ACT WorkKeys Business Writing

A supervisor needs to announce that the supply room closes at 3:00 p.m. today for inventory. Which message best fits the purpose and audience?

• AThe supply room will close at 3:00 p.m. today for inventory. Pick up needed supplies befo…
• BInventory is always inconvenient, but everyone should try to be patient today.
• CSeveral supply room procedures have been discussed this month by the inventory team.
• DPlease remember that storage policies are important for every department.

A team lead needs to remind employees to return radios to the charging station. Which message best fits the purpose and audience?

• APlease return all radios to the charging station at the end of your shift.
• BRadios have been a continuing problem, and the team needs to do better.
• CThe charging station is near the time clock, which many employees pass each day.
• DSome employees remember the radios, but others may have different habits.

An office manager needs to tell staff that parking Lot C is reserved for customers. Which message best fits the purpose and audience?

• ALot C is reserved for customers beginning Monday. Employees should use Lots A or B.
• BParking has created several concerns, so please think carefully before choosing a lot.
• CCustomers sometimes need spaces close to the front entrance during busy periods.
• DThe parking lot plan may change again after the next staff meeting.

A scheduler needs to notify new employees that orientation begins in Room 2. Which message best fits the purpose and audience?

• ANew-hire orientation begins at 8:30 a.m. in Room 2. Please arrive five minutes early.
• BOrientation is an important part of learning workplace expectations.
• CRoom assignments can be confusing during the first week of employment.
• DIf anyone has questions about orientation, those questions should be handled soon.

A warehouse clerk needs to tell drivers where to leave signed delivery forms. Which message best fits the purpose and audience?

• APlease place signed delivery forms in the blue tray at the dispatch desk before leaving t…
• BDelivery forms are useful records, and missing paperwork can slow down the office.
• CDrivers should be aware that paperwork is part of every delivery process.
• DSomeone at dispatch may be able to answer questions about forms later today.

A receptionist needs to ask visitors to sign in before entering the work area. Which message best fits the purpose and audience?

• AAll visitors must sign in at reception and receive a badge before entering the work area.
• BVisitors are sometimes unfamiliar with our building layout and safety rules.
• CThe work area can be busy, especially when multiple visitors arrive together.
• DThere are forms available near the front desk for several different purposes.

A maintenance coordinator needs to announce a temporary elevator outage. Which message best fits the purpose and audience?

• AThe east elevator will be out of service from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Use the west elevator d…
• BElevator repairs are complicated and may affect people in different ways.
• CThe maintenance team has been reviewing several building systems this week.
• DAnyone who dislikes elevator delays should plan carefully whenever possible.

A payroll assistant needs to remind staff to submit timesheets by noon Friday. Which message best fits the purpose and audience?

• ASubmit completed timesheets to payroll by noon Friday so checks can be processed on sched…
• BPayroll deadlines are important and should not be ignored by employees.
• CThere have been late timesheets in the past, which created unnecessary work.
• DThe payroll office will be open during its usual hours for general questions.

A training coordinator needs to tell new hires what to bring to orientation. Which message best fits the purpose and audience?

• ABring a photo ID and direct-deposit information to orientation on Tuesday.
• BOrientation includes several activities that will help new hires meet staff.
• CNew employees often have many questions during their first week.
• DTuesday will be a full day, so everyone should be prepared for many topics.

A safety manager needs to remind staff to keep emergency exits clear. Which message best fits the purpose and audience?

• AKeep emergency exits and marked exit paths clear of boxes, carts, and equipment at all ti…
• BSafety reminders can feel repetitive, but they are still part of workplace routines.
• CBoxes, carts, and equipment are often moved during busy shifts.
• DThe safety committee will continue discussing building procedures next month.

Which sentence is most appropriate for a short email to a customer whose order is delayed?

• AYour order is delayed because the replacement part did not arrive today; I will send an u…
• BYour order is late, but delays like this happen all the time during our busy season, so w…
• CI guess the replacement part is missing somewhere in the system, so you will probably nee…
• DThe warehouse has been having many staffing and inventory problems lately, and this parti…

Which sentence is most appropriate in a note to a supervisor after you discover a data-entry error?

