Common Placement Exams Available at PHSC

The following college readiness assessments are available on all campuses for placement into college-level coursework.

ACCUPLACER

The College Board’s ACCUPLACER Next Generation subtests are college readiness assessments similar to the Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT), the official common placement test of Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC). PHSC primarily only administers the ACCUPLACER's Advanced Algebra and Functions (AAF) subtest for placement into advanced college-level mathematics courses if students meet the requirements found on the current Student Testing and Placement Chart found in the Related Documents section of this webpage. If necessary, the ACCUPLACER may also be administered as an alternative to the PERT.

PERT

The Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT), is the official common placement exam of Pasco-Hernando State College. Students who intend to enter degree or college credit certificate programs must be tested prior to the completion of registration. High school students may use the PERT to assess their college readiness dual enrollment eligibility. The PERT consists of subtests covering reading, writing, and mathematics including elementary algebra and arithmetic.

CHEMISTRY PLACEMENT EXAM

The Chemistry Placement Exam is a computer-based multiple-choice exam to assess readiness for placement into the following courses: 

  • CHM2045 General Chemistry and Qualitative Analysis I
  • CHM 2045L General Chemistry and Qualitative Analysis I Laboratory

Students who pass the exam do not need to complete CHM 1025 and CHM 1025L to enroll in CHM2045 and CHM2045L. In addition, MAT 1033 (completed with a grade of C or higher) or an appropriate mathematics placement test score is required for enrollment into CHM2045 and CHM2045L.

Minimum Scores

Minimum cut-off scores have been established by Florida Administrative Code 6A-10.0315. Any student falling below these minimum scores will be advised of developmental education options and shall be allowed to enroll in the developmental education option of their choice. Students, unless exempt (see below), should begin developmental instruction based on the placement test results prior to completing 12 credits. Students may continue enrollment in degree-related coursework provided they maintain continuous enrollment in developmental education for each subsequent semester until coursework requirements are completed and students demonstrate satisfactory performance in degree-related coursework. However, dual enrollment students must meet the college-ready cut scores on all three subtests to retain eligibility beyond 12 credit hours.

Student Testing and Placement Chart

The Student Testing and Placement Chart, a reference for course placement, identifies the minimum cut-off scores for college-level placement based on PERT, ACCUPLACER, SAT, ACT, and additional test scores approved by the Florida Department of Education. The chart also identifies the placement requirements for advanced mathematics coursework. Placement scores and acceptable exams periodically change.

Students Exempt from Common Placement Testing

The following students are not required to take the common placement test and are not required to enroll in developmental education instruction. 

  • Students who entered the 9th grade in a Florida public school in 2003-2004 school year, or any year thereafter, and earned a Florida standard high school diploma.
  • A student who is serving as an active duty member of any branch of the United States Armed Services. 

An exempt student may opt to take the common placement test and enroll in developmental education instruction.

Exempt students will be advised on the appropriate courses for enrollment based on available information including any of the following: high school grade point average, high school course grades in a subject area, any relevant work history, military experience, participation in competitive co-curricular activities, career interests, academic program major, and additional assessment data provided by the student.

Submission of Prior Test Scores

The College will accept PERT, ACCUPLACER, SAT, ACT, and other approved common placement test scores, provided that they are no more than two years old from the date taken and will place students accordingly. Official test scores should be submitted to Admissions and Student Records.

Retests

Students are permitted to retake the PERT and ACCUPLACER one time (a total of two active attempts) after 24 hours. Scores are valid for two years. An assistant dean of student affairs or the director of testing services may approve a request for a third attempt based on documentation of extenuating circumstances.

Students should be prepared prior to any attempt and may find study materials under the Resources tab or through the Academic Success Center on each campus. Students requesting a retest of the PERT who have already begun any developmental education course(s) can retake the PERT only upon referral by faculty on a case-by-case basis. Students who retest on the PERT and achieve scores that place them into higher level courses and who wish to withdraw from the current developmental education course which has been tested out of are responsible for completing the withdrawal by the College's published deadline dates.