This free PERT study guide covers everything Florida’s Postsecondary Education Readiness Test measures across its three subtests — Mathematics, Reading, and Writing — organized to the official FLDOE PERT skill areas.[1]
It’s interactive, not a wall of text: every subtest module has built-in checkpoint quizzes, flashcards, and practice questions, so you learn by doing — not just reading.
The PERT is a placement test, not a pass/fail exam. Each subtest is computer-adaptive, untimed, and scored on a 50–150 scale; your score decides which Math, Reading, and Writing courses you place into.[3] The current college-ready cut scores are Reading 106, Writing 103, and Math 114.[4]
Read a module, test yourself at each checkpoint, then drill gaps with our free practice test and flashcards. This guide is a high-yield overview of what each subtest tests — not a full textbook.
PERT Exam Snapshot
| Detail | PERT Exam |
|---|---|
| Subtests | 3 separate tests: Mathematics, Reading, Writing |
| Format | Computer-adaptive, multiple choice; untimed |
| Questions | 30 per subtest (25 scored + 5 unscored field-test) |
| Score scale | 50–150 per subtest (no overall score) |
| College-ready cut scores | Reading 106 · Writing 103 · Math 114 |
| Pass/fail? | No — placement only; you can't pass or fail |
| Calculator | No personal calculator; on-screen 4-function calc on some math items |
| Eligibility / exemptions | Non-exempt incoming FL College System students; FL standard-diploma & active military are exempt |
| Developed for | Florida Department of Education (by McCann Associates) |
| Score validity | Generally 2 years for placement |
Mathematics
30 Q (25 scored)
Equations & inequalities, polynomials, the coordinate plane, functions, and simultaneous equations. On-screen 4-function calculator on some items.
Reading
30 Q (25 scored)
Main ideas, word meaning in context, author's purpose, tone & structure, and evaluating arguments across literary and informational texts.
Writing
30 Q (25 scored)
Standard written English — grammar, usage, mechanics — plus organization, transitions, word choice, and sentence structure.
The PERT doesn’t give you an “overall” grade — each subtest places you separately.[5] Here is how the scoring and the cut scores work:
At or above the cut score
Reading ≥ 106, Writing ≥ 103, Math ≥ 114 places you into credit-bearing college courses.
Developmental / prep recommended
Below the cut score you're advised toward developmental or co-requisite support — but it's your choice, not pass/fail.
The full scaled-score range
Each subtest is reported on a 50–150 scale. There is no overall PERT score — each subtest places you separately.
Reading
106
Score 106+ to be college-ready in reading; below 106, developmental reading support is advised.
Writing
103
Score 103+ to be college-ready in writing; below 103, developmental writing support is advised.
Mathematics
114
Score 114+ to be college-ready in math; 123+ places directly into College Algebra (MAC 1105).
How PERT Scores Place You Into Courses
Because the PERT is a placement test, the number that matters is whether each subtest score clears the college-ready cut. Math has the most granular bands — the score decides whether you start in developmental math, a co-requisite course, Intermediate Algebra, or College Algebra.[6]
Developmental / lower-level math
Foundational math support before college-prep coursework.
Prep / developmental math
Below the college-ready cut — co-requisite or prep math is advised.
Intermediate Algebra (MAT 1033)
College-ready; places into Intermediate Algebra or College Algebra with integrated review (MAC 1105C).
College Algebra (MAC 1105)
Direct placement into college-level College Algebra — the top math band.
Module 1 · Mathematics
30 questions; algebra-centered. The PERT Math subtest is built on algebra: solving equations and inequalities, working with polynomials, reading the coordinate plane, evaluating functions, and solving systems.[1] It assumes you’ve also reviewed the foundations — , exponents, prime numbers, and . Most problems are designed to be solved by hand.
Equations & inequalities
Solve linear equations, linear inequalities, quadratic equations, and literal equations.
Expressions & polynomials
Evaluate algebraic expressions; factor, simplify, add, subtract, multiply, and divide polynomials.
Coordinate plane
Translate between lines and their equations; read slope and intercepts; inspect equations.
Functions & systems
Evaluate functions and solve pairs of simultaneous linear equations in two variables.
1.1 Equations & Inequalities
This is the heart of PERT Math. Solve and , , and (formulas). The core move is always the same: isolate the variable with inverse operations on both sides.