• AI found an error in yesterday's report, corrected the total, and attached the revised fil…
• BThe report was wrong somehow, but it probably does not matter much.
• CSomeone gave me confusing numbers, so the mistake should not count against me.
• DI fixed a thing in the file; look at it whenever.

Which sentence has the best tone for a policy reminder about wearing identification badges?

• AFor security, please wear your identification badge where it is visible while you are on…
• BPeople keep forgetting badges, and it is getting ridiculous.
• CBadges are a rule, obviously, so everyone should already know this.
• DIf you do not wear a badge, people may think you are careless.

Which sentence is most appropriate for a coworker you do not know well?

• ACould you send the final attendance count by 2:00 p.m. so I can update the room setup?
• BHey, send me that count whenever you get around to it.
• CYou still have not sent the count, and that is slowing me down.
• DThe count is probably somewhere in your files, I assume.

Which sentence best fits a professional update about a delayed shipment?

• AThe shipment is delayed in transit; we have asked the carrier for a new arrival time and…
• BThe carrier messed this up, so there is not much we can do right now.
• CThe shipment is late again, which is annoying for everyone involved.
• DNobody here knows where the shipment is, but maybe it will arrive soon.

Choose the clearest and most concise revision of: "Due to the fact that the copier is not working, please use the printer in the lobby."

• ABecause the copier is not working, please use the lobby printer.
• BSince the copier has a condition of not working, printer usage should occur in the lobby.
• CThe copier is a problem, so maybe use something else.
• DPlease use the lobby printer after the copier is repaired.

Choose the clearest and most concise revision of: "At this point in time, we are in need of more boxes."

• AWe need more boxes now.
• BAt this current point in time, additional boxes are something we need.
• CBoxes exist in several storage areas.
• DWe used boxes last month and will use them again.

Choose the clearest and most concise revision of: "Please return back the signed form by noon."

• APlease return the signed form by noon.
• BPlease return back again the signed form by noon.
• CThe signed form is due somewhere around noon.
• DPlease return the unsigned form by noon.

Choose the clearest and most concise revision of: "It is requested that badges be displayed by employees while on site."

• AEmployees must display badges while on site.
• BBadge displaying by employees is something requested on site.
• CBadges are important to the work site.
• DEmployees may display badges when convenient.

Choose the clearest and most concise revision of: "Make sure return-related activity is done in the proper manner."

• AProcess returns according to the posted procedure.
• BReturns should be handled in a way that is appropriate and correct.
• CReturn-related work is something people should consider carefully.
• DProcess returns whenever the schedule allows.

Which sentence is grammatically correct?

• AThe boxes are on the loading dock.
• BThe boxes is on the loading dock.
• CThe box are on the loading dock.
• DThe boxes be on the loading dock.

Which sentence is a complete sentence?

• AThe technician replaced the filter before noon.
• BBecause the technician replaced the filter before noon.
• CReplacing the filter before noon.
• DThe technician, before noon.

Which sentence uses the correct verb tense?

• AThe clerk entered the order yesterday and sends the receipt yesterday.
• BThe clerk entered the order yesterday and sent the receipt yesterday.
• CThe clerk enter the order yesterday and sent the receipt yesterday.
• DThe clerk will entered the order yesterday and sent the receipt.

Which sentence avoids an unclear pronoun?

• AWhen Maria gave Lena the invoice, Maria explained the correction.
• BWhen Maria gave Lena the invoice, she explained the correction.
• CShe explained the correction when Maria gave Lena the invoice.
• DAfter the invoice was given to Lena, she explained the correction.

Which option best fixes the word choice error: "The team excepted the new procedure."

• AThe team accepted the new procedure.
• BThe team expected the new procedure.
• CThe team excepts the new procedure.
• DThe team acceptance the new procedure.

Which sentence has correct punctuation?

