How to Pass the PERT: A 7-Day Study Plan for Florida

Where should I start studying for the PERT?

With a full practice test, because each PERT subtest places you on its own; you need to know which one is costing you before you spend a minute on review.

Take the free PERT practice test under test habits: one sitting, no phone, no going back. Your result shows percent right in Math, Reading and Writing. The lowest is where your first days go.

If you are exempt, you may not need to test at all. The rules are on the PERT test guide. Exempt students who want College Algebra still benefit from a week of algebra review.

What is the best PERT study plan?

Seven days of about 40 minutes: one to diagnose, four on your weakest subtest and algebra, one for a second full practice test, and one to review and rest.

Our plan, about 40 minutes a day

Day 1
60 min
Take the full [PERT practice test](/pert-practice-test). Note your weakest subtest.
Day 2
40 min
Weakest subtest: its free drill, then the rule behind every miss.
Day 3
40 min
Algebra: linear equations, literal equations and inequalities, checking each answer.
Day 4
40 min
Algebra: exponent rules, polynomials and factoring. Make the rules card.
Day 5
40 min
Reading and writing: the method and the grammar list, one drill each.
Day 6
60 min
A second full practice test. Compare subtest by subtest with day 1.
Day 7
30 min
Redo every miss from day 6, then rest.

The plan, with the practice built in

Eight full PERT-style mocks, four drills for each subtest and every answer explained.

The PERT Pass Pack gives you 8 full mocks on the real clock, 12 drills of 12 questions for the sections that cost you points, and a predictor that turns your mocks into the odds of reaching your target. One payment, no subscription, and your free score stays free.

Prep courses for these tests usually cost $19 to $129. The PERT Pass Pack is US$39 (£29), once.

See the PERT Pass Pack How our questions are built and checked

8
timed mocks: 12
topic drills: 1
score predictor

What math should I review for the PERT?

Linear equations and inequalities, literal equations, exponent rules, multiplying and factoring polynomials, quadratic equations by factoring, the equation of a line, and systems of two equations.

The PERT math subtest is algebra almost from start to finish, so general math review is not the best use of time. Work through the competencies in order: equations, then exponents and polynomials, then factoring and quadratics, then lines and systems. Each builds on the one before.

The habit that saves the most points is checking: substitute a solution back in, test a number in an inequality, and multiply a factored answer back out. The PERT math practice test has a drill, eight worked examples and the full rules list.

How do I improve my PERT reading and writing?

For reading, point to the sentence that proves your answer before you choose it; for writing, find the subject and verb first and learn the ten rules that cover most questions.

Reading points are lost to answers that sound right but are not in the passage, and to main-idea options that are the wrong size. The fix is a habit: answer in your own words first, then choose the option you can point to. The PERT reading practice test walks through the method.

Writing points are lost to a short list: fragments, run-ons, agreement, pronouns, tense, modifiers and transitions. Learn one a day and find it in the drill on the PERT writing practice test.

What mistakes cost the most points on the PERT?

Unchecked algebra, inequalities left unflipped, reading answers chosen from memory, and grammar answers chosen because they sound natural.

Distributing a number to only the first term inside brackets.
Forgetting to reverse an inequality after dividing by a negative.
Reading quadratic solutions straight off the factors with the wrong sign.
Choosing a main idea that is one detail, or one that claims more than the passage can support.
Choosing "No change" because a sentence sounds fine aloud, when it hides a comma splice or a dangling modifier.

Every one of these has a ten-second check, and the PERT has no clock. Build the checks into your practice this week, so they are automatic on test day.

What do the questions behind these rules look like?

One algebra question about inequalities and one writing question about verb tense, each worked step by step with the trap named.

PERT-style question 1 · Linear inequality
Which is the solution of −3x + 5 > 17?
1. Ax < −4
2. Bx > −4
3. Cx < 4
4. Dx > 4
Worked answer
A: x < −4. Subtract 5: −3x > 12. Divide by −3 and flip the sign: x < −4.
1. Subtract 5 from both sides: −3x > 12.
2. Divide both sides by −3.
3. Dividing by a negative number reverses the inequality: x < −4.
The trap: x > −4 forgets to flip the sign. Check with x = −5: −3(−5) + 5 = 20, which is greater than 17, so values below −4 work.
PERT-style question 2 · Verb tense
Last summer, Dana works at the city pool and saved enough money for a used car. Which change corrects the sentence?
1. AChange "works" to "worked"
2. BChange "saved" to "saves"
3. CChange "Last summer" to "Every summer"
4. DNo change is needed
Worked answer
A: Change "works" to "worked". "Last summer" sets the sentence in the past, and "saved" is past, so "works" must become "worked".
1. Find the time marker: "Last summer", which is past.
2. Check each verb: "works" is present, "saved" is past.
3. Change the one that does not fit: works → worked.
The trap: Changing "saved" to "saves" makes the verbs match each other but not "Last summer". The time marker decides the tense.

More are on PERT sample questions, each with its reasoning.

What should I do on PERT test day?

Use the lack of a clock: read every passage fully, check every algebra answer, and pause between subtests if your center allows it.

Bring a photo ID and check your college's testing appointment rules.
Treat the early questions with care: on an adaptive test they steer what follows.
You cannot skip or go back, so eliminate what you can and choose the best remaining option when stuck.
Check every algebra answer by substituting or multiplying back.
Treat every question as scored: you cannot tell which five are field-test questions.

What should I do if I do not pass the PERT?

Ask your advisor about the course your score places you in and about retest rules, and if you were close to a line, retest after a week of review on the subtest that cost you.

Missing a minimum is common and fixable. Your score report shows which subtest fell short and by how much. A math score of 110 is a short review away from 114; a score of 80 may be better served by the developmental course.

Retest rules, waiting times and fees are set by each college, so ask before you book. For what each score range means, see PERT scores. If you are also applying in Texas, colleges there use the TSI test instead.

Frequently asked questions

Can I pass the PERT without studying?

Some students reach the minimums without review, but a week of focused study is often the difference between a developmental course and a college-level one.

How long does it take to prepare for the PERT?

A week of 40 minutes a day for most students. Longer if algebra is years behind you.

What is the hardest part of the PERT?

For most students, math, because it is algebra throughout and the 123 College Algebra line is well above the 114 minimum.

Should I guess on the PERT?

You must answer to move on, and there is no penalty for a wrong answer, so eliminate what you can and pick the best remaining option. Do not rush: early right answers matter on an adaptive test.

Is one practice test enough?

One shows where you are. A second, after a week of review, shows whether the weak subtest moved.

Are there free PERT sample questions?

Yes: Florida colleges publish the official P.E.R.T. study guide, and our PERT sample questions page has original ones with worked answers.

Prepare once, place higher

Eight full PERT-style mocks, 12 drills and every answer explained, in one payment with no subscription.