able to read graphs and graphics successfully. From being able to understand floor plans for your company’s fire evacuation postings, to being able to successfully navigating necessary paperwork, most businesses have some amount of graphics involved in daily operations. Having employees who can understand visual depictions of information can ease some of the stress of management teams and business owners, making this a valuable skill for any employee in virtually any field.

Skills You Will Need

With a basic understanding of the purpose behind including graphic literacy in the WorkKeys test, you can move on to how best to prepare for this portion of the exam. Understanding graphs is not necessarily a matter of study, but is more a matter of practice. Exposing yourself to different types of visual representations of data will be an important part of preparing for the Graphic Literacy section of the WorkKeys exam.

Test-takers will be evaluated on their ability to pull information, identify errors, and find accurately constructed graphics. These skill assessments grow increasingly difficult as the test progresses. Some questions may use a single graph, and ask for a single slip of information, while others may involve multiple graphs, and ask the test-taker to identify which graph most accurately displays a given set of information.

Types of Graphics to Study

Pie charts, bar graphs, floor plans, tables, flow charts, diagrams, dashboards, forms, and charts can all be used on the Graphic Literacy portion of the WorkKeys test. Studying each of these in turn, and testing your ability to pull information quickly and accurately is among the best ways to prepare. Viewing sample paperwork online, perusing scientific journals, and even reading the local newspaper can all afford opportunities to find graphics and synthesize the information provided in them to sharpen your skills and improve your confidence.

Ultimately, the Graphic Literature portion of the WorkKeys test is not quizzing your knowledge of a specific subject, but is instead examining your ability to take in, synthesize, and deliver information. Familiarizing yourself with all of the different types of graphs and visual representations of information via practice tests and study guides is the best way to prepare for this exam. You will be preparing to demonstrate your proficiency in taking in, analyzing, and delivering the information embedded within graphs and graphics.

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