Writing
In a survey of 402 companies, executives identified writing as the most valued skill required in their businesses given that their employees spend an average of 30% of their day writing. Of those employees, 80% at all levels need to improve their writing skills because nearly 1/3 of their writing needs to be clarified. Messages that are written clearly and correctly can spell success for a company by increasing credibility, reputation, and client satisfaction.
The Writing portion of the WorkKeys Listening and Writing test measures the skill individuals use when they write messages that relay workplace information between people.
The test is administered in audio format that contains all directions and messages. Examinees are asked to listen to the audiotaped messages and then write messages or summaries based on the information they hear. Examinees are placed in the role of employees who receive information from customers, co-workers, or suppliers and must then write down the information to communicate it to someone else.
The taped messages reflect various workplace settings, but no prior knowledge of the occupations is necessary. The messages are delivered by both male and female speakers of differing ages and with various accents. Each message is given twice, and examinees are encouraged to take notes. After a message is given the second time, examinees have a specified amount of time to write before the next message is given. Examinees are given 40 minutes to complete six responses; they may return to work on previous responses at any time during the test.
Initially, the messages contain about six pieces of information given by one speaker; by the end of the assessment, messages are given by two speakers and contain approximately seventeen pieces of information. As the assessment progresses and the messages grow longer and more complex, the time allotted to write the messages increases from two minutes to six minutes.
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Characteristics/Skills
There are five skill levels of difficulty. Level 1 is the least complex and Level 5 is the most complex. At each new level, individuals need to demonstrate more competency than they do at the previous levels. For example, Level 3 builds upon the skills used at Levels 1 and 2. With the increased skill required at each level, the writing that individuals produce communicates more clearly and smoothly as they move to level 5. At the same time errors become less frequent and less serious.
In all cases, examinees read a written prompt and then write their response. Examinees with extremely limited reading skills may be unable to produce a response that is sufficiently on topic to receive a valid Business Writing score.
| Level |
Characteristics of Responses |
1
|
- Messages are very difficult to understand because of numerous errors
- The majority of the sentence structures are incorrect
- Major mechanical, grammatical, and word usage errors are numerous
- Rude or overly casual language not consistent with standard business English is used
- No organization is evident
|
| Level |
Characteristics of Responses |
2
|
- Messages are generally understandable
- Some correct sentence structures are used, although some sentences may require further clarification
- Writing has enough correct mechanics, word usage, and grammar to convey an idea, although many errors may interfere with comprehension
- Casual language or slang may be used rather than standard business English
- Although topical information is used, writing lacks connections that would make it flow easily
|
| Level |
Characteristics of Responses |
3
|
- Messages are clear
- The majority of the sentences are complete
- Writing has few mechanical, grammatical, and word usage errors so the message is adequately conveyed
- The language may be more casual than standard business English but never contains slang or is rude
- Some organization is evident, but the writing may have inappropriate transitions and/or some information out of logical order
|
| Level |
Characteristics of Responses |
4
|
- Messages are clear, with almost no errors
- All sentences are complete
- There are very few mechanical, grammatical, and/or word usage errors
- The tone is professional and consistent with standard business English most of the time
- The writing style is adequate but may be somewhat choppy
- Good organization is demonstrated with only minor transition or logical order problems
|
| Level |
Characteristics of Responses |
5
|
- Messages are clear, precise, and free of errors
- Correct, complete sentences are used and are varied, smooth, and polished
- There are no mechanical, grammatical, or word usage errors
- A businesslike, courteous, and professional tone is maintained with language that is highly consistent with standard business English
- The writing style flows smoothly
- The information is presented in a logical order; for example, the writer may rearrange the information so that the important part comes first
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