- 1
Simplify each side
Distribute and combine like terms so each side is as simple as possible (e.g. 3x − 7 = 11).
- 2
Move variable terms together
Add or subtract so all variable terms are on one side and constants on the other.
- 3
Isolate the variable term
Add or subtract the constant from the variable side (3x − 7 = 11 → 3x = 18).
- 4
Divide to solve
Divide both sides by the coefficient (3x = 18 → x = 6), then check by substituting back.
| Type | Key move |
|---|---|
| Linear equation | Isolate the variable using inverse operations on both sides (3x − 7 = 11 → x = 6) |
| Inequality | Solve like an equation, but flip the sign when you multiply/divide by a negative |
| Quadratic equation | ax² + bx + c = 0; solve by factoring, square roots, or the quadratic formula |
| Literal equation | Solve for one variable in terms of the others (2x + 3y = 12 → y = (12 − 2x)/3) |
| Absolute value | |x − 4| = 6 gives two cases: x − 4 = 6 and x − 4 = −6 |
1.2 Polynomials & Expressions
PERT Math tests evaluating algebraic expressions and working with — adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing (including by monomials and binomials), and . Combine like terms, use the distributive property, and recognize patterns like the difference of squares.
| Skill | What to remember |
|---|---|
| Combine like terms | Add coefficients of terms with the same variable part: 4x + 2x = 6x |
| Distributive property | a(b + c) = ab + ac — multiply the outside factor by each term inside |
| Multiply binomials (FOIL) | (x + 2)(x + 3) = x² + 5x + 6 (First, Outer, Inner, Last) |
| Factor a trinomial | Reverse FOIL: x² + 5x + 6 = (x + 2)(x + 3) |
| Difference of squares | a² − b² = (a + b)(a − b); e.g., x² − 9 = (x + 3)(x − 3) |
| Evaluate an expression | Substitute the given value and apply the order of operations |
1.3 Coordinate Plane & Functions
On the , PERT Math asks you to translate between lines and their equations: find the , identify the , and use slope-intercept form y = mx + b. You also evaluate — substitute an input to find the output f(x).
| Concept | What to remember |
|---|---|
| Slope | Rise over run = (y₂ − y₁)/(x₂ − x₁); the m in y = mx + b |
| Y-intercept | Where the line crosses the y-axis (x = 0); the b in y = mx + b |
| Slope-intercept form | y = mx + b — read slope and intercept directly off the equation |
| Horizontal vs. vertical | Horizontal line slope = 0; vertical line slope is undefined |
| Evaluating a function | If f(x) = 2x + 1, then f(3) = 2(3) + 1 = 7 |
| Parallel vs. perpendicular | Parallel lines share a slope; perpendicular slopes are negative reciprocals |
1.4 Systems & Foundations
PERT Math includes , solved by substitution or elimination. It also assumes solid foundations: the , fractions, , and (solved by cross-multiplying).
| Skill | Key move |
|---|---|
| Substitution | Solve one equation for a variable, then substitute into the other |
| Elimination | Add or subtract equations so one variable cancels |
| Order of operations | Parentheses, Exponents, Mult/Div (left→right), Add/Sub (left→right) |
| Percent of a number | Convert to a decimal and multiply: 20% of 80 = 0.20 × 80 = 16 |
| Percent change | (new − old) ÷ old × 100 |
| Proportion | Set two ratios equal and cross-multiply to solve |
Checkpoint · Mathematics
Question 1 of 10
Solve for x: 3x - 7 = 11.
Module 2 · Reading
30 questions; reasoning with text. The PERT Reading subtest measures how well you comprehend, analyze, and evaluate both literary and informational passages.[1] You don’t need outside knowledge — the answer is always anchored in the passage’s evidence.
Key ideas & details
Find and summarize the most important ideas; support or challenge assertions; distinguish fact from opinion.
Craft & structure
Determine word meaning in context; analyze word choice, tone, and how the text is organized.
Integration of ideas
Determine the author's purpose; evaluate the reasoning of an argument; compare two texts on a topic.
