Signed numbers and order of operations
An expression records a sequence of operations.
Start lessonFree PERT course: 49 lessons.
Free lessons for all three PERT subjects: 25 in Mathematics, 12 in Reading and 12 in Writing. Each lesson teaches one skill with worked examples, then gives you a practice question with a full explanation.
Test Ninjas Research · Updated November 5, 2026 · 3 min read
01
How the course works
Every lesson follows the same pattern. It opens with the idea in a few sentences, then works through examples, often naming a tempting wrong answer and showing why it fails. Reading and Writing lessons include a full passage or draft to read, plus a section that applies the method to a new context.
Then it’s your turn: a practice question on the same skill, written in the PERT’s multiple-choice style. Answer it, submit, and read the explanation. A notes box lets you write the method in your own words, and a checkbox marks the lesson as done. Notes and checkmarks are saved on this device, with no account needed.
The questions are practice questions written for this course, not real PERT items. For more practice, build a set in the question bank or take the 20-question practice set on each question-type guide once you have finished that type’s lessons.
02
What order to take the lessons in
Start with the subject you need most. If you aren’t sure, take a 20-question set per subject in the question bank first; the PERT study plan explains how to read the result and lays out all 49 lessons over 14, 30 or 60 days.
- Mathematics: take the 25 lessons in the order listed. Later lessons use earlier ones: factoring needs distribution and binomial products, and systems need equations of lines.
- Reading: any order works. Start with main ideas and summaries, since every passage question depends on knowing what the passage claims.
- Writing: do the six grammar and editing lessons first if your diagnostic misses are mostly sentence errors, or the six revision lessons first if they are about focus, support and organization.
03
Lessons by topic
| Topic group | Lessons | Start with | Question type guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Math: arithmetic and exponents | 5 | Signed numbers and order of operations | Expressions, polynomials and factoring |
| Math: polynomials and rational expressions | 6 | Adding and subtracting polynomials | Expressions, polynomials and factoring |
| Math: percents, equations and inequalities | 8 | Percents and proportional models | Algebra and mathematical models |
| Math: lines, systems and quadratics | 6 | Slope and coordinate relationships | Algebra and mathematical models |
| Reading: evidence and inference | 5 | Main ideas, summaries, and the scope of a conclusion | Passage evidence and inference |
| Reading: purpose, vocabulary and relationships | 7 | Literal meanings, figurative phrases, and contextual evidence | Purpose, vocabulary and relationships |
| Writing: revision and organization | 6 | Sustaining focus and shaping a thesis | Revision and organization |
| Writing: grammar and sentence editing | 6 | Find the subject before choosing the verb | Grammar and sentence editing |
The full list is below, grouped by subject. For an overview of each subject before you start, read the Math, Reading and Writing guides.
Ready to test yourself? Take a free 30-question PERT practice test in any subject, untimed and answer to advance.
Practice test04
All 49 lessons by subject
Mathematics (25 lessons)
Expressions · Equations · Polynomials · Coordinate relationships
Fractions and rational arithmetic
Fractions describe division, so equivalent fractions preserve value when numerator and denominator are multiplied by the same nonzero quantity.
Start lessonPercents and proportional models
A percent is a ratio out of 100.
Start lessonPowers and exponent structure
Repeated multiplication explains exponent rules: multiplying equal bases concatenates their factors, whereas a power of a power repeats the full group.
Start lessonSubstituting into algebraic expressions
Evaluation replaces every occurrence of a variable with its assigned value.
Start lessonDistribution and like terms
The distributive property preserves a product by multiplying every term inside a group.
Start lessonMultistep linear equations
An equation states that two expressions have the same value.
Start lessonLinear equations with fractions and decimals
Multiplying every term of an equation by a common denominator turns fractional coefficients into integers without changing the solution.
Start lessonIdentities, contradictions and parameters
Some equations constrain a variable to one value; others reduce to a statement true for every input or false for every input.
Start lessonSolving literal equations
A literal equation expresses a relationship among several quantities.
Start lessonLinear inequalities
An inequality compares ordered quantities.
Start lessonCompound inequalities
An AND condition requires both inequalities and describes their intersection.
Start lessonBuilding and comparing linear models
A linear model combines a fixed starting amount and a constant amount per unit.
Start lessonSlope and coordinate relationships
Slope measures vertical change per horizontal change.
Start lessonEquations of lines
A line’s slope tells how y changes with x, and its intercept gives y when x is zero.
