Demonstration of College Readiness (Formerly Common Placement Testing/PERT)

Florida College System (FCS) institutions may assess students to place them in appropriate classes for their skill level. These assessments also determine if developmental education courses are recommended for academic preparation. Developmental education courses assist with meeting career and educational goals by building math, reading, and writing skills. Whether entering college right out of high school or a few years later, students may need to refresh their academic skills.

Who Needs Demonstration of College Readiness?

According to section 1008.30, Florida Statutes (F.S.), a student who entered 9th grade in a Florida public school in the 2003-04 school year or after and earned a Florida standard high school diploma or a student who is serving as an active duty member of any branch of the United States Armed Services is not required to take the common placement test and is not required to enroll in developmental education instruction at a Florida College System institution.

All other students, including students who graduated from a high school out-of-state, homeschooled students, students who graduated from a private school, students who earned a GED or equivalent, and private charter school students, must take the placement measure(s) determined by the college and enroll in the courses indicated.

Students should consult with their intended college to ascertain if they are exempt from placement assessment.

Methods Used to Determine College Readiness

In 2021, the Florida Legislature amended multiple statutes expanding the mechanisms colleges may use to determine college readiness. Specifically, FCS institutions may implement alternative placement methods to common placement tests that students may use to demonstrate readiness in college-level communication and computation for dual enrollment eligibility purposes, section (s.) 1007.271, Florida Statutes, (F.S.), admissions into college credit programs, s. 1007.263, F.S., and developmental education placement and meta-major advising, s. 1008.30, F.S.

State Board Rule 6A-10.0315, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), Demonstration of Readiness for College-Level Communication and Computation establishes the standard test scores used to determine whether a student is ready for college level coursework. If a student does not meet the state established standard score, this indicates that additional preparation may be necessary before entering college level courses. Previously, students could only demonstrate college readiness in communication and computation via an approved common placement test.

The amendment to Rule 6A-10.0315, F.A.C., adds the following categories of alternative methods and associated minimum standards for dual enrollment eligibility determinations, admissions counseling, and developmental education placement:

Tests and assessments;
Performance in high school coursework (courses taught at Florida public high schools and accelerated high school courses);
Credit-by-examination; and
Local placement methods (Colleges must submit Form No. ALTPLACE-01) (Developmental Education Only).

Effective March 15, 2022, institutions may use a common placement test, an alternative method approved in rule, and/or apply to use a local method to assess students for college readiness.

College Readiness Assessments and Standards Approved by the State Board of Education

Common Placement Tests

Florida Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT)

Reading (106)
Writing (103)
Mathematics (114)

Next-Generation ACCUPLACER, The College Board

Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics (QAS) (261)
Reading (256)
Writing (253)

SAT, The College Board

Reading Test (24)
Writing and Language Test (25)
Math Test (24)

Digital SAT, The College Board

Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Section (490)
Math Section (480)

ACT with Writing or ACT, Inc.

Reading (19)
English (17)
Mathematics (19)

Classic Learning Test, Classic Learning Initiatives, LLC

Sum of the Verbal Reasoning and Grammar/Writing Sections (38)
Quantitative Reasoning Section (16)

Alternative Methods

Tests and Assessments:

PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10, The College Board

Reading Test (24)
Writing and Language Test (25)
Mathematics Test (24)

Digital PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10, The College Board

Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Section (490)
Math Section (480)

PreACT®

Reading (22)
English (18)
Mathematics (22)

General Educational Development (GED®) Test

Reasoning Through Language Arts (165)
Mathematical Reasoning (165)

Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC™)

Language Arts Reading (580)
Language Arts Writing (560 and 6 on the essay)
Mathematics (560)

High School Equivalency Test (HiSET®)

Language Arts Reading (15)
Language Arts Writing (15)
Mathematics (15)

End-of-Course Assessments

Algebra 1 End-of-Course Assessment (4)
Geometry End-of-Course Assessment (4)

ALEKS® PPL

Mathematics (30)

Performance in High School Coursework

Any student who has an unweighted high school GPA of 3.0 and achieves a grade of “B” or better in any of the courses listed below shall have demonstrated readiness for college-level work. Institutions shall accept courses and grades on the public high school transcript as an official record.

