Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST): Guide & Tips
Updated November 5, 2024
The Florida FAST assessment is a progress monitoring test in reading and math that is designed to ensure a student gets the right level of support during the academic year and in the following grade.
The tests are taken three times per year and are administered until the 10th grade.
For parents in Florida, the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) is a relatively new testing system their children need to take.
With it only being introduced from the 2022-23 academic year onwards, it makes sense to have some questions.
Here we’ll take a closer look at exactly what the test is, how the scoring system works, and what it means for your child.
Added to that, we’ll also have some tips on how to score well on the assessment. Read on to find out more!
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What Is the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking?
Commonly referred to as FAST, this assessment is to monitor the progress of students in Florida all the way from pre-kindergarten to the 10th grade.
Specifically, it tests reading and math ability and will be administered three times per year.
Signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2022, FAST replaced the Florida Standards Assessment (FSA) and was introduced for the first time in the 2022-23 academic year.
The assessment is a part of the Benchmarks of Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T) from the Florida Department of Education.
The tests are taken online and can be done on either a computer or a tablet.
In addition, the assessment will get easier or harder depending on how the child is doing on the test.
If a student is struggling, the question bank will provide easier questions, and their score judged accordingly.
The three allocated progress monitoring (PM) time slots for the assessment are at the very beginning of the school year, the middle of the school year, and towards the end.
Specifically, schools are given these windows to administer the test.
PM1 – August 15 to September 30
PM2 – December 5 to January 27
PM3 – May 1 to June 2
However, it’s worth noting that the first two testing periods are used to provide a baseline from which support and guidance can be offered.
Here teachers can see which students need additional support and which ones are excelling in reading and math.
The final exam provides a summary of their yearly performance.
From which plans can be made for the level of support a child may need for the following grade.
Each test will be 35 to 40 questions long and covers both what they have been learning in class, and material that has yet to be covered.
What Is in the Florida FAST Assessment?
The assessments are designed to test a child’s comprehension of both math and reading.
The tests contain a wide range of questions that challenge a child in all areas of mathematics and reading comprehension.
For example, in the math test, they can expect to have questions related to graph comprehension, sequencing, fractions, angles, decimals and much more.
However, for the reading assessment, they’ll have questions that test their story comprehension, understanding of inference, range of vocabulary, story sequencing and making predictions.
As mentioned above, these questions are called computer-adaptive.
The idea of this is that the test will be more or less equally difficult for every student.
This is because the questions will get easier or harder depending on the success of previous answers.
The first two tests are usually shorter, and depending on the grade level, will take between 80 minutes to 100 minutes to complete.
The third test is a little longer as this is expected to take from 100 to 120 minutes.
It is recommended that a student only take one subject test per day to prevent mental fatigue.
All tests must be completed in one session.
For example questions see our comprehensive Psychometric Success article.
What Are FAST Testing Florida Scores?
The scoring system for FAST testing Florida is quite complicated.
The overall FAST testing Florida scores can range from around 240 to 412 but how good the score is will depend on their grade.
For example, a score of 350 can be excellent in the 3rd grade but be poor in the 8th grade.
Due to this, the Florida FAST testing scores are placed in levels to make it simpler.
So rather than worrying about a score and what it means, a child will be placed in a level from 1 to 5.
Let’s take a closer look at what these levels mean.
FAST Level 1
This is called inadequate.
If a child is at this level there is some serious cause for concern and they are well below the comprehension they should be for their grade.
They will require a substantial amount of support to be ready for the next grade.
FAST Level 2
The second level is deemed ‘below satisfactory’. Here the guidance suggests they’ll need substantial support if they are to excel in the next grade.
This isn’t ideal but it means with a little extra work, they can be back on track.
FAST Level 3
This is ‘on grade’.
It simply means they are where they’re meant to be. Neither is their cause for concern, nor are they excelling.
Most students will be expected to achieve grade three as this will be the average score.
FAST Level 4
This is called ‘proficient’.
Here they are above average and have excellent reading and math skills. The guidance states they are likely to excel in the next grade.
They scored excellently on the assessment but didn’t achieve the very highest of marks.
FAST Level 5
Here we have ‘mastery’.
If a child achieves this grade, they are well ahead of where they are expected to be and have the comprehension of a much older child.
It’s said they are highly likely to excel in the next grade.
Preparation Tips for FAST Testing Florida
While there are three opportunities to take this test throughout the year, it’s always a good idea to be prepared.