Start lessonParallel and perpendicular lines
Distinct parallel nonvertical lines share a slope.
Start lessonSolving simultaneous linear equations
A system asks for values that satisfy both equations at once.
Start lessonInterpreting and modeling systems
Two linear equations can meet at one point, represent the same line, or represent parallel distinct lines.
Start lessonAdding and subtracting polynomials
A polynomial groups terms by powers of its variables.
Start lessonProducts and quotients of monomials
A monomial is a product of a coefficient and variable powers.
Start lessonMultiplying binomials
The distributive property pairs each term of one factor with every term of the other.
Start lessonFactoring polynomials
Factoring reverses multiplication and exposes a polynomial’s product structure.
Start lessonDividing polynomials
Polynomial division chooses each quotient term so its product with the divisor cancels the current highest-degree term.
Start lessonSolving quadratic equations
A quadratic equation can have two, one or no real roots.
Start lessonRational expressions, equations and domains
A rational expression is a quotient of polynomials and is defined only where its original denominator is nonzero.
Start lessonReading (12 lessons)
Main ideas · Inference · Vocabulary in context · Evaluating arguments
Character, motive, and changing understanding
A character question asks you to explain an action using the situation the story supplies.
Start lessonExplaining causes while preserving uncertainty
An explanation often gives a mechanism and then limits its reach.
Start lessonHistorical sources and the limits of a record
Historical reading asks you to reconstruct a change without treating a surviving object as a complete account.
Start lessonClaims, counterarguments, and conditional recommendations
To evaluate an argument, state the recommendation and its success criteria before judging evidence.
Start lessonApplying procedures and recognizing their purpose
A procedure is a network of prerequisites, permissions, and restrictions.
Start lessonPaired arguments: agreement, additions, and shared limits
Compare texts by stating each position separately before combining them.
Start lessonMain ideas, summaries, and the scope of a conclusion
A main idea captures the relationship the passage develops, not merely its topic.
Start lessonLiteral meanings, figurative phrases, and contextual evidence
Vocabulary questions require choosing the meaning that makes sense in this sentence and passage.
Start lessonTone, humor, and restrained emotional language
Tone is an attitude conveyed through selection, diction, and emphasis.
Start lessonOrganization as a way of making meaning
Text structure is the relationship among parts, not just their order on the page.
Start lessonFacts, judgments, and evidence that fits a claim
A factual statement describes something that can be checked; an opinion evaluates or interprets it.
Start lessonComparing purposes and complementary forms of access
Paired texts may illuminate one subject with different purposes.
Start lessonWriting (12 lessons)
Organization · Support · Grammar and mechanics
Sustaining focus and shaping a thesis
A focused draft develops a particular purpose rather than collecting facts about a broad topic.
Start lessonChoosing support that answers the claim
Relevant evidence must support the specific reason an argument gives.
Start lessonSequencing actions and making relationships explicit
Organization depends on prerequisites and logical connections, not just smooth-sounding transitions.
Start lessonTone, precision, and audience-sensitive wording
Effective revision makes language fit its purpose and audience while preserving accurate content.
Start lessonSynthesizing sources and preserving attribution
A synthesis connects relevant findings without treating two different kinds of evidence as interchangeable.
Start lessonAcknowledging competing claims without losing the argument
A substantive argument gives a clear recommendation and treats a competing concern as something to answer.
Start lessonFind the subject before choosing the verb
Agreement connects a sentence's finite verb to its grammatical subject.
Start lessonUse pronouns to preserve roles and clear reference
A pronoun takes the place of a noun, but it must preserve that noun's role and reference.
Start lessonBuild a timeline before editing verb forms
Tense tells the reader how actions relate to a time frame.
Start lessonPunctuate the boundaries the sentence actually has
Punctuation organizes grammatical units and their relationships.
Start lessonAttach descriptions to the people and things they mean
A modifier describes a noun, action, or another modifier.
Start lessonCoordinate ideas in matching grammatical forms
Parallel structure helps readers recognize ideas of equal rank.
Start lesson05
Frequently asked questions
06
Sources
PERT rules are set by Florida law and by each college. These are the pages this guide relies on; your testing center’s current instructions take priority.
- Florida Department of Education, P.E.R.T. Student Study Guide (undated, linked from the FDOE page). Accessed October 3, 2026.
- Florida Administrative Code, State Board of Education Rule 6A-10.0315, F.A.C., Demonstration of Readiness for College-Level Communication and Computation. Accessed November 5, 2026.