Courses Taught at Florida Public High Schools:

Mathematics

Algebra 1/Algebra 1 Honors
Algebra 2/Algebra 2 Honors
Pre-Calculus Honors
Calculus Honors
Geometry/Geometry Honors
Probability and Statistics Honors
Math for College Algebra
Math for College Statistics
Math for College Liberal Arts

English Language and Literature

English 4/English 4 Honors

Accelerated High School Courses:

Mathematics

Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) mathematics courses
Advanced Placement (AP) mathematics courses
International Baccalaureate (IB) mathematics courses

English Language and English Literature

Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) English courses
Advanced Placement (AP) English courses
International Baccalaureate (IB) English courses

Credit-by-Exam

Students achieving passing scores and receiving credit for college-level communication or computation pursuant to the credit-by-examination equivalency list in Rule 6A-10.024, F.A.C., shall have previously demonstrated readiness for college-level coursework.

Local Placement Methods for Developmental Education

Colleges can apply to use a local placement method not currently approved in rule. To use a local placement method, an institution must first receive approval by the Department of Education. Approval is based on a satisfactory demonstration that the method is a valid and reliable indication of a student’s readiness for college-level coursework in the subject area addressed in the method. Colleges must submit Form No. ALTPLACE-01, Application to Use Local Method to Determine College Readiness for Developmental Education, which is incorporated by reference in rule for purposes of granting approval to use a local placement method.

Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT)

The Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT) is Florida's customized common placement test. The purpose of the PERT is to determine accurate course placement based on the student's skills and abilities. The PERT is aligned with the Postsecondary Readiness Competencies identified by Florida faculty as necessary for success in entry-level college credit coursework. The PERT assessment system includes Placement and Diagnostic tests in mathematics, reading, and writing.

The PERT is administered to students in public high schools and Florida College System institutions to determine readiness for college-level courses. The PERT is an untimed computer adaptive test (C.A.T.) with 25 operational items that will be the basis of the student's placement score and five (5) field test items designed to enhance the operational test bank continuously. The PERT is not a pass or fail test.

Once the PERT is completed, students do not need to send PERT scores to any FCS institution; all of the college testing centers are able to access PERT scores.

To obtain test scores, students should contact the college testing center.

SAT and ACT Scores

If a student has taken the SAT or ACT within two (2) years of enrollment, those scores can be used for course placement. Students should request SAT scores directly from the College Board and ACT scores directly from the American College Testing website. Students who have not taken the SAT or ACT may take the PERT or other measures the college uses for course placement.

All test scores must be no older than two years to be used for placement purposes.

Request SAT scores
Request ACT scores

Determination of Dual Enrollment Eligibility

According to s. 1007.271, F.S., student eligibility requirements for initial enrollment in college credit dual enrollment courses must include a 3.0 unweighted high school grade point average and the minimum score on a common placement test adopted by the State Board of Education, which indicates that the student is ready for college-level coursework.

English for Academic Purposes or EAP

English for Academic Purposes (EAP) refers to an English language program that focuses on helping international and immigrant students acquire the advanced competencies in academic English that will be necessary for them to complete their degree program. EAP programs provide language instruction for non-native speakers of English who intend to earn associate or bachelor’s degrees in Florida colleges. Students completing EAP courses must have earned at least a high school diploma. Although our students come from a variety of backgrounds, they are united in their desire to learn academic English in order to succeed with their higher education and career goals.

Additional Resources

Relevant Florida Statutes

Relevant Florida State Board of Education Rules

Contact the Division of Florida Colleges

FCSInfo@fldoe.org

Demonstration of College Readiness (Formerly Common Placement Testing/PERT)