How Florida FAST testing works
Plain-English guide for Florida parents and teachers: the three progress-monitoring windows, what changed when FAST replaced the FSA, how scoring works, and which EOCs affect graduation.
The basics
The Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) is Florida's accountability assessment, replacing the FSA in 2022-23. FAST is administered as three progress-monitoring windows per year (PM1, PM2, PM3) in ELA reading (Grades 3-10) and mathematics (Grades 3-8), plus the Statewide Science Assessment in Grades 5 and 8. High-school EOCs cover Algebra 1, Geometry, Biology 1, Civics, and U.S. History.
The three progress-monitoring windows
- PM1 — fall (September). Baseline for the year.
- PM2 — winter (December-January). Mid-year growth check.
- PM3 — spring (April-May). Summative. PM3 scores drive school accountability, retention decisions in Grade 3 reading, and graduation requirements on EOCs.
Replacing a single spring high-stakes test with three shorter windows gives schools earlier signal about where students need help, which is the FAST system's central pedagogical pitch.
B.E.S.T. Standards
FAST assesses Florida's Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) standards, adopted in 2020 and fully tested by 2022-23. Benchmarks are organized by strand / skill area / standard / benchmark (e.g. ELA.4.R.1.1 — Grade 4 Reading, Literary Elements, Theme). Every ZeroRetake FAST book cites the specific benchmark each item targets.
Achievement levels
- Level 1 — Inadequate
- Level 2 — Below Satisfactory
- Level 3 — Satisfactory (passing bar)
- Level 4 — Proficient
- Level 5 — Mastery
Grade 3 reading retention
Florida law requires students who score Level 1 on the Grade 3 Reading FAST to be retained unless a good-cause exemption applies. This makes Grade 3 FAST Reading one of the highest-stakes assessments in the system.
Frequently asked questions
When are the Florida FAST tests given?
FAST uses three progress-monitoring windows per year. PM1 runs in September, PM2 in December-January, PM3 in April-May. PM3 is the summative assessment that counts for school accountability. EOC windows run in December, May, and July.
What changed when Florida replaced the FSA with FAST?
In 2022-23 Florida replaced the single-spring Florida Standards Assessment (FSA) with the year-long progress-monitoring FAST. Instead of one high-stakes test in spring, students now take three shorter assessments tracked across the year. The B.E.S.T. Standards replaced the Florida Standards for content alignment.
What are the FAST achievement levels?
FAST reports five levels: Level 1 (Inadequate), Level 2 (Below Satisfactory), Level 3 (Satisfactory/Proficient), Level 4 (Proficient), Level 5 (Mastery). Level 3 is the passing bar. Cut scores differ by grade and subject.
Which Florida EOCs affect graduation?
Florida requires passing EOCs in Algebra 1 for a standard diploma. Students also take EOCs in Biology 1, Geometry, Civics (Grade 7), and U.S. History for course credit; those scores count for 30% of the course grade.
Is FAST computer-adaptive?
Yes. FAST is a computer-adaptive test (CAT). Item difficulty adjusts to student responses. Students with a VLS (Visually Locked Screen) accommodation receive a non-adaptive paper-online hybrid instead.
How long is FAST?
Each FAST administration is untimed but uses a 90-160 minute testing window depending on grade and session. Most students finish PM3 in 90-120 minutes per subject.
Where can I find official FAST practice items?
FLDOE publishes sample item sets and practice tests at cpalms.org. Sample sets are small (typically 10-20 items per grade); practice tests show format and length but are released sparingly. Supplemental practice books close the gap with full-length FAST-format tests.