Two‑year Rule
Under Florida rule 6A 10.0315, standardized test and alternative assessments scores may be used to prove readiness for college‑level coursework if your exam date is within two years of your FSW enrollment date, that is the first day of classes of your starting term.
Placement Tests
A placement test is an academic standardized assessment that helps determine the English and math courses where a student will be most successful when beginning at Florida SouthWestern State College. These tests are not used for admission; instead, they ensure students start in classes that match their current skill level so they can progress confidently from day one.
FSW Testing Services administers both major placement exams used in Florida: the PERT and the ACCUPLACER Next‑Generation. We offer them year‑round at all campus testing centers.
Sending Scores to FSW
| Test | Instructions for sending scores to FSW |
|---|---|
| ACCUPLACER Next-Generation |
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| PERT |
|
Common-placement Assessments
The SAT, ACT, and CLT (Classic Learning Test) are nationally recognized college‑readiness assessments that measure a student’s skills in areas such as reading, writing, and mathematics. Florida SouthWestern State College uses these scores to help determine whether a student is prepared for college‑level coursework and, when appropriate, to place them directly into college‑level English and math. Students can request that their official SAT or ACT scores be sent to FSW through the College Board or ACT score‑send systems, while CLT scores are shared directly with FSW through the official CLT student portal’s score‑send feature.
Sending Scores to FSW
| ACT |
Alternatively, you may submit scores in-person to FSW Testing Services, or by requesting a Zoom appointment. |
|---|---|
| SAT |
Alternatively, you may submit scores in-person to FSW Testing Services, or by requesting a Zoom appointment. |
| Classic Learning Test, Classic Learning Initiatives, LLC |
|
Alternative Assessments
An Alternative Assessment is any test or academic measure, other than the primary placement exams (PERT, ACCUPLACER, SAT, ACT, CLT), that the Florida Department of Education officially recognizes as valid for demonstrating college‑readiness in English and mathematics. These alternatives are listed in Florida Administrative Code 6A‑10.0315, and they give students additional ways to show they are prepared for college‑level coursework without needing developmental education.
Florida’s approved alternative assessments include options such as the:
- PSAT/NMSQT
- PSAT 10
- PreACT
- CLT10
- GED
- HiSET
- TASC
- ALEKS PPL
- End‑of‑Course (EOC) exams in Algebra 1 and Geometry
These assessments are treated the same as the major placement tests: if a student meets or exceeds the state‑defined benchmark score, they are considered college‑ready. Some of them are non-reportable; therefore, they cannot be sent directly from the issuing institution.
If a student has PSAT/NMSQT, PreACT, or other alternative assessment scores (PSAT 10, GED, HiSET, TASC, ALEKS PPL, CLT10, etc.), contact FSW Testing Services for information on how to submit these scores for placement consideration.