Entrance and Placement Testing

New Rules for Placement Testing

In 2013, the Florida Legislature adopted new rules regarding Developmental Education, which affect placement testing and developmental course requirements for first-time-in-college (FTIC) students. Effective since Spring 2014, only certain students are required to take a common placement test and enroll in developmental education classes if their scores indicate it is necessary.

Students Not Required to Take a Placement Test

Students meeting either of the following conditions are not required to take a placement test:

• Students who entered ninth grade in a Florida public school in the 2003-04 school year or after and earned a Florida standard high school diploma.
• Students who are currently serving as active-duty members of any branch of the U.S. Armed Services.

Exempt students may choose to take a common placement test to help identify where they need additional preparation. Regardless of the student’s score, he or she is not required to enroll in developmental education.

Students Required to Take a Placement Test

FTIC students who do not meet one of the above criteria for exemption must submit common placement test scores, such as the Accuplacer, ACT, SAT or Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT), prior to their group advising appointment. The Assessment and Testing Office offers the PERT for free at SLM, ALT, or OVI on a walk-in basis. Visit the Assessment and Testing website for hours of operation.

Students with questions are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor, who can assist them with the best possible placement.

Any score presented that is below the score needed for exemption will require the student to be tested on the appropriate PERT subtest(s) unless:

• The student attended a regionally accredited college or university in which English was the language of instruction and completed college-level or the highest college-preparatory-level coursework, as evaluated by Seminole State, in English and/or mathematics with a grade of C or higher
• Official Seminole State record indicates that the student is enrolled in another college or university and has applied to Seminole State as a transient student
• Official Seminole State record indicates that the student is enrolled for teacher recertification

Placement Testing Assessments

Seminole State College's primary placement assessment is PERT. Pert is available on a walk-in basis at the SLM, ALT, or OVI Testing Centers. 

ACCUPLACER is also accepted by Seminole State College. Accuplacer is available on a walk-in basis at the SLM, ALT, or OVI Testing Centers or via vitual remote testing by appointment only. 

Testing Accommodations

Testing accommodations are available for testing sessions for students with disabilities.  For additional information, please review our Testing Accommodations webpage.