2.1 Key Ideas & Details
These questions test your grasp of what a passage says. Identify the and the that develop it, summarize the most important ideas, and support or challenge assertions about the text — distinguishing .
| Skill | What it asks you to do |
|---|---|
| Main idea & summary | Identify the central point and restate it concisely |
| Supporting details | Find the facts and examples that develop the main idea |
| Explicit detail | Locate information stated directly in the passage |
| Support/challenge assertions | Decide whether the text backs up a claim about it |
| Fact vs. opinion | Separate provable statements from beliefs and judgments |
2.2 Craft & Structure
Craft-and-structure questions look at how a text is written. Determine the meaning of words and phrases in context using (including ), analyze the author’s word choice and , and recognize the that organizes the passage.
| Skill | What to do |
|---|---|
| Word meaning in context | Use the sentence and nearby clues to define an unfamiliar word |
| Connotation vs. denotation | Weigh a word's implied feeling, not just its dictionary meaning |
| Word choice analysis | Explain how a specific word shapes meaning and tone |
| Tone | Identify the author's attitude (formal, critical, hopeful, neutral) |
| Text structure | Spot cause/effect, compare/contrast, sequence, or problem/solution |
2.3 Integration & Evaluating Arguments
The most demanding Reading questions ask you to reason across a text or texts: determine the , make from evidence, evaluate the reasoning of an argument, and compare two texts that address a similar topic with different styles or points of view.
| Skill | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Author's purpose | Decide why the text was written — to inform, persuade, entertain, or explain |
| Inference | Draw a conclusion the passage's evidence forces, though it isn't stated |
| Evaluate an argument | Judge whether claims are supported by sufficient, relevant evidence |
| Reasoning & rhetoric | Analyze how an author builds and supports a position |
| Compare two texts | Note where paired texts agree, disagree, or emphasize differently |
Checkpoint · Reading
Question 1 of 10
The arrival of refrigerated rail cars in the late 1800s transformed how Americans ate. Before this invention, fresh meat and produce spoiled quickly and could travel only short distances. Suddenly, beef from Chicago and oranges from Florida could reach distant cities still fresh. As a result, regional diets that had once depended on local farms began to look much the same from coast to coast. Which statement best expresses the main idea of the passage?
Module 3 · Writing
30 questions; editing in context. The PERT Writing subtest measures your command of — you choose revisions that improve a draft passage rather than answer isolated grammar trivia.[1] The skills group into four areas: conceptual/organizational, word choice, sentence structure, and grammar & mechanics.
Conceptual & organizational
Establish a topic/thesis, sustain focus, and use effective transitional devices in context.
Word choice
Recognize commonly confused or misused words and choose precise, appropriate diction.
Sentence structure
Use modifiers correctly, apply coordination and subordination effectively, and keep parallel structure.
Grammar & mechanics
Avoid inappropriate shifts in tense/pronoun; keep pronoun-antecedent agreement; use correct case, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation.
3.1 Organization & Focus
Conceptual and organizational questions test logical flow: establishing a topic or thesis, sustaining focus on it, and using effective within a passage. Cut content that doesn’t support the point, and order ideas so they build logically.
| Focus | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Topic / thesis | Is the main point established clearly and early? |
| Sustained focus | Does every sentence stay on the chosen topic? Cut the off-topic one |
| Transitions | Pick the word that fits the logical relationship (contrast, cause, addition) |
| Sentence order | Reorder sentences so ideas build logically |
| Relevance | Remove sentences that don't support the paragraph's point |
3.2 Word Choice
Word-choice questions test whether you recognize and choose precise, appropriate diction. Know the classic confusables the PERT loves — affect/effect, then/than, its/it’s, your/you’re, and accept/except.
| Pair | How to keep them straight |
|---|---|
| affect / effect | Affect = Action (verb, to influence); Effect = End result (noun) |
| then / than | Then = time/sequence; than = comparison |
| its / it's | Its = possessive; it's = it is / it has |
| your / you're | Your = possessive; you're = you are |
| accept / except | Accept = receive; except = leave out |
| fewer / less | Fewer = countable items; less = uncountable amounts |
3.3 Sentence Structure
Sentence-structure questions test using correctly, applying coordination and subordination effectively, and recognizing . You also fix and .
