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Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (P.E.R.T.)

The P.E.R.T. is used to determine initial course placement and provides information about your reading comprehension, writing and mathematics skill levels. It is a computer-adaptive test that is untimed, and typically takes about three hours to complete.

SB1720 Exempt Students

Florida Statutes (Senate Bill 1720) exempt certain students from placement testing.  Students who entered 9th grade in a Florida public school in the 2003-2004 school year or after and earned a Florida standard high school diploma, or students who are serving as active duty members of any branch of the United States armed services are no longer required – but are strongly encouraged – to complete mandatory placement testing to ensure success.  Students must provide official high school transcripts or documentation of military status to be exempt from placement testing.

 

Testing Location

P.E.R.T. tests are administered by appointment in the Assessment Centers on all IRSC campuses. 

In-Person P.E.R.T. Testing Appointments

P.E.R.T. testing is done by appointment. Click on the appropriate link below to schedule your in-person testing appointment. New appointment times and days are added regularly and vary. Be sure to make your testing appointment for the campus where you plan to test. 

Massey Campus—Fort Pierce

3209 Virginia Avenue
Fort Pierce FL 34981
https://calendly.com/masseyassessment/pert-test 

Chastain Campus—Stuart

2400 S.E. Salerno Road
Stuart, FL 34997
https://calendly.com/chastainassessment/pert-test

Dixon Hendry Campus—Okeechobee

2229 N.W. 9th Avenue
Okeechobee, FL 34972

Students can take the P.E.R.T. at the Dixon Hendry Campus on a walk-in basis without an appointment. Students can start the P.E.R.T. Monday through Thursday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Each section of the P.E.R.T. takes approximately one hour, and the entire test can take three hours or more to complete, so plan accordingly. Please read the General Information below.

Mueller Campus—Vero Beach

6155 College Lane
Vero Beach, FL 32966
https://calendly.com/muellerassessment/pert-test

Pruitt Campus—Port St. Lucie

500 N.W. California Blvd.
Port St. Lucie, FL 34986
https://calendly.com/pruittassessment/pert-test

General Information

Each section of the P.E.R.T. takes approximately one hour, and the entire test can take three hours or more to complete. Cell phones, personal items or backpacks are not permitted in the Assessment Center. If you are late for your appointment, you must reschedule. 

Students will not have to pay for their first P.E.R.T. testing session with IRSC.  However, the fee for each additional P.E.R.T. testing session with IRSC will be $20.

P.E.R.T. Frequently Asked Questions

Postsecondary Education Readiness Test

Reading, writing and math.

The P.E.R.T. math sub test will not place a student into MAC 1140, MAC 2233, MAC 1114, MAC 1147 or MAC 2311. If students wish to place into a higher-level math course, they will need to score a 135 on the P.E.R.T. math section and then take the Next Generation Advanced Algebra and Functions (AAF) subtest in the same sitting. The same AAF scores still apply to higher level placement. Students will not need to pay an additional testing fee to take the AAF section.

There are 30 questions per test section; 90 questions total. Each section has 25 scored questions and 5 field test questions.

50-150

Students will not have to pay for their first P.E.R.T. testing session with IRSC.  However, the fee for each additional P.E.R.T. testing session with IRSC will be $20.

No. It is an untimed test. Each section of the P.E.R.T. takes approximately one hour and the entire test can take about three hours or more to complete, so plan accordingly. The test must be completed in one session without any breaks.  

If you are late for your appointment, you must reschedule. Cancel and/or reschedule your appointment if you are unable to keep it. This allows us to accommodate other students needing to take the P.E.R.T.

Yes.  The IRSC Assessment Services web page has electronic practice material for the P.E.R.T.  

There is a calculator built into the P.E.R.T. testing system. It will automatically “pop up” if the question allows the use of a calculator. However, personal or handheld calculators are not permitted.

Florida Statutes require degree-seeking students to undergo placement testing to ensure that they are guided into academic classes most appropriate to their skill levels.  Acceptable placement tests are the P.E.R.T. (Postsecondary Education Readiness Test), SAT and ACT.  Specific math, reading and English scores used for placement purposes can be found below in the P.E.R.T. Course Placement section.

Florida Statutes (Senate Bill 1720) exempt certain students from placement testing.  Students who entered 9th Grade in a Florida public school in the 2003-2004 school year or after and earned a Florida standard high school diploma, or students who are serving as active duty members of any branch of the United States armed services are no longer required – but are strongly encouraged – to complete mandatory placement testing to ensure success.  Students must provide official high school transcripts or documentation of military status to be exempt from placement testing.

Students are required to wait 7 days before retesting on the same P.E.R.T. subtest, and students are strongly encouraged to remediate before retesting.  There is no limit on the number of retest attempts.

