Entrance and Placement Testing

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- Exempt

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- Non Exempt

FTIC students who do not meet one of the above criteria for exemption must submit common placement test scores, such as the ACCUPLACER, ACT, CLT, SAT or Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT), prior to their advising appointment.

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

EAP Process

All non-exempt students who studied ESOL in high school or studied part of high school in a country where English is not the only official language are required to:

• Complete a timed writing sample for possible placement into English for Academic Purposes (EAP) in addition to having college ready PERT, ACT, CLT, or SAT scores
• Complete the Level of English Proficiency (LOEP) test in addition to completing the timed writing sample if PERT, ACT, CLT, or SAT scores are not college-ready
• Complete the EAP sequence without a retake of PERT/LOEP after starting the sequence (Students may retake PERT/LOEP and Writing Sample after two years' absence from sequence for advancement purposes)

Need to take a Placement Test?

Placement Testing is available on a walk-in basis during Assessment & Testing Business Hours at Sanford/Lake Mary, Altamonte Springs, or the Lee Campus at Oviedo.

All exams must be completed within our operation hours, and students should allow sufficient time to complete their exams prior to the 6:00 p.m. closing time of the Testing Center Monday - Thursday and the 4:30pm closing time on Friday. If Testing Center staff determines a student will not have enough time to complete their exam, the student will be assisted in rescheduling their exam. 

Testing Accommodations

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