| Issue | What to check |
|---|---|
| Fragment | Add the missing subject, verb, or complete thought |
| Run-on / comma splice | Fix with a period, a semicolon, or a comma + conjunction |
| Misplaced modifier | Move the modifier next to the word it describes |
| Dangling modifier | Add the missing word the modifier should describe |
| Parallel structure | Match the grammatical form of items in a list or comparison |
| Coordination / subordination | Join equal ideas with and/but/or; make one dependent with because/although |
3.4 Grammar & Mechanics
Mechanics questions cover correct grammar and usage: avoiding inappropriate shifts in verb tense and pronouns, maintaining and , using proper pronoun case and adjective/adverb forms, and correct spelling, capitalization, and punctuation.
| Rule | What to check |
|---|---|
| Subject-verb agreement | Singular subject → singular verb; watch words between subject and verb |
| Pronoun-antecedent agreement | Pronouns match their nouns in number and gender |
| No inappropriate shifts | Keep verb tense and pronoun person consistent |
| Pronoun case | Use subjective (I, he) for subjects and objective (me, him) for objects |
| Adjective vs. adverb | Adjectives modify nouns; adverbs modify verbs (good vs. well) |
| Punctuation & spelling | Commas, semicolons, apostrophes, and standard spelling in context |
Checkpoint · Writing
Question 1 of 10
Choose the option that best replaces the underlined portion: "Each of the students __have submitted__ their final essays before the deadline."
How to Use This PERT Study Guide
Because the PERT places you separately in each subject, the smartest plan is to target one subtest at a time:
- Start with your weakest subtest. For most students that’s Math — and Math has the most placement bands to climb, so it’s the highest-leverage subject.
- Read the module, then check yourself. Take the end-of-module checkpoint to see exactly which sub-topics need another pass.
- Aim above the cut score. Clearing Math 114 by a margin (toward 123) can place you straight into College Algebra and skip a developmental course.
- Check off as you go. Mark each section done in the Study Guide Contents — it raises your exam-readiness score.
- Drill weak spots. Send shaky topics into the flashcards and a practice test until you clear the cut comfortably.
- Remember it’s untimed. On test day, take your time on every question — there is no clock, so accuracy beats speed.
PERT Concept Questions
Common PERT concepts students search while studying — each answered briefly and backed by an official source. Test yourself, then drill them as flashcards.
PERT Glossary
The high-yield PERT terms across all three subtests in one place — hover any dotted term in the guide, or flip the whole deck here as a self-grading flashcard set.
- Author's purpose
- The reason a text was written — to inform, persuade, entertain, or explain.
- Commonly confused words
- Word pairs the PERT tests, such as affect/effect, then/than, its/it's, and accept/except.
- Connotation
- The emotional or implied meaning of a word, beyond its literal (denotative) definition.
- Context clues
- Surrounding words and sentences that help you determine an unfamiliar word's meaning.
- Coordinate plane
- A grid formed by a horizontal x-axis and a vertical y-axis on which points are plotted as (x, y).
- Fact vs. opinion
- A fact can be proven true or false; an opinion expresses a belief or judgment that cannot.
- Factoring
- Rewriting an expression as a product of simpler factors, such as x² − 9 = (x + 3)(x − 3).
- Function
- A rule that assigns exactly one output to each input; written f(x).
- Inequality
- A statement that two quantities are not equal, using <, >, ≤, or ≥; flip the sign when multiplying or dividing by a negative.
- Inference
- A logical conclusion drawn from textual evidence plus reasoning — not stated outright.
- Linear equation
- An equation whose graph is a straight line; variables appear only to the first power (e.g., y = 2x + 1).
- Literal equation
- An equation with several variables (a formula) that you solve for one variable in terms of the others.
- Main idea
- The central point a passage conveys — what the whole text is mostly about.
- Modifier
- A word or phrase that describes another word; place it next to what it describes to avoid confusion.
- Order of operations
- The sequence for evaluating expressions — Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division, Addition/Subtraction (PEMDAS).
- Parallel structure
- Using the same grammatical form for items in a list, pair, or comparison.
- Percent
- A part per hundred; convert to a decimal by dividing by 100 (25% = 0.25).
- Polynomial
- A sum of terms, each a number times a variable raised to a whole-number power, e.g., 3x² − 2x + 5.
- Pronoun-antecedent agreement
- A pronoun must match the noun it replaces in number and gender.
- Proportion
- An equation stating that two ratios are equal; solved by cross-multiplying.