Official valid P.E.R.T. results from a high school can be used for placement.  Students will be responsible for asking their high school to send P.E.R.T. scores to IRSC.  Scores should be sent from high schools via FASTER as part of a high school transcript.  Unofficial transcripts or score reports will not be accepted.  P.E.R.T. scores are no longer considered valid after two years from the date that the test was administered.

50-150 

A valid photo ID is required for all exams taken at Indian River State College. Acceptable forms of identification include:

  • Current driver license with photo
  • Current Federal, State, County or Municipality issued ID with photo (includes U.S. Military ID)
  • Current Alien Registration Card (Green Card) with photo
  • Current Passport with recent photo
  • S. Passport Card
  • Current High School ID
  • Current Indian River State College ID card
If an ID has an expiration date, it is no longer valid after that date. Also, once an ID is broken into more than one piece or has been cut, it is no longer valid.  An ID printed on paper, photo paper or cardboard cannot be accepted for testing.

Students can take the P.E.R.T. at home using Honorlock if they can satisfy all requirements listed below. Honorlock is a recognized leader in remote test proctoring that offers students a secure and convenient way to take proctored exams online 24/7. A desktop computer or laptop with a working webcam and microphone are required to take the P.E.R.T. at home. 

Honorlock P.E.R.T. Testing Requirements for Students

  • A desktop computer or laptop (no tablets, iPads or cell phones are permitted);
  • A working webcam with 400x300 resolution (integrated or external USB device is acceptable);
  • A working microphone (integrated or external USB device is acceptable);
  • A stable internet connection (1.5 Mbps download and 750 Kbps upload);
  • Google Chrome browser;
  • Beginning July 1, 2020, Honorlock will no longer support Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Mac OSX 10.11 and Mac OSX 10.12; 
  • JavaScript and cookies must be enabled on your computer (turn off the Pop-up Blocker); and
  • A private testing room or area with no distractions or other people. Make sure you have a clear work area (remove all books, papers, notebooks, calculators, etc., unless specifically permitted for your exam), sufficient lighting, and no background noise.
  • You must have a valid photo ID to take your test. Acceptable forms of identification include a current government-issued ID with photo, a current Indian River State College Student ID card or a current high school Photo ID card. If an ID is broken, cut taped or expired, it is no longer valid. Also, make sure the name on your photo ID matches the name on your IRSC school registration.
  • You must have an IRSC Student ID number to take the P.E.R.T. at home. If you do not have an IRSC Student ID number, you must complete an IRSC application online at www.irsc.edu/admissions. An IRSC Student ID number will be generated for you within 24 hours after you complete your application. You will also receive your Blackboard user ID (IRSC Student ID number) and password/PIN within 48 hours.
  • If you are applying to the dual enrollment program, you must complete and upload dual enrollment agreement (form 508) to complete your application for admission. Complete application is required to test online using HONORLOCK.  
  • You must agree to practice academic integrity during the testing process.

If you meet all of the requirements above, fill out the P.E.R.T. Testing Request to begin the process for taking the P.E.R.T. at home. Note that this process takes a few business days prior to testing to set up accounts and testing details in Blackboard, College Measured Success and Honorlock. Be on the alert for emails from PERTTesting@irsc.edu regarding the next steps to begin taking the P.E.R.T. test at home.

For more information about Honorlock, visit https://honorlock.com/students/.

Contact PERTTesting@irsc.edu if you have questions about taking the P.E.R.T. at home using Honorlock.


P.E.R.T. Resources

P.E.R.T. Course Placement – Effective Fall 2018

Course Score Range
ENC 0017 50-102

Course Score Range
ENC 0017 50-105

Course Score Range
MAT 0028 50-113
MAT 0055 96-113

  Course Score Range Notes
College English Placement ENC 1101 103-150 College English Placement: P.E.R.T. reading score of 106 or higher is also required to take ENC 1101
College Reading Placement

Exempt from reading classes

 106-150

College Reading Placement: Required for ENC 1101
College Math Placement MAT 1033 114-122  
College Math Placement

MAC 1105, MGF 2106, MGF 2107, MTG 2204, STA 2023

 123-134  
College Math Placement Eligible to take the College Level Math test of the AAF 135-150  

Placement for SAT exams taken after March 1, 2016

 

  Course Score Range Notes

College English Placement: Writing & Language Subtest

 ENC 1101 25+ College English Placement: Starting 1/25/17 SAT reading score of 24 or higher is also required to take ENC 1101.