You don’t want a scenario where a student gets a lower score than they should due to factors such as tiredness, lack of preparation, or lack of confidence.
Let’s look at some of the best ways to prepare for the FAST assessment Florida.
Step 1. Know the Topics and Format
Before taking the assessment, it’s important to know what the format will be, and the type of questions being asked. This will prevent any nasty surprises that can happen if you’ve been studying the wrong things or were expecting different types of questions.
It’s a good idea to review the syllabus or read the guidelines provided by the school. Not only will a student be better prepared for the questions they’ll face, but they’ll also have less anxiety if they know what to expect.
Step 2. Use Online Practice Materials
There are plenty of online resources out there that can help with the Florida FAST assessment. Perhaps the best way to prepare is by taking practice tests. This will get them comfortable with the format and better equipped to answer the questions.
Along with a full practice test, they can simply answer sample questions or refine their skills on educational websites. Many platforms even offer interactive quizzes which can be more engaging and help to reinforce concepts.
Step 3. Learn Through Play
There are many ways that a child can learn through play. Help them to engage in educational games either online or offline. A simple search for math games online can give you a wide range of options to choose from.
In addition to math games, it’s a good idea to encourage reading for pleasure by choosing books they enjoy. Ask them questions about the book to gauge their comprehension and see if they understand the meaning of more complicated words.
Step 4. Practice With a Test Environment
We’re not just talking about practice tests here, but getting them familiar with the conditions that the test will be under. Creating mock test environments for their studies can help them to practice concentration and calmness.
You can even time them on unrelated tasks to practice managing time. It's easy for a child to get flustered under test conditions so exposing it to them beforehand can take away a lot of that anxiety.
Step 5. Encourage and Support
We mentioned there about the importance of removing anxiety. As with humans of any age, it can be harder to complete tasks when we’re overly worried. Our brains can fog over and even simple questions become difficult.
Some positive reinforcement can go a long way to easing their worried minds. It's important for parents to be a source of motivation and confidence. If they are worried, offer support and practice relaxation techniques, such as breathing exercises.
Step 6. Sleep and Nutrition
Sleep and nutrition can have a significant impact on our mental performance. Ensure that your child gets enough sleep in the days leading up to the assessment. If this can sometimes be an issue, try removing stimulants such as TV before bedtime and adding relaxants, such as taking a bath.
A bad diet can affect concentration too. Before a test, it's good to avoid any unhealthy foods. Provide them with nutritious meals and snacks, and make sure they are drinking plenty of water.
The FAST Florica assessment is a way for schools in Florida to monitor the progress of their students. These math and reading tests will allow schools to support children and ensure they are at least on grade with these two important skills.
Fast testing is done three times a year. These are at the beginning, middle, and end of the academic year. The exact testing dates are determined by individual schools but have to fall within the timeframes we mentioned above.
There is no passing score as such for the FAST test, and the scoring system is quite complex. To simplify it, a child will be given a level between 1 and 5. Levels 1 and 2 and below average, 3 is average, and 4 and 5 are above average.
The best way to prepare for FAST testing is to practice with the type of math and reading questions a student is likely to face. Specifically, the best way would be to take a practice test but other forms of learning can be useful too.
There is no pass or fail for the FAST reading test Florida. The child will take the test and then be given a level from 1 to 5. This level will determine what steps, if any, need to be taken to improve their reading and math skills.
Additionally, Level 3 is seen as an average mark, which isn’t hard to achieve for most students. So, while the test may be challenging to some, it’s not seen as particularly daunting.
Not for most assessments. The first and second FAST assessments in the school year are solely for progress monitoring. The third test can determine the support you’ll need in the following grade year.
However, retained grade 10 or grades 11–12 students who have not yet met the grade 10 ELA graduation requirement participate in the ELA Retake assessment.
Yes, and no. Yes, because this is a test that shows how a child is doing in school. Scoring low on the tests may mean they are assigned additional help and aren't at the same level of reading and math comprehension as their classmates.
No, because these tests aren’t going to affect their long-term future. If a child has a low score, with a little support and guidance they can increase their level the next time they are tested. So while the test is a useful progress monitoring tool, a bad score isn’t the end of the world.
Final Thoughts
The FAST assessment is a new way for schools in Florida to keep track of a child's reading and math skills. While many parents may bemoan their child needing to take even more tests, they can be a useful progress monitoring school.
With good practice and planning, any student will give themselves the best possible chance of getting a positive score. Even if they don’t, with a little hard work and support, they can quickly get back on track when the next FAST assessment comes along.
