Dr. Monica Carballo
School Assessment and AP Coordinator
dr.carballo@dadeschools.net
305-232-2044
STATEWIDE ASSESSMENTS
Florida Department of Education – Assessments
Florida’s high school assessments for 9th and 10th-grade ELA (Reading) and specific Math/Science/Social Studies courses are aligned with the Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) standards.
Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST)
The FAST system is a computer-adaptive progress monitoring tool used for ELA Reading in 9th and 10th grade.
- When do students test? Students test three times a year (PM1, PM2, and PM3).
- PM1 (Baseline): August – September
- PM2 (Mid-Year): December – January
- PM3 (Summative): May. Note: 10th graders must pass PM3 for graduation.
- How long is the test? PM1 and PM2 typically take 90 minutes. For the end-of-year PM3, the session is extended to 120 minutes.
- How do I get results? Scores are usually available within 24 hours via the Florida Family Portal or your school’s parent portal.
Other Key State Assessments
- B.E.S.T. Writing: All students in grades 4–10 take a standalone, computer-based writing assessment each spring (usually late March or early April).
- End-of-Course (EOC) Exams: These are required for specific subjects and count for 30% of the student’s final course grade.
- Subjects: Algebra 1, Geometry, Biology 1, and U.S. History.
- Format: These are now computer-adaptive and generally administered in one 160-minute session.
COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMS
College Board: SAT & PSAT/NMSQT
The College Board suite is now fully digital. Students use the Bluebook app on a computer or tablet to test.
- One Account Rule: You must maintain only one College Board account. Creating multiples can orphan your scores and prevent colleges from receiving them.
- The Digital SAT: Shorter (approx. 2 hours), featuring shorter reading passages and a built-in graphing calculator (Desmos) for the entire Math section.
- PSAT/NMSQT: Taken in 10th or 11th grade, this serves as the qualifying entry for the National Merit Scholarship Program and provides a roadmap for SAT prep via Khan Academy.
ACT (American College Testing)
Major Update for 2025–2026: The ACT has undergone its most significant change in decades.
- Shorter Format: The core test (English, Math, Reading) is now about two hours long.
- Science is Optional: The Science section is no longer required for the Composite score. Students can choose to take the ACT “Core” or add Science/Writing as optional modules.
- Why take Science? While it doesn’t affect the 1–36 Composite score, a “STEM Score” is still reported. We recommend STEM-focused students still consider taking it.
CLT (Classic Learning Test)
The CLT is a popular alternative accepted by all Florida state universities and for Bright Futures eligibility.
- Content: Focuses on “Great Books” and classical literature/philosophy.
- Florida Perk: The CLT is often funded by the state for 11th graders; check with the testing coordinator for our school’s specific “In-School” test date.
ACCOMMODATIONS & WELLNESS
Requesting Accommodations
Important: Having an IEP or 504 plan at school does not automatically grant accommodations for the SAT, ACT, or CLT. Each company has its own approval process.
- Pro Tip: Start this process at least 7 weeks before your intended test date.
- Who to contact: See our Testing Coordinator to begin the College Board or ACT request process.
Managing Test Anxiety
Mindset: Remind your student that these scores are just one piece of their story—they are not a definition of their worth!
Prep, Don’t Cram: Use official resources like Khan Academy (SAT) or ACT Academy to build familiarity.
Sleep & Fuel: Testing performance drops significantly with less than 7 hours of sleep.