FAST PM1, PM2 and PM3: What Each Test Means for Your Child
Florida students in grades 3 to 10 take the FAST test three times a year. The three tests look the same, but they do different jobs. Here is what each one is for, when it happens this school year, and what to do with the result.
October 1, 2026 · 6 min read · For the 2026-27 school year
The short version
- PM1 is the fall starting point, PM2 is the mid-year check, and PM3 is the end-of-year score.
- All three tests cover the whole year of grade-level material, so the fall test can include things the class has not covered yet.
- The state says PM1 and PM2 are for information only. Use them to see which skills need help while there is still time.
The three tests at a glance
FAST stands for Florida Assessment of Student Thinking. PM stands for progress monitoring. Reading is tested in grades 3 to 10 and Math in grades 3 to 8. These are the statewide windows for 2026-27:
| Test | Statewide window | What it is for | How it is used |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM1 (fall) | August 10 to September 25, 2026 | A starting score at the very beginning of the year, so teachers can track progress. | Informational only |
| PM2 (winter) | November 30, 2026 to January 22, 2027 | A mid-year score to compare with the fall starting score. | Informational only |
| PM3 (spring) | May 3 to 28, 2027 | The end-of-year score. It measures how well your child learned the year's standards. | Used for school accountability |
A window is not a test week. Each district and school picks its own test days inside the window, so ask your child's school for the exact date. Source: Florida Department of Education, 2026-2027 Statewide Assessment Schedule.
Every test covers the whole year
This is the part that surprises many parents. The fall test is not a test of what was taught in August. Each of the three tests covers the full year of grade-level content, in the same mix of skills.
So in the fall, your child is asked about things the class has not reached yet. A low PM1 score may reflect material that has not been taught yet. Ask the teacher how to read the score and the skill groups, and watch how the score changes from fall to winter to spring.
The test changes as your child answers
FAST is usually taken on a computer, and it is adaptive. As a child answers correctly, the questions get harder. As a child misses more questions, they get easier. Either way, the test keeps the same mix of skills. In Math the test adjusts question by question. In Reading it adjusts after each passage and its set of questions. Eligible students can take a paper version as an accommodation.
Two things follow from this. First, two children in the same class may get different questions. Second, how hard the test felt does not tell you the score. Wait for the report.
How long it takes and when you see the score
- Reading (grades 3 to 10): one session of 120 minutes.
- Math: one session of 100 minutes in grades 3 to 5, and 120 minutes in grades 6 to 8.
- The tests are not speed tests. A child who is still working when the time ends may keep working, up to the length of a normal school day.
- Schools can see the results within 24 hours. Parents see them in Florida's Family Portal, using the six-digit access code from the school.
What counts, and what does not
The Florida Department of Education says PM1 and PM2 are for informational purposes only. PM3 is the end-of-year score, and it is the one used for school accountability.
Level 3 means on grade level, and the state calls the lowest Level 3 score the passing score. The state sets specific passing requirements for these tests:
- Grade 3 Reading: a student needs Level 2 or higher to be promoted to Grade 4. Florida law also provides good cause exemptions, so one test score is not the only path. If your child is in Grade 3, ask the teacher early how this works at your school.
- Grade 10 Reading and Algebra 1: these are tied to high school graduation, with retakes and other accepted scores available.
What to do after each test
After PM1 (now)
- Open the report and look past the level. Find the skill groups marked below the standard.
- Pick one skill group to start with, not all of them.
- Ask the teacher what the class is working on now, so practice at home matches school.
After PM2 (winter)
- Compare the score with the fall score. At this point, look at growth first and the level second.
- Check the skill groups again. See whether any have moved up, and work on the ones that have not.
- If the score did not move, ask the teacher what support the school can add.
Before PM3 (spring)
- Keep practice short and steady. We suggest ten to fifteen minutes on most days.
- Let your child try sample questions, so the test format is familiar.
- Keep the week of the test calm. We suggest keeping your child's usual sleep and breakfast routine.
Tests that are not on the PM schedule
Some Florida tests happen only once a year, so there is no PM1 or PM2 for them. In 2026-27, B.E.S.T. Writing (grades 4 to 10) is March 29 to April 9, 2027. The Statewide Science Assessment (grades 5 and 8) is May 3 to 28, 2027. Kindergarten to Grade 2 take a different version of FAST with slightly different windows.
Common questions
Does the fall FAST test (PM1) count?
The Florida Department of Education says PM1 and PM2 are for informational purposes only. PM1 gives a starting score at the beginning of the year so teachers can track progress. The spring test, PM3, gives the end-of-year score and is the one used for school accountability.
Why is my child's fall FAST score so low?
Every FAST test covers the full year of grade-level material, including the fall test. So the fall test can include material the class has not covered yet. Ask the teacher how to read the score, and look at how it changes from fall to winter to spring.
When is FAST PM2 in 2026-27?
The statewide PM2 window is November 30, 2026 to January 22, 2027. Each district and school picks its own test days inside that window, so ask your child's school for the exact date.
When is FAST PM3 in 2026-27?
For grades 3 to 10 Reading and grades 3 to 8 Math, the statewide PM3 window is May 3 to 28, 2027. Schools pick their test days inside that window.
How long does a FAST test take?
FAST Reading for grades 3 to 10 is one 120-minute session. FAST Math is one 100-minute session in grades 3 to 5 and one 120-minute session in grades 6 to 8. The tests are not speed tests. A student who is still working when the time ends may keep working, up to the length of a normal school day.
Is Level 3 passing on the FAST?
The state calls the lowest score in Level 3 the passing score for each test, and Level 3 means on grade level. The state sets specific passing requirements for three tests: Grade 3 Reading for promotion to Grade 4, and Grade 10 Reading and the Algebra 1 end-of-course test for a standard high school diploma. Even there, one test is not the only route: Florida law provides good cause exemptions in Grade 3, and other accepted scores can meet the graduation requirements.
See which skills need practice
Our free Grade 4 Math skills check has 18 practice questions and shows results by skill group. No sign-up needed. If you have a 4th grader, the score guide explains the Grade 4 score ranges for every level.
Sources: Florida Department of Education, Statewide Assessments Guide 2026-2027 and 2026-2027 Statewide Assessment Schedule, checked October 1, 2026. TestPrepLoom is an independent publisher and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Florida Department of Education.