Florida’s Postsecondary Education Readiness test is given to individuals to evaluate their skills in mathematics, reading, and writing. It is essentially three different assessments. The scores a test-taker receives are used to place them in the appropriate college courses. Those incoming college students who do well on the exam will be able to take regular math and English classes. Students that do poorly on the exam will have to take remedial classes before being able to take their normal classes.

How is the exam formatted?

The Postsecondary Education Readiness test is computer-based, and the questions you get are based on how you answer the previous questions. As you go through the exam, you will not be able to go back and change your answers, so you want to be sure to think carefully before choosing your final answer. The exam is not timed, so you are able to set your own pace. However, the normal time it takes to complete each section is 30 minutes for the math section and one hour for the reading section.

The PERT exam contains three different sections, each consisting of 30 questions. 25 of these questions are counted toward a student’s score while the other five are not. Test takers will not know which questions are scored and which are not.

How much does it cost to take the PERT exam?

The price to take the exam varies depending on where a student takes the exam.

When is the exam given?

Each district establishes its own testing window.

How is the exam scored?

Students cannot pass or fail the PERT exam. The scores attained are used to evaluate their skill level in each of the three sections they are tested in. Each section on the exam is scored on a scale of 50 to 150. In order to do well, a student will need to score at least a 114 on the math section, a 106 on the reading section and a 103 on the writing section of the exam.

What will I be tested on?

The PERT exam tests you on three different content areas:

Mathematics (30 questions) – The math section of the exam tests you on solving linear equations, linear inequalities, literal equations and quadratic equations; evaluating algebraic expressions; factoring, simplifying, multiplying, dividing, adding and subtracting polynomials; dividing by monomial and binomials. You will also need to have knowledge of the order of operations; exponents; percents and prime numbers.

(30 questions) – The math section of the exam tests you on solving linear equations, linear inequalities, literal equations and quadratic equations; evaluating algebraic expressions; factoring, simplifying, multiplying, dividing, adding and subtracting polynomials; dividing by monomial and binomials. You will also need to have knowledge of the order of operations; exponents; percents and prime numbers. Reading (30 questions) – The reading section of the exam tests your ability to summarize important details and information; determine the meaning of words and phrases in context; determine the authors purpose and how events relate in one text to another; recognizing relationships within and between sentences; distinguishing between facts and opinions.

(30 questions) – The reading section of the exam tests your ability to summarize important details and information; determine the meaning of words and phrases in context; determine the authors purpose and how events relate in one text to another; recognizing relationships within and between sentences; distinguishing between facts and opinions. Writing (30 questions) – Establishing a topic or thesis; word choice skills; sentence structure skills; conveying complex information in a clear and concise way; grammar, spelling capitalization and punctuation skills; accurately citing data, conclusions and opinions of others.

Are calculators permitted?

You are not permitted to bring a calculator on the day of your exam. However, for specific questions, a pop-up calculator will be available for you to utilize.

When will I receive my results?

For computer-based exams, scores are normally available immediately upon completion.

What if I fail the exam? Will I be able to retake it?

Yes. If you fail the exam, you will be able to retake it. However, retake policies may be different in each school district. You should wait at least 45 days before retaking the exam to study.

Are there accommodations for students with disabilities?

Yes. There are accommodations for students with disabilities. Accommodations include paper and pencil, braille, large print and audio versions of the exam.

I need to study for the PERT exam. Any suggestions for study material?

Yes! The great thing about the exam is that your high school classes have been preparing you for it, but you definitely want to get some in-depth studying in. If your goal is to pass the PERT exam on your first attempt, you’re going to need a study resource that is detailed, yet easy to understand. This is where Mometrix Test Preparation comes in. Mometrix has designed both a study guide and flashcards that contain information and questions similar to what you will find on the PERT exam. The flashcards are great for studying on the go while the study guide has everything you need for an in-depth study session. If you want to score high on the PERT exam, Mometrix is here to help.