100+ Free PERT Writing Practice Questions

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Question 1

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Select the sentence that best uses an appositive phrase correctly. An appositive renames or explains the noun immediately before it.

My neighbor, a retired firefighter, helped rebuild the community center.

My neighbor a retired firefighter, helped rebuild the community center.

My neighbor, a retired firefighter helped rebuild the community center.

My neighbor a retired firefighter helped rebuild the community center.

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PERT Reading

Practice Questions100 questions

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: PERT Writing Exam

Total Questions (25 scored + 5 field-test)

Florida Department of Education, PERT specifications

50–150

Score Range

FLDOE PERT scoring guidelines

103+

College-Ready Cut Score for English Composition

FLDOE college placement standards, 2024–2025

Untimed

Time Limit (avg. ~45–60 min for Writing subtest)

Florida public college testing centers

Computer-adaptive

Question Format

FLDOE PERT technical specifications

Free

Cost for Florida Public School Students

Florida Department of Education

The PERT (Postsecondary Education Readiness Test) Writing subtest is administered by the Florida Department of Education and is required for placement into college-level English courses at Florida public colleges and universities. The test contains 30 questions—25 scored and 5 unscored field-test items—and is fully computer-adaptive, meaning question difficulty adjusts based on prior responses. Scores range from 50 to 150; a score of 103 or above places students into college-level English Composition (ENC 1101 or equivalent). The test is untimed and covers six core areas: grammar and usage (~30%), sentence structure (~20%), punctuation (~20%), organization and transitions (~15%), word choice (~10%), and rhetorical effectiveness (~5%). No calculator is permitted; the exam is taken at a Florida college testing center or via remote proctoring. Source: FLDOE, 2024–2025.

Sample PERT Writing Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your PERT Writing exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Choose the option that corrects the error in the following sentence, or select 'No change needed' if the sentence is correct. Sentence: 'The committee have reached their decision after a long deliberation.'

A.No change needed

B.The committee has reached their decision after a long deliberation.

C.The committee has reached its decision after a long deliberation.

D.The committee have reached its decision after a long deliberation.

Explanation: In American English, collective nouns like 'committee' take singular verbs and singular pronouns. 'Has' is the correct singular verb and 'its' is the correct singular pronoun for a collective noun acting as a unit.

2Read the sentence below and choose the best version of the underlined portion. If the original is best, choose option A. Sentence: 'After finishing her homework, the television was turned on by Maria.'

A.After finishing her homework, the television was turned on by Maria.

B.After finishing her homework, Maria turned on the television.

C.After Maria finishing her homework, the television was turned on.

D.The television was turned on after Maria was finishing her homework.

Explanation: The original sentence contains a dangling modifier: 'After finishing her homework' should modify Maria, not the television. Option B places Maria immediately after the modifier and uses active voice, which is both grammatically correct and clearer.

3Choose the sentence that is correctly punctuated. Options below each represent a different version of the same idea about compound sentences.

A.The storm knocked out the power, and we lit candles.

B.The storm knocked out the power and, we lit candles.

C.The storm knocked out the power, and, we lit candles.

D.The storm knocked out the power and we lit candles.

Explanation: When two independent clauses are joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so), place a comma before the conjunction. Option A correctly uses a comma before 'and.'

4Identify the sentence that contains a sentence fragment. Choose the option that IS a fragment (incomplete sentence).

A.She ran to the store before it closed.

B.Because the weather was too cold for an outdoor event.

C.The teacher explained the assignment clearly.

D.Many students struggle with algebra.

Explanation: Option B is a fragment because 'Because the weather was too cold for an outdoor event' is a dependent clause—it begins with a subordinating conjunction and has no independent clause attached. It cannot stand alone as a sentence.

5Select the word that best completes the sentence while maintaining the correct part of speech and tone. Sentence: 'The professor's lecture was so ______ that several students fell asleep.'

A.monotonous

B.vivacious

C.riveting

D.provocative

Explanation: 'Monotonous' means dull and repetitive, which logically explains why students fell asleep. The sentence context demands a negative adjective describing the lecture.

6Read the passage below and answer the question. '(1) The library renovations are nearly complete. (2) New computers have been installed. (3) The study rooms have been repainted. (4) In addition, comfortable seating areas have replaced the old wooden chairs.' Which transition word or phrase in sentence 4 best shows that the sentence adds information to the list?

A.In addition

B.However

C.Therefore

D.On the contrary

Explanation: 'In addition' is an additive transition that signals another item is being added to a list of changes. The passage describes sequential improvements, and sentence 4 continues that list.

7Choose the option that correctly uses an apostrophe. Fill in the blank: '______ idea was to leave early.'

A.The teams'

B.The team's

C.The teams

D.The team

Explanation: For a singular possessive noun, add apostrophe + s. 'The team's idea' correctly shows that one team owns the idea. The apostrophe comes before the 's' because there is only one team.

8Read the sentence and choose the correct verb form. Sentence: 'Neither the students nor the teacher ______ aware of the schedule change.'

