College Placement Exams

Placement Testing Information

If you are a first-time-in-college degree-seeking student entering a college credit program, you are required to take some form of basic placement testing in English, Reading, and Mathematics. You may meet this requirement in several ways:

• ACT or SAT scores may be used for placement provided that the scores are less than two years old and they meet state-mandated minimum score levels, Test Score Worksheet.
• If ACT or SAT scores are lower than the state-mandated minimum scores, you may take the College Placement Test (CPT), or the Postsecondary Readiness Test (PERT).
• If you transfer college-level mathematics credit and/or college-level English composition credit to Gulf Coast State College, you have completed the testing requirement in that specific discipline and must test only in the area(s) in which you are deficient. If you are a transfer student, you must have your transcripts evaluated by the Transcript Coordinator to determine if you are required to take any of the tests. College-level English composition credit supersedes the need for placement in reading.

Traditional Placement

If you entered the 9th grade in a Florida public school prior to 2003–2004, graduated from a non-public Florida high school or earned the GED, you qualify for Traditional Placement in English, Reading, and Mathematics. Traditional Placement requires that you submit active scores on a college placement test (PERT, SAT or ACT) to Gulf Coast State College in order to assist academic advisors in determining your readiness for college-level English, Reading, and Mathematics.

Flexible Placement

If you entered the 9th grade in a Florida public school in 2003–2004 or later and earned a standard Florida high school diploma from a Florida public high school or are serving as active-duty members of the United States Armed Services, you qualify for Flexible Placement. Flexible Placement indicates that you are not required to be tested or to enroll in developmental education. You may opt into developmental education if you deem it appropriate after consulting with your academic advisor.

Please remember that if you are taking all 3 sections in the PERT placement exam, it can take you over 3 hours. Please arrive early so you can finish  all the sections without feeling rushed.

PERT FAQ

• WHAT IS THE CPT/PERT AND HOW CAN I PREPARE FOR IT?
  • For detailed information about the PERT along with a study guide, visit PERT Study Guide
  • Practice PERT Test: Reading; Writing; Math
  • Math videos can be found at the Mathematics Division website.
• DO I NEED AN APPOINTMENT? WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?

  • You can schedule an appointment on RegisterBlast.

  • A  $9.00 fee can be paid online. 

  • If you are a public high school student who is testing for the Dual Enrollment Program, you are exempt from the required fee, but you must bring a current Dual Enrollment Voucher from your high school on the day you are testing.  (Note: High school students from the following counties are permitted to test for Dual Enrollment purposes: Bay, Franklin, and Gulf).  

    You must bring all of the following when coming to take the PERT:

    your paid receipt or dual enrollment voucher
    a valid photo ID (an unexpired school-issued ID, military ID, driver's license, state-issued ID or passport)
    your social security number

• WHO MAY TAKE THE PERT AT THE GULF COAST STATE COLLEGE TESTING CENTER AND IS THE PERT AVAILABLE AT ANOTHER LOCATION?
  • Current Gulf Coast State College applicants, students, and Dual-Enrolled High School Students may test at the Gulf Coast State College Testing Center's Panama City Campus or Gulf Franklin Campus. Appointments are required.
  • If you are a Gulf Coast State College applicant who resides outside of Bay, Franklin or Gulf County, you may request to take the PERT at an off-campus location. Contact Rachel Inman at 850-873-3533 or rinman@gulfcoast.edu.
• HOW MANY TIMES MAY I TAKE THE CPT/PERT AND HOW LONG ARE MY SCORES VALID?
  • You are allowed to take each sub-test of the PERT two times per semester. To view semester dates, please consult the Academic Calendar
  • Your CPT/PERT test scores are only valid for two years.
• WHICH MATERIALS ARE ALLOWED/NOT ALLOWED WHILE TAKING THE PERT AND HOW LONG WILL THE TEST TAKE?
  • Calculators are not allowed, and pencils, erasers, and scrap paper will be provided by the Gulf Coast State College Testing Center. No cellphones, hats, or any electronic device are permitted.
  • Although the PERT is an untimed test, allow yourself at least 2 to 3 hours to complete the three sub-tests (Reading, Writing and Math). You must complete the test the same day as you begin the test, otherwise the test could be voided or scored based on the number of questions that were answered.
  • You will also have to pay the $9.00 testing fee again to retest.
• WHAT IF I HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PERT AND WHERE IS THE GULF COAST STATE COLLEGE TESTING CENTER LOCATED?
  • If you have further questions about the PERT, contact Rachel Inman at rinman@gulfcoast.edu or 850-873-3533.
  • The Gulf Coast State College Testing Center is located on the First Floor of the Student Union West Building. Sign in on the computer in the first floor in room 80 and wait for your name to be called.

  View Campus Map

• WHAT ARE THE CPT/PERT TESTING DATES AND TIMES?

  The PERT is given any time Gulf Coast State College is open for business. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we ask all PERT testers to register for an appointment on RegisterBlast.

  Note: Dates and check-in times are subject to change. For updated dates and check-in times, please call 850-769-1551 ext. 5807.

ACT OR SAT SCORES FOR PLACEMENT

If you present scores from either the American College Testing Program's ACT or the College Board's SAT exam that meet or exceed the scores shown below, you may be exempted from taking the Florida College Entry-Level Placement Test.

Gulf Coast State College requires official scores. Individual student scores are valid for two years. All ACT or SAT scores received on an official high school or college transcript will be accepted. Scores may be sent to: