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Placement Testing

The following information is for 10th and 11th grade applicants. At this time, 9th grade applicants are not required to complete placement testing or submit test scores with their application.

Be aware that required test scores must be submitted with your application – either ACT, SAT or the PERT (Postsecondary Education Readiness Test). Your application is not complete without the test scores.

It often takes six weeks or more for ACT or SAT scores to be sent, so plan ahead. Students may take the PERT test and submit PERT scores in place of ACT or SAT scores. Students may take the PERT test at any NWF State College location – the PERT test is free of charge for all three sections for students taking it for Collegiate High School admission purposes and there is no charge for retests, with students waiting seven days between attempts – so plan ahead.

You may use a combination of ACT, SAT and PERT scores with your application packet.

Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT) Testing

Appropriate course placement is critical for academic success. Accordingly, placement scores are required as part of the Collegiate High School admissions process. In addition, to ensure proper placement in college courses, the Florida Department of Education requires that first-time-in-college students who intend to enter degree programs will be tested prior to initial registration. College policy mandates that placement testing requirements be met prior to enrollment in any Gordon Rule course or class for which a Gordon Rule course is a prerequisite. Appropriate placement scores are also a requirement for eligibility into the NWF State College Dual Enrollment Program.

About the Test

The PERT is an untimed exam with three subtests: Reading, Writing and Math. Most examinees finish the test in 2-3 hours. It is not required to take all three parts of the exam on the same day.

Students who need to take PERT should take the test at the earliest possible date. Photo ID is required.

Who needs to take the PERT?

If your ACT or SAT scores place you in college-level coursework in Reading, English, and Math, then you are exempt from taking the PERT. (See score levels below) However, if any of your scores are below college-level, you must take the PERT for that sub-test.

Effective July 1, 2019, there is a $10 PERT retest fee.

What are the minimum scores required for enrollment in college credit courses?

As of PERT tests taken October 22, 2013 and later, college level scores for the ACT, SAT, and the PERT are:

  • ACT: 17 English, 19 Math, 19 Reading

  • SAT: 440 Verbal, 440 Math

  • PERT: 106 Reading, 103 Writing, 114 Algebra

If a student has valid scores from the ACT, SAT and/or PERT, the highest subtest score from each test will be used to determine placement levels.

For more information about PERT testing, please call the testing center nearest you:

  • Niceville campus: (850) 729-6016

  • Crestview campus: (850) 200-4145

  • Fort Walton Beach campus: (850) 863-6508

  • DeFuniak Springs campus: (850) 200-4106

Or, visit the Northwest Florida State College Testing Center website.