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P.E.R.T.

PREPARATION Mathematics
Helping Students to Understand the Post Secondary Education Readiness Test

About the P.E.R.T.


The Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (P.E.R.T) is to

adequately assess academic skills in reading, writing and mathematics to determine placement into appropriate courses at your college.
The first time you take it, you will be given all three tests in the order

mentioned above. Each test has 30 questions.

You cannot pass or fail the Placement Test it is only

used to determine which courses are best for you.


Florida State Board of Education Administrative Rule 6A-

10.0315(7)(8) is allowing for two PERT attempts while a student is enrolled in high school. Two additional PERT attempts are allowed once a student has graduated from high school and has applied to Edison as a degree seeking student.

Format of the test


You will take the test on a computer.
(Paper will be provided for you to do your work)

The answers are in a multiple-choice format. You will not be permitted to change your answer

once you have moved on to the next question or leave a question.


The PERT assessments are computer-adaptive.

The P.E.R.T. is Adaptive


An adaptive test is a form of a computerbased test that adapts to the examinee's ability level.
For example, if an examinee performs well on an item of intermediate difficulty, he will then be presented with a more difficult question. Or, if he performed poorly, he would be presented with a simpler question.

Format of the test


The test is untimed. You will not be allowed to bring a

calculator with you; however, for certain questions, a pop-up calculator will be available for your use.
The math section has 30 questions.

About the P.E.R.T.


You will be able to see your placement

score immediately after you completed the test.


Test results are valid for two years.
If you wish to retest in any area below

college-ready placement, you are required to document a remediation strategy.

Dual Enrollment Remediation RequirementPursuant to

State Rule 6A-10.0315 (9) prior to administering a retest, the test administrator must require documentation from the student that verifies alternative remediation has occurred since prior PERT attempt. High school students that are currently enrolled in a related secondary course in the areas of reading, writing, and/or math are eligible to retest. The Dual Enrollment Placement Test Referral Form must be completed by a school counselor/authorized designee prior to retesting. High school students have a maximum of two (2) attempts on the PERT.

Edison uses the highest score for placement

purposes.

P.E.R.T. Scores

Test Score Breakdown

Placement Test Scores for College-Level Placement


COURSE PLACEMENT TEST-PERT
99 - WRITING & 104 - READING

ACT-E

SAT-R

ENC1101

17 -ENGLISH & 18 READING

440 - CRITICAL READING

MAT 1033 MGF 1106/ MGF 1107 MAC 1105/ STA 2023 MAC 1106

113 - MATH 123 MATH 123 MATH 135 MATH

19 - MATH 23 MATH 23 MATH 25 MATH

440 - MATH 540 - MATH 540 - MATH 560 - MATH

A score of 262 on Grade 10 FCAT 2.0 provides college placement in reading and writing

Mathematics courses:
MAT 1033 Intermediate Algebra (4 elective credits)

( is a prerequisite for the following math classes)


MGF 1105 Liberal Arts Math I MGF 1106 Liberal Arts Math II MAC 1105 College Algebra STA 2023 Statistics

( 3 math credits) ( 3 math credits) ( 3 math credits) ( 3 math credits)

MAC 1106 Combined College Algebra/Precalculus

( 5 math credits)

P.E.R.T. Mathematics
Review basic math rules, such as Order of operations

Exponents
Prime Numbers Percents

Order of Operations
PE -- MD -- AS:
1. Operations within Grouping Symbols 2. Exponents 3. Multiply or Divide from left to right 4. Add or Subtract from left to right

Exponents
1. Get rid of ( ) by multiplying exponents. 2. Rewrite with positive exponents.

