Assessment, Evaluation, and Testing

1. Scores are valid for a maximum of two years.
2. Scores may be on the Florida public high school transcript or on an official score report from the issuing entity.
3. Use of course grades are limited to currently enrolled secondary school students and students who graduated from a high school within a two (2) year period.
4. English and Math courses grades must be on the Florida public high school transcript to demonstrate college readiness. Exception note: Grades for AP, IB, and AICE may be from any high school transcript.
5. Performance in high school coursework requires a student to have an unweighted high school GPA of 3.0 and a grade of 'B' or better in approved high school courses taught at a Florida Public High School or through AP, IB, Cambridge/AICE.
6. MDC will only accept earned credit for course grades with an attribute of 1.0 units (courses attributed to 0.5 units do not meet the demonstration of college readiness).
7. Any combination of existing placement or exit criteria and alternative methods may be used to meet college/certificate readiness.

Learn About High School Assessments

• Florida's K-12 Statewide Assessment Program
  Note: End-of-Course (EOC) Assessments: Mathematics (Algebra 1, Geometry)
  If test date is prior to 10/18/2024, the FSA scale is used to determine BEST Level 1 -5.
  If test date is on or after 10/18/2024, the BEST scale is used to determine BEST Level 1 -5.
• PSAT/NMSQT

General Resources

• Florida Student Success Center
• Alternative Placement Criteria Toolkit

• Are all Florida College System (FCS) institutions required to use alternative methods instead of common placement tests?
  • No, FCS institutions may use approved alternative methods in lieu of a common placement test. FCS institutions may also continue to require a common placement test. Rule 6A-10.0315 provides additional options for students to demonstrate college readiness.

• To whom do the new alternative placement methods apply?
  • Alternative methods may be used to assess college-level communication and computation skills for college credit dual enrollment eligibility (except local methods), college credit admissions counseling (academic advising), meta-majors advising and developmental education placement for non-exempt students and exempt students who opt in to being assessed.

• Can students coming to MDC from other states be assessed using alternative methods?
  • Yes, but there are certain alternative methods that may not apply to out-of-state students, such as grades from Florida high school courses or Florida Standard Assessment scores. Standardized assessments like PSAT, HiSET®, or even a local placement method (for developmental education use, only) from an FCS institution may be available for out-of-state students entering MDC.

• Can an alternative method be used to determine college readiness in communication and a common placement test for computation, and vice versa?
  • Yes, any combination of common placement tests and/or alternative methods may be used to assess college readiness in communication and computation.

• Can alternative methods be used to determine course-level placement?
  • Colleges adopting alternative methods can choose to set minimum standards for course-level placement beyond the college ready standards.

• Scenario 1:Student demonstrates college readiness at the MAT 1033/MGF 1107 level by any of the approved methods (e.g. FL PUBHS, ACT/SAT/ACCUPLACER NG/PERT, ALT TESTS, HS COURSE). Is this student eligible to register for higher level math courses if he/she has HS unweighted GPA 3.0 and an ‘A or ‘B in an approved high school math course taken at any HS (e.g. Florida public, private, or out of-State)?
  • Yes

• How long will the alternative method standard assessment scores and course grades be valid?
  • A student who demonstrates readiness via an approved alternative method for college-level work in communication and computation by achieving or exceeding the standards established in rule and enrolls in an FCS institution within two (2) years of being assessed shall not be required to be reassessed at an FCS institution.  MDC accept grades up to two (2) ears after graduation and scores up to two (2) years after their test date.

• Is possessing a high school equivalency diploma earned via the GED® Test, HiSET® and TASC™ a demonstration of college readiness?
  • Not necessarily. Using a high school equivalency diploma as a basis to determine college readiness depends on the score. For example, pursuant to Rule 6A-6.0201, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), a score of 145 on the GED® Test is required for the awarding of a Florida high school diploma. However, as an alternative method, a score of 165 on the GED® Test is required to demonstrate college readiness.
• Does the GED® Reasoning Through Language Arts test include both reading and writing?
  • Yes, the GED® Reasoning through Language Arts test is divided into two sections and includes reading and writing. However, the reading and writing scores are combined, so students will receive a single score on the score report.
• Does PSAT apply to PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10 or only PSAT/NMSQT?
  • PSAT refers to both the PSAT/NMSQT and the PSAT 10.

• In Rule 6A-10.0315(3)(b)(1), F.A.C., are the high school courses listed under “Courses Taught at a Florida Public High School” specific to Florida public high schools only?
  • Yes, any one of the courses listed can be used to demonstrate college readiness for English and math, but they must be from a Florida public high school.
• Are there equivalent high school courses for out-of-state students, private school students or homeschool students?
  • No, the rule does not recognize other states’ high school coursework, private school coursework or homeschool coursework.
• In Rule 6A-10.0315(3)(b)(2), F.A.C., are the “Accelerated High School Courses,” specific to Florida public high schools?
  • No, AICE, IB and AP are nationally recognized courses, so they can be accepted from other states and private high schools.
• How long is the High school course and grade (alternative placement) valid after graduation?
  • Within 2 years after graduation
• Scenario 2: Student form private or out-of-State HS has a unweighted GPA of 3.0 an a ‘B in an approved high school course. Is this student eligible to demonstrate college readiness with a high school course?
  • Yes. The English and Math courses are limited to AP, IB, and Cambridge AICE. 
• Scenario 3: Student completed a placement test and placed in MAT 1033, but has the necessary class and grade from high school (alternate course placement) that is used for placement in MAC 1105. Can an advisor use the alternate course to place the student in MAC 1105?
  • Yes.
• Scenario 4: Student graduated in Fall 2020 and meets placement criteria (alternative placement) for MAC 1105, but did not enroll within 2 years of high school graduation. Does the student need to take a placement test or can they use course alternative placement for MAC 1105? 
  • A placement test is required since the high school course is no longer valid for an alternative method.

• What is the impact of alternative methods for college credit dual enrollment eligibility?
  • Pursuant to section 1007.271, Florida Statutes, prospective dual enrollment students may be assessed for college readiness using an alternative method for college credit dual enrollment eligibility.  MDC’s Dual Enrollment Articulation Agreements include the use of alternative methods beginning with the Fall 2022 semester.
  • Yes.