• APlease bring gloves, goggles, and a signed waiver.
• BPlease bring gloves goggles and a signed waiver.
• CPlease bring gloves, goggles and, a signed waiver.
• DPlease bring, gloves goggles, and a signed waiver.

Which sentence has correct capitalization?

• AThe safety meeting is on Tuesday in Room 4.
• BThe Safety Meeting is on tuesday in room 4.
• CThe safety meeting is on Tuesday in room 4.
• Dthe safety meeting is on Tuesday in Room 4.

Which sentence has correct apostrophe use?

• AThe drivers' logs are due Friday.
• BThe driver's logs are due Friday for all drivers.
• CThe drivers's logs are due Friday.
• DThe drivers logs' are due Friday.

Which sentence uses commas correctly after an introductory phrase?

• AAfter the alarm test, employees may return to their work areas.
• BAfter the alarm test employees may return to their work areas.
• CAfter, the alarm test employees may return to their work areas.
• DAfter the alarm test employees, may return to their work areas.

Which sentence fixes the spelling error in "The tecnician will arrive at 10 a.m."?

• AThe technician will arrive at 10 a.m.
• BThe tecnician will arrive at 10 a.m.
• CThe technishan will arrive at 10 a.m.
• DThe tecnician will arive at 10 a.m.

Which response is best in this workplace situation: a customer says an invoice lists the wrong shipping address?

• AThank you for catching that. I will correct the shipping address on the invoice and send…
• BThe invoice came from another department, so you should ask them instead.
• CThat address is probably close enough for our records.
• DWe have had many invoice issues lately, but this one may be fixed eventually.

Which response is best in this workplace situation: a vendor shipment arrives with three damaged boxes?

• AThree boxes arrived damaged on purchase order 4182. Please advise whether you will replac…
• BYour delivery team was obviously careless with our order again, just like they were with…
• CThere were some boxes in the delivery that arrived this week, and a few things about thei…
• DWe might be able to quietly use the damaged boxes on the floor anyway, as long as nobody…

Which response is best in this workplace situation: you sent the wrong attachment to a supervisor?

• AI attached the wrong file to my earlier email. The correct report is attached here, and I…
• BThe first attachment was not important, so please disregard whatever was sent.
• CSomeone must have moved the files before I sent the email.
• DI am resending something that should work better than the last email.

Which response is best in this workplace situation: you cannot finish a full report today?

• AI can complete the summary and cost table today; the full report will be ready by 10:00 a…
• BThe report is taking longer than expected, so it will be finished at some point.
• CI cannot do everything today because several people sent information late.
• DThe report is not ready, but the delay should not create any concerns.

Which response is best in this workplace situation: an employee asks why a vacation request was denied?

• AYour request overlaps with two approved absences on the same shift. We can review alterna…
• BBecause the department simply cannot approve every single time-off request that people de…
• CThe schedule is complicated this quarter, and sitting down to discuss the details of it w…
• DYou should have submitted the request much earlier in the year if the time off really mat…

Which response is best in this workplace situation: a coworker asks for an exception that policy does not allow?

• AI cannot approve that exception under the current policy, but I can help you identify opt…
• BI would honestly approve the exception for you if the policy were written in a less stric…
• CRules are rules in this department, so there is really nothing else for the two of us to…
• DYou should probably just go and ask a different supervisor who might be more willing to i…

Which response is best in this workplace situation: a client waited while a shipment record was corrected?

• AThank you for waiting while we corrected the shipment record. The updated tracking number…
• BThe record had issues, but that happens when systems are busy.
• CYou waited because the record was not right the first time.
• DThe shipment record has now gone through several internal steps.

Which response is best in this workplace situation: a customer asks for the status of a replacement part?

• AThe replacement part shipped this morning and is scheduled to arrive Thursday by 5:00 p.m.
• BIt is somewhere in the shipping process, so please check later.
• CReplacement parts are handled by a different team than mine.
• DThe part should arrive eventually if there are no more delays.