3. Add exponents when multiplying the same bases.


4. Subtract exponents when dividing the same bases.

Prime, Composite or Neither Numbers


Prime Numbersa natural number that is greater than 1 and with exactly 2 different factors (1 and itself) Examples -- 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, and 17 Composite Numbersa natural number, other than 1 and that is NOT a prime Examples -- 4, 6, 8, ,9, 10, and 12 Neither Numbers- Zero (0) is not a natural number, so it is neither prime nor composite One (1) is not prime as it does NOT have 2 different factors

Percents
What percent of 50 is 18?
Solve by setting up a proportion and cross multiplying: Solve by translating first: OR

Sample problem 1: Exponents


2 - 4
a) b) 64

c)
d)

Sample problem 2:
Write 3.48 into a simplified fraction: a)

b)
c) d)

Sample problem 3:
Write the shaded part of the figure as a fraction :

a)

b)
c) d)

PERT Math Topics


Solving linear equations/inequalities and quadratic equations Evaluating algebraic expressions Polynomials (factor, simplify,+, -, and Dividing by monomials and binomials Applying standard algorithms or concepts Coordinate planes Systems of linear equations with 2 variables
)

Solving Equations: Linear


Steps: 1) Simplify each side by distributing and/or combining like terms

2) Move variable terms to one side, constants to the other side

3) Divide by the coefficient

4) Check answer by substituting

Solving and graphing Linear Inequalities

Same steps as linear equations, except IF YOU MULTIPLY OR DIVIDE BY A NEGATIVE NUMBER , YOU HAVE TO REVERSE THE INEQUALITY SIGN ! When graphing the solution on a number line remember that < or > will be an open circle or a parenthesis and that or will be a closed circle or a bracket.

Solving Quadratic equations by Factoring


Steps : 1) Set polynomial equal to zero in descending order ( write in standard form)

2) Factor completely

3) Set each factor equal to zero and solve

Solving Quadratic equations by Formula

ANSWERS

Simplifying Polynomials

ANSWER

Evaluating Algebraic Expressions

Substitute the values for the indicated variable and follow the order of operations to simplify

Dividing By Monomials And Binomials


Steps for Monomial Division: 1) Divide each term of the numerator by the denominator (reduce numbers, subtract exponents)

Hint for Binomial Division: Use steps for long division

Coordinate Plane Graphing Find the x and y Intercepts and Graph

To find the x- intercept (x, 0), substitute a zero for y and solve for x

To find the y- intercept (0, y), substitute a zero for x and solve for y

Linear Equations with 2 Variables


y=x2 x 2y = 6
There are three ways to find the answer:
1) Solve by graphing : Graph each equation and find the point of intersection

2) Solve by substitution

3) Solve by elimination

Sample problem 4: Solving


Solve:
a) x = - 3 and x = 3 and x= b) x = 3 and x = c) x = 3 and x = d) x = 7 and x =

Sample problem 5: Evaluate


Evaluate: when a =6 , b = 4 and c = 8

a) b) c) d)

-20

-5 4

Sample problem 6: Polynomials


Simplify:
a) 4y -12 b) 5y + 2 c) 4y + 35 d) 3y -12

(4y - 5) (-y -7)

Sample problem 7: Factoring


Factor completely:

a) b) c) d)

Sample problem 8:
Write an equation in slope-intercept form that has

a slope = -2 and goes through (4, 7)


a) y - 7 = -2x - 4 b) y = -2x + 15 c) y = -2x - 15 d) y = -2x

Answers to sample problems:


1) c

2) d
3) d 4) b 5) a 6) b 7) c 8) b

General Test Taking Tips


Create a study schedule

Get rest the night before


Eat something nutritious before the test Read directions carefully Be confident Relax

you are taking a placement test.

Helpful web sites:


PERT math practice test and explanations:

http://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/story.php?title=pertpractice-test
Valencia College PERT booklet (information, instructions and

sample problems): http://valenciacollege.edu/east/academicsuccess/math/docume nts/PERTbooklet.pdf


McCann Associates: Information from the Florida Department

of Education: http://www.fldoe.org/schools/pdf/PERTstudentstudyguide.pdf
Edison State colleges information on PERT testing:

http://www.edison.edu/assessment/placement.php

Questions?
Please feel free to contact me:

Sabine Eggleston Professor of Mathematics


Edison State College (239) 489-9435 seggleston@edison.edu

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