Florida Civic Literacy Exam (FCLE) 

The Florida Civic Literacy Exam (FCLE) is the primary civic literacy assessment administered by PHSC. It is a computer-based exam administered in a proctored test center. It was developed by Cambium Assessments, Inc with 80 multiple-choice questions covering four civic literacy domains. Students who pass the FCLE will meet the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) civic literacy assessment requirement for graduation.

    Accommodations

    Accommodations available for the FCLE include: 

    • Zoom
    • Color Contrast
    • Text-to-Speech
    • Masking
    • Print versions including regular print, large print, one-item-per-page, and printed braille tests will be available later in 2022.

    To begin, students must first Request Accessibility Accommodations through Student Accessibility Services. Contact Testing Services once an exam is registered to verify available accommodations. Provide your accommodation approval letter from Student Accessibility Services at check-in on exam day. 

    Availability

    The FCLE is available on all PHSC campuses during regular operational hours. Remote testing options may be requested for extenuating circumstances by contacting Testing Services.

    Fees

    The first attempt of the FCLE is free for PHSC students. Retakes are $5 and must be paid in advance of a scheduled test at the College Store. A receipt for a retake must be presented at check-in on exam day to test.

    Identification

    Valid, photo identification must be presented at check-in on exam day to test. A PHSC ID card may be used for identification.

    Prior Test Scores

    Students who passed the FCLE while in high school are exempt from the civic literacy assessment requirement, although their test scores listed on their high school transcript will need to be submitted to Admissions and Student Records. 

    Students who passed the FCLE at another institution must contact Testing Services to request their scores be transferred to PHSC.  

    Students who meet the assessment requirement still must meet the civic literacy course requirement.

    Registration

    The FCLE is only administered to PHSC students. To take the FCLE, students must have met the civic literacy course requirement or currently be enrolled in POS 2041 or AMH 2020. Students may schedule an exam through Testing Services.

    Retake Policy

    There are no limits to how many times a student may take the FCLE, although students must wait 30 days between attempts unless approved due to extenuating circumstances.

    Scores

    Students must achieve a standard score of 60% (48 correct answers out of 80 questions) or higher to meet the civic literacy assessment requirement.

    Study Resources

    Links to these resources below are available in Links on this Page.

    • PHSC Civic Literacy Study Guide
      • To assist students with studying for the FCLE, the Social Science department has created the Civic Literacy Study Guide. The guide is a self-enroll course for PHSC students through their myPHSC account.
    • FCLE Supplemental Guide and Sample Test
      • The purpose of these sample test materials is to orient faculty and students to the nature of the test content and test questions on the FCLE. The content included in the Supplemental Guide is not intended to replace associated coursework or other preparation methods required to demonstrate civic literacy, as described in Florida Statute. The sample questions and answers are not intended to demonstrate the length of the actual test. Student performance on the sample test should not be used as a predictor of performance on the actual test, and neither the sample test nor the supplemental guide should be used to guide classroom instruction.
        • Supplemental Guide for the FCLE
        • FCLE Sample Items
    • The FLDOE also lists additional Resources to Foster Civic Literacy for preparation.   
    • Modern States offers a free, online study course for the CLEP American Government exam that covers the civic literacy competencies assessed by the FCLE.

    Subject Areas

    The FCLE assesses the following competencies and outcomes:

    • An understanding of the basic principles of American democracy and how they are applied in our republican form of government.
    • An understanding of the United States Constitution.
    • Knowledge of the founding documents and how they have shaped the nature and functions of our institutions of self-governance. 
    • An understanding of landmark Supreme Court cases and their impact on law and society.  

    Time Limit

    There is no time limit for the FCLE. The average completion time is around 35 minutes.