Emily Wheeler
The Corsair
Many prospective students coming into Pensacola State College wonder what the PERT is all about and if it is really necessary for them to take this test. The PERT is the starting point of the college class selection. “PERT”, stands for Post-secondary Education Readiness Test. This test consists of three subtests-reading, writing, and arithmetic. Each subtest has 30 questions each. This test places you in classes that you are prepared for.
Dorian Lennep, a freshman at Pensacola State said, “I believe there is not much publicity on the PERT test and that might make it harder for prospective students to learn where and when this test is given. The lack of advertisement probably has a lot to do with why students think this test is no big deal and studying isn’t necessary.”
To be tested into college-level coursework, the student must achieve no less than the following scores in each subtest: Reading – 104 (to test out of any reading courses), English – 99, and Mathematics – 113. These scores are just to get into the very basic class of each course listed. Placement into more advanced classes requires a much higher score.
For students to get a better understanding on how important the PERT test is they need to research the test online. They might even find some useful resources to aid them in preparing for this important test to begin their college career. As a matter of fact, prospective students can go onto the Pensacola State College website and type in “PERT” into the search box in the upper right hand corner, and click the first link. This link will take the student to a page that gives all of the information about the PERT, including phone numbers, testing centers, and a link that will take the student directly to a study guide.
This study guide that is given free of charge will aid the student in achieving a higher score on the PERT, which will in turn land the student in more advanced classes when they first start at Pensacola State. Furthermore, there is also a location at each campus where the student can prepare for the PERT online the day before the scheduled test. Practicing the PERT test online will give the student a better understanding of how the test is set up and give questions that might be seen on the actual PERT test.
Devan Ellis, a dual-enrollment student, said, “I had to take the PERT test three times before I passed all of the three subtests within it. If I would have researched the test and prepared myself for it I probably would have passed all three subtests the first time around.”
The PERT test places you in the courses that you are ready to take according to the score you receive on each subtest. Pensacola State College does not want to place students into a course that they are not ready to take.
Elizabeth Blizzard, also a dual-enrollment student at PSC, said, “Pensacola State College was the starting point for my college career. Even though I am still a high school senior, the grades I make at PSC are on my college transcript that I must send to the University of Central Florida where I am attending after I graduate. Therefore, the grades I make at PSC could make me or break me. If the school did not offer the PERT, I would most likely be placed in a class that is too advanced for me and that would show in my grades. Nobody wants to take a class that they are not yet prepared for. That would just mean the student would fail out of it and in turn, it would be hard to bring that Grade Point Average back up to the starting 4.0.”
For more information or to schedule a test, call the Pensacola campus at 484-4656 (Building 6) or the Warrington campus at 484-1076 (Building 3600). When arriving for the test, bring only your Pensacola State College Student ID and your social security number if you do not have it memorized. Whatever you bring with you, you will be asked to lock it in a locker provided before entering the test room. Start studying at least two weeks in advance for the PERT to get the highest score possible on each test.