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Test Takers Guide
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What is TOWES?
The Test of Workplace Essential Skills (TOWES) is an assessment tool that
uses actual workplace documents to evaluate three out of nine essential
skills. TOWES evaluates:
- Reading Text: The ability to find and use information contained in text,
paragraphs, letters, reports, etc.
- Document Use: The ability to find and use information
contained in charts, schematics, icons, lists, tables, signs, etc.
- Numeracy: The ability to find and use quantitative
information like measuring, calculating, scheduling, budgeting, estimating,
analyzing data, etc.
Everyone has essential skills! Essential skills are not the technical
skill required by a particular occupation, but the skills used in all occupations.
They are generic, transferable, enabling skills that help people perform
the tasks necessary to succeed in their job. What differs between occupations
is the level of skill required and the frequency with which the skill is
used. For example, some workers read emails every day while other read
long technical reports monthly. Both of these activities are reading tasks,
but one is much more difficult than the other.
When you write TOWES you will assume the role of a worker who has been
asked to perform a workplace task. Each task, or question, will require
you to use at least one of the three essential skills. Results from your
TOWES test will determine your skill level in reading text, document use
and numeracy.
The Government of Canada has conducted research with thousands of workers
across the country to create Essential Skill Profiles. The Essential Skill
Profiles outline the skills needed for work in over 200 occupations. You
can compare your TOWES score with the Essential Skill Profiles to:
- Determine if you have the essential skills needed for various occupations.
- Evaluate
areas that you need to improve if you would like to work in a particular
job.
- Highlight your essential skill competencies with a potential employer.
Click here for additional information.
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About the Test
TOWES can typically be completed within 2 to 2 ½ hours. TOWES tests contain
about 18 problem sets - a problem set is made up of an authentic workplace
document and a series of questions or "tasks" directly related
to the document. Although you may not be familiar with the subject matter
of the document, all the information needed to answer the questions is
contained within the material provided. You should be able to answer the
question or "perform"
the task because your essential skills are transferable from one environment
to another!
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Which Test are you Writing?
All TOWES tests measure the same three essential skills - Reading Text,
Document Use and Numeracy. The difference between the following tests is
based upon the levels of essential skills to be assessed, and in some cases,
the types or variations of documents being used. Some of our tests are
geared towards specific occupational requirements.
G Series
Our most general TOWES test. There are three versions of this
series: GEN 1, GEN 2, GEN 3 - which are each best suited to assess at particular
essential skill level ranges.
Sector Series
Our Office and Administration (ADM) and Manufacturing Sector
Series (MFG) contain problem sets and workplace documents most associated
with these two sectors.
Custom Tests
Custom TOWES Tests have been designed for certain industries.
If you have a question about a custom test that you will be writing, please
contact your Test Administrator or TOWES.
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How to write a TOWES Test
1. Select a Testing Session
Please contact your local TOWES test administrator
to schedule a testing session. To find a contact in your area - please
visit the Distributors Section of this
site.
If you
are in the Calgary area and would like to write the TOWES Test please
contact the TOWES Department at (403) 410-3200 or towes@bowvalleycollege.ca.
2. Prepare for Writing TOWES
The best way to prepare for your TOWES test
is to review the TOWES Preparation Guide. The Preparation Guide includes
some tips for writing TOWES and includes a practice problem set, along
with the steps for solving the questions, so that you become familiar with
the types of questions that appear on TOWES. You can download a copy of
the prep-guide. If you have unable to access an electronic version, please
contact your TOWES Test Administrator.
There are many additional online resources available to help you prepare
for the TOWES Test, so please take advantage of them! Your TOWES test score
can significantly increase if you spend time reviewing the essential skills
and practice problem sets.
- Click here to view the TOWES
Prep Guide (PDF).
- Click here to visit the Measure
Up! website to practice problem sets.
- Click here to view a
sample TOWES test booklet (PDF).
- Click here to view
TOWES Additional Resources & Links (PDF).
3. Gather Equipment
TOWES is a paper and pencil test. You will need a pen/pencil, highlighter
and a basic calculator to successfully complete your test. You should
also remember to bring your glasses if you have difficulty reading small
text.
The following items will not be permitted in your testing session: programmable
calculators, PDA's, cellular phones and dictionaries (including electronic
or translation dictionaries). Please note: test markers will not deduct
marks for incorrect spelling.
4. Writing the Test
Carefully read the test instructions and test questions. The questions
on the test are not designed to trick you, however, if you rush through
the problem sets you may miss important information needed to answer
the questions. Attempt all questions on the test - you will not loose
marks for incorrect answers. Make sure that your answer is clear to the
test marker, if the test marker is uncertain about what you intended
for your answer they will mark your response as incorrect.
Please keep
your own record of your TOWES test booklet number. This will be required
if you need additional copies of your results at a later time.
5. Retesting
In some circumstances you may need to rewrite TOWES. There is a mandatory
one-month waiting period between testing sessions. Please see your TOWES
Test Administrator for more information on retesting.
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Interpreting your TOWES Results?
Test results will be distributed on an on going basis. At your testing session,
your test administrator will provide you with all the information you will
need to pick up your results. Results will be kept confidential.
You will
receive an Individual Results Report that will display your current essential
skills levels for Reading Text, Document Use and Numeracy. The report
will include examples of how your essential skill levels relate to typical
workplace tasks and will suggest skills to build on.
Some Individual Results
Report will also outline the range of skill levels needed for different
occupations profiled by the Government of Canada. This information can
help you to evaluate how your essential skill levels compare to the requirements
of over 200 occupations profiled by the Government of Canada. You are much
more likely to succeed at work if you have the skills needed for your chosen
occupation!
Visit the HRSDC (Human Resource Skills
Development of Canada) Essential Skills Database to view the required skill levels for your
desired profiled occupation.
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Measuring Essential Skills
The complexity of workplace tasks are described on a 5-point scale; Level
1 tasks are considered least difficult and Level 5 tasks are considered
most difficult. All occupations require workers to perform a range of tasks
at different levels, but some occupations require workers to perform more
difficult tasks on a frequent basis.
Click here to open
the Essential Skills Definitions file (PDF) and view a chart that provides
examples of how the essential skill levels (1 to 5) relate to different
workplace tasks
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Page Updated: Tuesday, July 22, 2008