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.
Should I take the PERT?
Florida requires all students in the 11th grade to take the PERT to graduate from high school.
Candidates who have earned their high school diploma or GED are exempt from taking the PERT. Additionally, candidates who have received acceptable standardized test scores on the ACT or SAT, and active duty military members do not have to take the PERT when entering college.
If you are exempt from taking the PERT, it would be beneficial for you to discuss the merits of taking the exam anyway. The test is designed to assist you with succeeding in college by recommending appropriate courses. Talk with your admissions counselor about the benefits of taking the exam.
This exam discusses the PERT – Reading exam.
Registration
High school students do not have to register for the PERT. Florida high schools schedule the exam for all 11th-grade students. Incoming college freshmen will register for the PERT at their college. Test date, time, and location are provided by the admissions office. The PERT exam is not a part of the college application process; students take the PERT before developing their first-semester schedule.
Cost
High school students do not incur a testing fee. Freshmen taking the PERT at their college do not have a testing fee. If you are taking the PERT at one college for scheduling at another college, testing fees may apply. If you have to pay for the exam, the test fee generally ranges from $10.00 to $20.00, depending on the testing location.
Test format and delivery
The reading section of the PERT is taken in conjunction with the other two sections, Mathematics and Writing. You complete one test before moving on to the next. The test is not timed; the average time spent on the reading section is 45 minutes.
The adaptive computer-delivered exam consists of 30 multiple-choice questions. “Adaptive” means that the test increases in difficulty with each correct response. Incorrect answers result in the difficulty level of the next question remaining the same or decreasing. The use of an adaptive exam allows test administrators a better picture of your skills and knowledge.
You cannot review your work once you answer a question, so take care in your answers. Once you move on to the next question, you cannot go back – this includes questions you skipped.
Test content
The reading section of the PERT assesses your reading, comprehension, and analytical skills of written material. Terms you should be familiar with include:
- Main idea – the overarching theme of the written work.
- The implied main idea – similar to the main idea, but it is not clearly stated by the author.
- Supporting details – details found in the body of the work that forms the framework supporting the main idea.
- The author’s purpose – this is the reason behind the author’s writing. More often than not, the purpose can be identified by knowing what type of work is being read.
- Tone – used to determine the author’s feelings on the subject matter. Tone can vary depending on the type of work being read.
- Inference – The idea the reader assumes based on available knowledge or evidence.
- Bias – information provided to support or reinforce the author’s ideas without regard to other points of view.
- The difference between fact and opinion. A fact is irrefutable. Facts are used to support ideas. An opinion is a reflection of the author’s ideas and is refutable. Opinions are used to influence the reader.
- Reasoning – using facts to support ideas or appeals to emotion.
- Rhetoric – delivering of reason through logos (appeal to logic), ethos (appeal to ethics), or pathos (appeal to emotion).
You should be confident with the following skills:
- Identifying the most important information
- Finding evidence within the text to support your ideas
- Utilizing context clues to determine the meaning of the text
- Analyze the author’s word choice to evaluate the text
- Understand the relationship of events within a text
- Determine the relationship between and within sentences
- Identifying character traits and motivations from the text
- Comparing two or more passages of similar topics to analyze aspects of writing
- Identify the type of writing presented
How is the test scored?
Each correct answer receives a point. The points are totaled, and this becomes your raw score. Your raw score is converted to a scaled score ranging from 50 to 150. If you receive a score of 103 or below, you may be referred to a remedial reading course. A score between the range of 104 to 150 indicates readiness for freshman-level composition courses.
Your score report and the break down for each test is provided at the conclusion of your exam. Scores are valid for two years.
If you did not perform as well as you would like, you might have the opportunity to retake the PERT. Check with your high school counselor or your college admission advisor for details.
Preparation
Your success on the PERT determines the classes you have to take in college. Remedial classes may be required, but they do not count towards your degree, and you have to pay for the credit hours. Avoid the stress of a remedial class and the impact on your finances – use Mometrix’s Study Guide and Flashcards to prepare thoroughly and take your exams with confidence.
Online PERT Prep Course
If you want to be fully prepared, Mometrix offers an online PERT Prep Course. The course is designed to provide you with any and every resource you might want while studying. The PERT Course includes:
- Review Lessons Covering All the Topics
- 500+ PERT Practice Questions
- More than 350 Digital Flashcards
- Over 180 Instructional Videos
- Money-back Guarantee
- Free Mobile Access
- and More!
The PERT Prep Course is designed to help any learner get everything they need to prepare for their PERT exam; click below to check it out.