- Quadratic equation
- An equation containing a squared variable (ax² + bx + c = 0); its graph is a parabola.
- Run-on sentence
- Two independent clauses joined incorrectly without proper punctuation or a conjunction.
- Sentence fragment
- An incomplete sentence missing a subject, a verb, or a complete thought.
- Slope
- The steepness of a line: rise over run, the change in y divided by the change in x; the m in y = mx + b.
- Standard written English
- The formal, edited English the PERT Writing subtest expects — correct grammar, usage, and mechanics.
- Subject-verb agreement
- A grammar rule requiring a singular subject to take a singular verb and a plural subject a plural verb.
- Supporting detail
- A fact, example, statistic, or reason that explains or proves the main idea.
- System of equations
- Two or more equations solved together; the solution is the point where the lines intersect.
- Text structure
- How a text is organized — cause/effect, compare/contrast, sequence, or problem/solution.
- Tone
- The author's attitude toward the subject, revealed through word choice (e.g., formal, critical, hopeful).
- Transition
- A word or phrase (however, therefore, meanwhile) that signals the logical relationship between ideas.
- Y-intercept
- The point where a line crosses the y-axis (where x = 0); the b in y = mx + b.
PERT Study Guide FAQ
The PERT (Postsecondary Education Readiness Test) is Florida's common placement test, developed for the Florida Department of Education. Incoming, non-exempt students at Florida College System institutions take it to place into college-level or developmental Math, Reading, and Writing courses. Some Florida high schools also use it for dual-enrollment advising.
The PERT has three subtests — Mathematics, Reading, and Writing. Each has 30 questions: 25 are scored (operational) and 5 are unscored field-test items mixed in. You can't tell them apart, so answer all 30 carefully. The subtests are computer-adaptive and multiple choice.
No. All three PERT subtests are untimed, so you have as much time as you need for each question. On average students spend about 30 minutes each on Math and Writing and about an hour on Reading, but you are never rushed.
Each subtest is scored on a 50–150 scale. You can't pass or fail the PERT — it places you into courses. The current college-ready cut scores under Florida Rule 6A-10.0315 are Reading 106, Writing 103, and Mathematics 114. Scoring at or above these places you into credit-bearing courses.
A Math score of 114 is the college-ready threshold (it places you into Intermediate Algebra or College Algebra with integrated review). A score of 123 or higher places you directly into College Algebra (MAC 1105). Exact course numbers vary by Florida college, but 114 and 123 are the consistent breakpoints.
You can't bring your own calculator. An on-screen pop-up four-function calculator is available for certain math questions only. Most PERT Math problems are designed to be solved by hand, so practice the algebra without relying on a calculator.
You cannot fail the PERT — it determines course placement, not a grade. Scores are generally valid for two years for placement purposes. If your score places you below college-ready, you're advised of developmental or co-requisite options, but enrollment in those is your choice.
Under Florida Statute 1008.30 (SB 1720), students who entered 9th grade in a Florida public school in 2003–2004 or later and earned a standard Florida high school diploma, as well as active-duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces, are not required to take the PERT or enroll in developmental education.
Yes — this study guide, plus our PERT practice test and flashcards, are 100% free with no account required. The content is organized to the official FLDOE PERT skill areas for Mathematics, Reading, and Writing.
References
- 1.Florida Department of Education (McCann Associates). “PERT Student Study Guide.” fldoe.org. ↑
- 2.Florida Department of Education. “Demonstration of College Readiness (Common Placement Testing).” fldoe.org. ↑
- 3.Florida Department of Education. “PERT Frequently Asked Questions.” fldoe.org. ↑
- 4.Florida State Board of Education. “Rule 6A-10.0315: Demonstration of Readiness for College-Level Communication and Computation.” law.cornell.edu. ↑
- 5.Florida International University Admissions. “Minimum Test Scores (PERT cut scores per Rule 6A-10.0315).” fiu.edu. ↑
- 6.Santa Fe College. “Mathematics Placement (PERT math bands).” sfcollege.edu. ↑
- 7.Eastern Florida State College. “Placement Testing Exemptions (Florida Statute 1008.30).” easternflorida.edu. ↑
- 8.Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL). “Grammar (Standard Written English).” owl.purdue.edu. ↑
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