A.are

B.were

C.was

D.is

Explanation: With 'neither/nor' or 'either/or' constructions, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. 'Teacher' is closest to the verb, and 'teacher' is singular, so the past tense singular 'was' is correct. The sentence uses past context.

9Choose the sentence that avoids a run-on error.

A.The game was exciting, the fans cheered loudly.

B.The game was exciting the fans cheered loudly.

C.The game was exciting; therefore, the fans cheered loudly.

D.The game was exciting, so the fans cheered they were very happy.

Explanation: Option C correctly uses a semicolon plus a conjunctive adverb ('therefore') followed by a comma to join two independent clauses. This is a grammatically correct way to join related independent clauses.

10Select the correctly punctuated sentence with an introductory subordinate clause.

A.When the rain stopped we went outside.

B.When the rain stopped, we went outside.

C.When, the rain stopped we went outside.

D.When the rain, stopped we went outside.

Explanation: An introductory dependent clause must be followed by a comma before the main clause. 'When the rain stopped' is the dependent clause, and the comma correctly separates it from 'we went outside.'

About the PERT Writing Exam

The PERT Writing subtest is a 30-question computer-adaptive test used by Florida public colleges and universities to place students into appropriate English and composition courses. It contains 25 scored questions and 5 unscored field-test items. The exam is untimed and covers grammar and usage, sentence structure, punctuation, word choice, paragraph organization, and rhetorical effectiveness. Students who score 103 or above qualify for college-level English composition without remediation.

Questions

30 scored questions

Time Limit

Untimed (approx. 45–60 minutes)

Passing Score

103+ for college-level English placement

Exam Fee

Free at most Florida public institutions; small fee may apply at some testing centers (Florida Department of Education (FLDOE))

PERT Writing Exam Content Outline

~30%

Grammar and Usage

Tests standard English conventions: subject-verb agreement, pronoun case and agreement, verb tense, adjective/adverb use, capitalization, and commonly confused words.

~20%

Sentence Structure

Covers fragments, run-ons, comma splices, dangling/misplaced modifiers, parallel structure, and faulty comparisons.

~20%

Punctuation

Tests commas, semicolons, colons, apostrophes (possessives and contractions), dashes, and hyphens in compound modifiers.

~15%

Organization and Transitions

Paragraph unity, topic sentences, concluding sentences, sentence placement, and transitions (additive, contrast, cause-effect).

~10%

Word Choice and Diction

Precise vocabulary, homophones, commonly confused words, redundancy elimination, and tone matching.

~5%

Rhetorical Effectiveness

Evaluating writing choices including conciseness, voice, thesis quality, evidence strength, and argument development.

How to Pass the PERT Writing Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 103+ for college-level English placement
Exam length: 30 questions
Time limit: Untimed (approx. 45–60 minutes)
Exam fee: Free at most Florida public institutions; small fee may apply at some testing centers

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

PERT Writing Study Tips from Top Performers

1Focus on high-frequency errors: subject-verb agreement, pronoun case (who/whom, between you and me), and comma usage account for a large share of PERT Writing questions.

2Practice identifying sentence fragments and run-ons by covering the answer choices first and deciding whether the sentence is complete before looking at options.

3Learn the transition word categories: additive (furthermore, in addition), contrast (however, on the other hand), and cause-effect (therefore, as a result) — then match transition to relationship.

4Use the 'him/he' substitution test for who/whom: if 'him' fits the answer, use 'whom'; if 'he' fits, use 'who.'

5For passage-based questions, read all sentences before answering — organization and rhetorical effectiveness questions require understanding the paragraph as a whole, not just individual sentences.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the PERT Writing subtest?

The PERT Writing subtest is a 30-question computer-adaptive multiple-choice exam administered by the Florida Department of Education. It is used by Florida public colleges and universities to determine whether students are ready for college-level English composition courses or need developmental (remedial) coursework first.

What score do I need to place into college English on the PERT Writing test?

You need a score of 103 or above to qualify for college-level English Composition (such as ENC 1101) at Florida public institutions. Scores below 103 result in placement into developmental English courses that must be completed before enrolling in college-level composition.

How many questions are on the PERT Writing test?

The PERT Writing subtest contains 30 questions: 25 scored items and 5 unscored field-test items embedded throughout. You will not be able to tell which questions are field-test items, so answer all questions carefully.

Is the PERT Writing test timed?

No—the PERT Writing test is untimed. Students may take as long as needed. Most students complete the Writing subtest in approximately 45 to 60 minutes. The entire PERT (all three subtests) averages about 2 hours and 15 minutes.

What topics are covered on the PERT Writing test?

The PERT Writing test covers grammar and usage, sentence structure (fragments, run-ons, parallelism, modifiers), punctuation, word choice, paragraph organization and transitions, and rhetorical effectiveness. Questions typically present a sentence or short passage and ask you to identify the best version or identify an error.

Can I retake the PERT Writing test if I am not satisfied with my score?

Yes. Students may retake the PERT Writing subtest. Many Florida colleges allow one free retest; additional retakes may require a fee and a waiting period. Check with your specific institution for their retake policy. Practicing with full-length practice tests before retaking is strongly recommended.