The state of Florida uses the Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT) to assess a student’s preparedness for collegiate study in the state of Florida. The PERT consists of three assessments – mathematics, reading, and writing – and is used to determine appropriate class placement in college courses.
Do I have to take the PERT?
Florida requires all students in the 11th grade to take the PERT to graduate from high school.
If you entered the ninth grade in the 2003-2004 school year (or later), and have since earned your high school diploma, are exempt from the PERT because of other standardized test scores (ACT or SAT), or if you are an active duty military member, you are not required to take the PERT for college placement.
This exam discusses the PERT – Math exam.
How do I register?
There are two methods of registration. If you are a current high school student in the 11th grade, your school schedules your assessment. The test is delivered during the school day, usually on the high school campus.
If you are entering college, your college advisor will provide the information for registration. Generally, the PERT assessment is required for all entering college freshmen.
What is the cost?
Students taking the PERT at a Florida high school do not have a testing fee. If you are taking the PERT at the college you intend to attend in Florida there is no testing fee. If you are taking the PERT at a college and you are not attending that school, testing fees may apply.
What is the basic design of the PERT?
All three tests are taken during the same appointment. You complete one test before moving on to the next. The test is not timed. The average time used on the Math portion is 30 minutes. The math test is first.
The exam is computer-delivered and consists of 30 multiple-choice questions. The test is designed to be adaptive – this means that when you answer a question correctly, the next question increases in difficulty. When you answer incorrectly, the next question is at the same difficulty level, or a little easier, of the missed response. A computer-adaptive test provides a complete review of your abilities by evaluating your knowledge at different levels.
Because the test is adaptive, you are not able to go back and change your answers. Before submitting your response, take care that you have selected the appropriate answer because you are not able to change it.
An on-screen calculator is available for use during select questions of the math portion of the PERT.
What is the test content?
The math portion of the PERT contains 30 questions. Questions vary from test to test dependent on the test taker’s aptitude (questions get increasingly more difficult with each correct response) and cover content from the following areas:
- Equations – including solving linear equations, linear inequalities, and quadratic and literal equations.
- Evaluating algebraic expressions.
- Factoring, simplifying, adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing polynomials, monomials, and binomials.
- Applying standard algorithms and concepts to solve questions.
- Coordinate planes.
- Simultaneous linear equations in two variables.
- Solving word problems involving subtraction, addition, multiplication, and division.
The test is not timed, so take your time before submitting your answers. Once you move to the next question, you are unable to go back to previous questions. Some items allow the use of a calculator. When that occurs, an on-screen calculator appears in the upper corner of your screen.
The average time taken on the math portion is 45 minutes. The amount of time you spend on this section depends on your knowledge and test-taking skills.
What is a passing score for the PERT – Math, and when will I receive it?
Your score is converted to a scaled score of 50 – 150. If you receive a score of 112 or below, your advisor may recommend a remedial math course to ensure you have the knowledge and understanding to be successful in a college-level course. A score of 113 to 122 indicates your readiness for a college-level math course, and a score 123 and above indicates your readiness for an advanced or accelerated course.
Once you have completed all three tests of the PERT, you are provided your score report. A copy of your score is given to your high school (if you are a high school student), or to your college. The PERT scores are valid for two years.
I didn’t do as well as I wanted to on the test. Can I retake the exam?
If you are a high school student, check with your advisor. You may have the opportunity to retake the test, but it is dependent on your school’s policy.
For college freshmen, check with your advisor. If a retake is allowed, there is usually a retake cost associated.
How can I prepare?
The exam may not seem like much with only 30 questions in the math test, but don’t let it fool you. How well you do on the math portion determines which college math course you can enroll in. All college major degrees have a math requirement; a remedial math class does not count toward your degree. At the same time, you don’t want to be placed in a class that you are not prepared for. Mometrix Test Preparation will save you money by preparing you to achieve your best results on the PERT. Remedial college classes and repeating a course because you did not do well will cost you money. But, with the Study Guide and Flashcards from Mometrix, you have an edge – a proven study system that will let your best score shine through.
