Testing
There are two types of placement testing that are offered at The College of the Florida Keys.
The Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT) is the primary placement test offered at CFK. The purpose of PERT is to help provide information about your skills in the English language, reading, and mathematics. Your test results will be used in the academic advising process to ensure that you enroll in the appropriate levels of English (communication/humanities), reading, and mathematics courses. You may need to take the PERT, if you are a degree-seeking student, a returning student who changes to degree-seeking status, or as well as a non-degree seeking student who wishes to enroll in English, reading, mathematics courses, or any course requiring college level English or math as a prerequisite. The PERT identifies appropriate course placement (developmental education through college credit) in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics. There are 30 questions per placement subtest, and the scaled scores range from 50-150. Students entering degree programs, taking degree-credit courses, or any level of English, math, or reading courses are required to take a placement test before registering. ACT, SAT, CPT, and PERT are accepted. Exemptions to the placement test requirement can be found in Florida Statute1008.3.
Developed by the College Board, the people behind AP and SAT, the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) has been the most widely trusted credit-by-examination program for over 40 years, accepted by 2,900 colleges and universities and administered in over 1,700 test centers. CLEP exams test mastery of college-level material acquired in a variety of ways — through general academic instructions, significant independent study or extracurricular work. CLEP exam-takers include adults just entering or returning to school, military service members and traditional college students
We are a designated test center for the following testing providers. Pearson Vue, TABE, ASE, PAN, LTI, LOEP
1008.30 Common Placement Testing
(4)(a) A student who entered 9th grade in a Florida public school in the 2003-2004 school year, or any year thereafter, and earned a Florida standard high school diploma or a student who is serving as an active duty member of any branch of the United States Armed Services shall not be required to take the common placement test and shall not be required to enroll in developmental education instruction in a Florida College System institution. However, a student who is not required to take the common placement test and is not required to enroll in developmental education under this paragraph may opt to be assessed and to enroll in developmental education instruction, and the college shall provide such assessment and instruction upon the student’s request.
Official Test Score Reports
To receive an official ACT score report, please contact American College Testing at (319) 337-1313 or visit their website at www.act.org.
To receive an official SAT score report, please contact the College Board at, (866) 756-7346 or visit their website at www.collegeboard.com.
*It is the student’s responsibility to make certain the test scores have been received and processed.
Scheduling a Testing Appointment
An appointment is required to take a placement test. Please contact the appropriate test center. You may do this by calling one of our campuses:
Key West: (305)809-3185
Middle and Upper Keys: (305)809-3145
PERT FAQ's
- Is this a pass/fail test?
- PERT is a placement test. You can’t fail.
- If I don’t do well on PERT, will I get into CFK?
- As long as you have graduated from high school or have a GED, you’re in. CFK has an open door admissions policy. The assessment simply is used to place you in classes at levels most appropriate for you.
- When will I receive my test scores?
- You will receive your scores immediately once the test has been completed. You will need to make an appointment to meet with an academic advisor to review your placement score results and select appropriate classes.
- Is there a study guide?
- Yes. Please see the below link.
- Can I use a calculator?
- Textbooks, notebooks, dictionaries, and calculators are not allowed in the testing room.
- What is the testing time?
- The test is not timed, but plan for 2 hours to do your best work.
- Can I retest if I do not like my scores?
- Effective August 27, 2012, CFK students will have a total of two attempts to take the PERT. Remediation will be required prior to the 2nd attempt. Placement scores are valid for two years. Students who have already begun any level of college preparatory instruction in a subject area may only be referred for retesting on an individual basis by the teaching faculty member. An advisor may grant permission for a retest due to extenuating circumstances. A $10.00 charge will be assessed to retake one or more parts of the PERT.
- Are there special arrangements for people with disabilities?
- Please inform the test administrator before taking the test. These requests should be made in writing directly to the Office for Students with Disabilities which is located in the Advising Services Department (KW).
- Are there any exemptions to PERT?
- Student can provide official ACT or SAT scores taken within two years. Students who have taken the ACT or SAT, but have scores lower than the following minimums in any category, may choose to take the PERT. A break down of scores are listed below.
- ACT: English=17; Reading=19; Math=21
- CPT: Sentence Skills=83, Reading=83, Arithmetic=57, Algebra=98
- Grade 10 FCAT: Reading=Level 4 & 5, 355-500, Math= Level 5, 375-500
- Grade 10 FCAT 2.0: Reading=262 or higher
- PERT: Reading=106-150, Writing=103-150, Math=114-150
- SAT: Verbal=440, Math=480
- New SAT: Reading=24, Writing and Language=25, Math=25.5
- Student can provide official ACT or SAT scores taken within two years. Students who have taken the ACT or SAT, but have scores lower than the following minimums in any category, may choose to take the PERT. A break down of scores are listed below.
Additional PERT Resources
Additional CLEP Information
Cost of CLEP registration fee is $80.
Cost of Test administration fee is $25.
Test administration fees are waived for: Active Duty Military members (Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Coast Guard, National Guard and Reserve Component), Spouses and Civilian Employees of the Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, Army National Guard, Army Reserve, Coast Guard (Active and Reserve), DoD Acquisition Workforce Personnel taking select exams.
Study guides are available in the Testing Coordinators Office (Key West Campus, “A” building, Advising).
For more information check out the CLEP website or contact an CFK Workforce Development at (305)809-3185.