College Reading Placement: Reading Subtest

 Exempt from reading classes 24+ College Reading Placement: Required for ENC 1101

College Math Placement: Math Subtest

 MAT 1033 24+  
College Math Placement: Math Subtest

MGF 2106, MTG 2204, MGF 2107

 26+  
College Math Placement: Math Subtest MAC 1105, STA 2023 27.5+  
College Math Placement: Math Subtest

MAC 1140, MAC 2233, MAC 1114, MAC 1147

 30.5+  


  Course Score Range Notes
College English Placement ENC 1101 17+ College English Placement: ACT reading score of 19 or higher is also required to take ENC 1101
College Reading Placement Exempt from reading classes 19+ College Reading Placement: Required for ENC 1101
College Math Placement: Math Subtest MAT 1033 19+  
College Math Placement: Math Subtest

MGF 2106, MTG 2204, MGF 2107

 21+  
College Math Placement: Math Subtest MAC 1105, STA 2023 23+  
College Math Placement: Math Subtest

MAC 1140, MAC 2233, MAC 1114, MAC 1147

 25+  

Effective August 1, 2022.

  Course Score Range Notes
College English Placement ENC 1101

253+

 College English Placement: reading score of 253 or higher is also required to take ENC 1101
College Reading Placement Exempt from reading classes 256+ College Reading Placement: Required for ENC 1101
College Math Placement: Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra and Statistics (QAS) Subtest MAT 1033 261+  

Students must score 135 on the P.E.R.T. to take the AAF. Effective February 1, 2020.

  Course Score Range Notes
College Math Placement: Advanced Algebra and Functions (AAF) Subtest MAC 1105

237 - 249

  
College Math Placement: Advanced Algebra and Functions (AAF) Subtest Course: MAC 1114, MAC 1140, MAC 1147, MAC 2233 250 - 274  
College Math Placement: Advanced Algebra and Functions (AAF) Subtest Course: MAC 2311 275 - 300  


Alternative Placement Measures

The following alternative measures may be used to satisfy placement in English, Reading and Math for students who are not exempt from placement testing. Official high school transcripts or official scores reports must be sent directly from the issuing organization to Indian River State College. The alternate placement measures will start for Fall 2022 classes for students that have graduated from high school. The alternate placement measures will start for Spring 2023 classes for dual enrollment students.

PSAT/NMSQT (PSAT 10), The College Board                                                                                                  
Standard Score
Reading Test 24
Writing and Language Test 25
Mathematics Test 24

PreACT®                                                                                                                                                                 
Standard Score
Reading 22
English 18
Mathematics 22

General Education Development (GED®) Test                                                                                             
Standard Score
Reasoning through Language Arts 165
Mathematical Reasoning 165

Test Assessment Secondary Completion (TASCTM)                                                                               
Standard Score
Language Arts Reading 580
Language Arts Writing 560 and 6 on Essay
Mathematics 560

High School Equivalency Test HiSET®)                                                                                                           
Standard Score
Language Arts Reading 15
Language Arts Writing 15
Mathematics 15

End-of-Course Assessments                                                                                                                             
Standard Score
Algebra 1 and End-of-Course Assessment 4
Geometry and End-of-Course Assessment 4

ALEKS® PPL                                                                                                                                                              
Standard Score
Mathematics 30

Full Credit Courses (1 Credit)

Any student who has an unweighted high school GPA of 3.0 and achieves a grade of “B” or better in any of the full credit (1 credit) courses  listed below shall have demonstrated readiness for college-level work.

Half Credit Courses (0.5 Credit)

Any student who has an unweighted high school GPA of 3.0 and achieves a grade of “B” or better in two half credit (0.5 credit) courses with the same name and listed below shall have demonstrated readiness for college-level work.  Any grades that are not “B” or better will not demonstrate readiness for college-level work.

Courses Taught at a Florida Public High School

  • Mathematics
    • Algebra 1/Algebra 1 Honors
    • Algebra 2/Algebra 2 Honors
    • Pre-Calculus
    • Calculus
    • Geometry
    • Probability and Statistics
    • 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) high school mathematics courses
    • Advanced Placement (AP) high school mathematics courses
    • International Baccalaureate (IB) high school mathematics courses
  • English Language and English Literature
    • Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) high school English courses (excluding the AICE General Paper course)
    • Advanced Placement (AP) high school English courses
    • International Baccalaureate (IB) high school English courses

Students achieving passing scores and receiving credit for college-level communication or computation through CLEP shall have previously demonstrated readiness for college-level coursework.

 

 

Scores

P.E.R.T. scores expire after two years from the testing date, and are no longer valid for placement purposes.

P.E.R.T. Retesting

Students are required to wait seven days before retesting on the same P.E.R.T. subtest, and students are strongly encouraged to remediate before retesting. There is no limit on the number of retest attempts.

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