Common Placement and Basic Skills Requirements
Internal Management Memorandum #3-10: Common Placement Testing and Enrollment
This IMM is in accordance with Rule 6A-10.0315, FAC and District Board of Trustees Board Rule 6Hx19-3.30, Common Placement and Basic Skills Requirements.
Common Placement Testing
Students who intend to enter degree or college-credit certificate programs shall be tested prior to the completion of registration with a common placement test, such as the Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT), which consists of tests covering reading, English and mathematics, including elementary algebra. Approved tests and minimum cut scores have been established by Florida Administrative Code 6A-10.0315 and can be found in the Student Testing and Placement Chart on the Testing Services' Common Placement webpage and under the Files section in the Canvas Testing Services course. Students falling below the minimum scores will be advised of their developmental education options.
The following students are not required to take a common placement test and are not required to enroll in developmental education instruction. An exempt student may opt to take a common placement test and enroll in developmental education instruction.
- Students who entered 9th grade in a Florida public school in the 2003-2004 school year, or any year thereafter, and earned a Florida standard public high school diploma.
- A student who is serving as an active duty member of any branch of the United States Armed Services.
Non-exempt students may not enroll in the following categories of college-credit courses while completing their developmental education coursework:
- Students who are deficient in mathematics may not enroll in any mathematics courses or other courses that require mathematics skills that are beyond the skill level of the student
- Students who are deficient in English and/or reading skills may not enroll in English courses or other courses that require communication skills that are beyond the skill level of the student
- Students who are deficient in all three areas may enroll in college-level courses such as orientation courses, college-success courses or other courses that are not dependent on college-level computation and communication skills
Non-exempt students enrolling full time who do not achieve satisfactory test scores on the PERT must enroll in the required developmental education courses needed during each term until all required courses are satisfactorily completed.
Non-exempt students enrolling part time who do not achieve satisfactory test scores on the PERT should complete all required developmental education courses by the time they complete 12 semester hours of college-credit courses.
The College will accept ACCUPLACER, ACT, Classical Learning Test (CLT), Digital SAT, PERT, or SAT scores provided that they are no more than two years old from the date taken, and will place students accordingly. Appropriate accommodations shall be provided for students with disabilities in accordance with the guidelines and documentation of the Student Accessibility Services department. Students should contact a PHSC academic advisor in the Student Affairs office or Testing Services for more information about placement testing. Exceptions to placement testing are: degreed students, transfer students with "C" or higher grades on both college-level English and mathematics courses, transient students (unless they are taking a Gordon Rule course at PHSC and have not tested previously), nondegree-seeking students, and students who audit college-credit courses. For additional information about common placement testing, refer to the Testing Services' Common Placement webpage.
Common Placement Retests
Students who request a retest of a common placement test must follow these guidelines:
- Students are permitted to retake each subtest of the PERT and ACCUPLACER one time after 24 hours have elapsed since the initial test was administered. Students requesting an additional retake beyond two active subtest scores administered at the College must receive approval based upon extenuating circumstances from an assistant dean of student affairs or the director of testing services before a retest is administered. Remediation is not required before retesting, although it shall be advised. Remediation is available at all Academic Success Centers. Remediation resources may also be found in Testing Services or may be purchased in the College Store.
- Students who have begun any developmental education course can retake the PERT only upon referral to an advisor by their instructor on a case-by-case basis.