Overview
The South Carolina Career Ready Test is a career readiness test administered to all eleventh-grade students to measure the most common skills that employers define as foundational for career readiness. Students are assessed in four key areas:
- Soft Skills Assessment
- Math Assessment
- Reading Assessment
- Data Assessment
Student Participation
Districts must administer The South Carolina Career Ready Test to all 11th grade students based on 9GR. Eleventh-grade students are students in the third year of high school after their initial enrollment in the ninth grade. Students in the 12th grade may take this assessment in the spring as well.
Test Dates 2023-2024
Fall Testing Window for Grade 12: October 30-November 10, 2023
Spring Testing Window for Grades 11 and 12: March 25-April 19, 2024
Key Dates
| Event |
Date |
| Precode Deadline for Districts |
Fall: Friday, August 18, 2023 |
| DTC Only Test Prep |
Fall: Wednesday, September 13, 2023 and Monday, September 18, 2023 |
| STC/Testing Staff-Online and Paper Test Prep |
September 21, 2023 |
| STC/Testing Staff-Paper Test Prep |
Fall: Wednesday, September 28, 2023 and Thursday, October 5, 2023 |
| STC/Testing Staff-Online Test Prep |
Fall: Thursday, September 27, 2023 and Monday, October 2, 2023 |
| DTC Only Post Test |
Thursday, December 7, 2023 |
| Event |
Date |
| Precode Deadline for Districts |
Spring: Friday, December 8, 2023 |
| DTC Only Test Prep |
Spring: Wednesday, February 7, 2024 and Monday, February 12, 2024 |
| DTC and Testing Staff-Online and Paper Test Prep |
February 15, 2024 |
| STC/Testing Staff-Paper Test Prep |
Spring: Wednesday, February 22, 2024 and Thursday, February 29, 2024 |
| STC/Testing Staff-Online Test Prep |
Spring: Thursday, February 21, 2024 and Monday, February 26, 2024 |
| DTC Only Post Test |
Thursday, May 2, 2024 |
Information About the Four Assessment Components
The South Carolina Career Ready Test includes four component subtests – one soft skills specific assessment and three employability skills (math / reading / data) assessments. Together the four assessments measure the most common transferable skills that employers nationwide define as foundational for career readiness. The assessments provide students an opportunity to apply job skills – not just simply demonstrate concept knowledge.
The following chart summarizes the skills measured, number of items, type of items, and standard administration time for each component assessment.
| Assessment |
General Description |
Number of Test Items |
Administration Time |
WIN Work Ready
Soft Skills Assessment |
Measures understanding of and ability to apply essential work habits and professional skills that employers nationwide commonly define as required to gain and maintain employment including communicating effectively, conveying professionalism, promoting teamwork and collaboration, and thinking critically and solving problems. |
22 two-part (best and worse) plus 17 one-partmultiple choice items/61 total scored items |
Timed: 1 hour |
WIN Work Ready
Math Assessment |
Measures understanding of and ability to apply foundational mathematical reasoning skills to solve real-life workplace problems including calculating sizes, quantities, and costs; evaluating information and results to determine the best solution; reviewing the accuracy of transactions; and informing operational activities. |
40 multiple choice items |
Timed: 55 minutes |
WIN Work Ready
Reading Assessment |
Measures ability to read, understand, and interpret written workplace text such as memos, schedules, policies, and technical manuals to obtain information; apply new knowledge to the job; and follow instructions in complex procedural documents, regulations, policies, and procedures. |
38 multiple choice items |
Timed: 55 minutes |
WIN Work Ready
Data Assessment |
Measures ability to understand, interpret, and apply workplace data presented in forms, workflows, diagrams, charts, and graphs including identifying trends and relationships among variables; interpreting research and operational data; and reviewing technical drawings and specifications. |
26 multiple choice items |
Timed: 55 minutes |
Career Ready Credentials
The component employability skills (math/reading/data) assessments are assigned a scale score and an achievement level score from 1 to 5 based on the U.S. Department of Labor O*NET Job Zones as described by the following chart. The credentials will be issued for achievement levels/2-5.
What is a Job Zone?
| Job Zone |
Experience |
Education |
Training |
| 1 – Little to no preparation |
Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed |
May require a high school diploma or GED certificate |
A few days to a few months of on-the job training |
| 2 – Some preparation |
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed |
Usually require a high school diploma |
A few months to one year of on-the job training; apprenticeship |
| 3 – Medium preparation |
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required |
Most require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree |
One or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training; apprenticeship |
| 4 – Considerable preparation |
Considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed |
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree |
Usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training. |
| 5 – Extensive preparation |
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed |
Most of these occupations require graduate school |
May need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training. |
Credential Levels
-
Achievement Level 5-Earning an Achievement Level 5 credential indicates that the learner has the foundational skills to pursue O*NET Job Zone Level 5 career pathways. Includes 100% of O*NET Job Zones.
-
Achievement Level 4-Earning an Achievement Level 4 credential indicates that the learner has the foundational skills to pursue O*NET Job Zone Level 4 career pathways. Includes 83% of O*NET Job Zones.|
-
Achievement Level 3-Earning an Achievement Level 3 credential indicates that the learner has the foundational skills to pursue O*NET Job Zone Level 3 career pathways. Includes 59% of O*NET Job Zones.
-
Achievement Level 2-Earning an Achievement Level 2 credential indicates that the learner has the foundational skills to pursue O*NET Job Zone Level 2 career pathways. Includes 35% of O*NET Job Zones.
