Your 4th Grader's FAST Score, Explained
A plain-language guide for Florida parents: what the number means, the Grade 4 score range for every level, and what to do at home this fall.
Updated September 2026 for the 2026-27 school year.
The short version
- Level 3 means on grade level. For Grade 4 that starts at 213 in Reading and 211 in Math.
- A low fall score is common. The fall test covers the whole year, including things your child has not been taught yet.
- Use the fall report to find which skills need support now, and talk with the teacher. Do not wait for spring.
Check your child's Grade 4 score
Type the scale score from the report. Nothing you type is saved or sent anywhere.
Grade 4 score ranges for each level
FAST reports a scale score and an achievement level from 1 to 5. The levels come from these ranges, which are different for every grade and subject:
| Level | ELA Reading | Mathematics |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1Well Below Grade Level | 154 to 198 | 155 to 199 |
| Level 2Below Grade Level | 199 to 212 | 200 to 210 |
| Level 3On Grade Level | 213 to 223 | 211 to 220 |
| Level 4Proficient | 224 to 236 | 221 to 237 |
| Level 5Exemplary | 237 to 270 | 238 to 273 |
Source: Florida Department of Education, Understanding Florida Statewide Assessments Reports for Families (April 2026).
Why fall scores are often low
FAST is given three times a year: fall (PM1), winter (PM2) and spring (PM3). Every one of them tests the full year of Grade 4 material, so the fall test can include skills the class has not covered yet.
That is why the state treats the fall and winter results as a starting point and a mid-year check, not as a final result. The spring test is the one that measures what your child learned this year. All three use the same scale, so the report can show your child's scores side by side across the year.
The four things on the report
1. Scale score
The main number, for example 208. It is not a percentage and not a count of correct answers. FAST is usually taken on a computer and adapts to your child's answers, and the score is calculated from how your child answered the questions, not by simply counting right answers.
2. Achievement level
Level 1 to 5, based on the ranges in the table above. Level 3 is on grade level.
3. Percentile rank
How your child compares with Florida students who took the same test, based on the previous school year's results. A percentile of 60 means the score was higher than about 60 out of 100 of those students. It is not the percent of questions correct.
4. Reporting categories
The test is split into skill groups. For each one, the report says your child is below, at or near, or above the standard. This is a good place to start home practice, because it points to specific skills.
Grade 4 ELA Reading
- Reading Prose and Poetry
- Reading Informational Text
- Reading Across Genres & Vocabulary
Grade 4 Mathematics
- Number Sense and Operations with Whole Numbers
- Number Sense and Operations with Fractions and Decimals
- Geometric Reasoning, Measurement, and Data Analysis and Probability
In Family Portal, open View Detailed Report. The Category Results tab shows the skill groups, and the Test Questions tab shows which group each question belonged to and whether it was correct, partly correct, incorrect or left blank. If there are several blanks, it is worth asking your child what happened on those questions.
A simple plan for home (15 minutes a day)
Week 1: Find the one skill group to work on
Pick the reporting category marked "below the standard." If there are several, start with one. Ask the teacher what the class is covering now so home practice lines up with school.
Weeks 2 and 3: Short, steady practice
We suggest ten to fifteen minutes on most days; short, regular sessions are easier to keep up. For Reading, read together and ask one question after each chapter: "What is the main idea?" or "Which words told you that?" For Math, a few problems a day on the weak skill group, with your child explaining each answer out loud.
Week 4: Check in, then repeat
Look at what got easier. Keep what works, move to the next skill group, and compare notes with the teacher. The winter report will show the next snapshot.
Common questions
What is a good FAST score for 4th grade?+
Level 3 is on grade level. For Grade 4 that starts at 213 in ELA Reading and 211 in Mathematics. Level 4 (Proficient) starts at 224 in Reading and 221 in Math.
My child scored Level 1 or 2 in the fall. Should I worry?+
Not by itself, but use it. The fall (PM1) and winter (PM2) tests cover the whole year's material, so many children score below Level 3 before they have been taught it. The Florida Department of Education says these results are informational and meant to show where a child may need extra support. So look at which skill groups were below the standard and talk with the teacher now, rather than waiting for spring.
Is the percentile rank the same as the percent correct?+
No. It compares your child's score with Florida students who took the same test, using the previous school year's results. A percentile rank of 60 means the score was higher than about 60 out of 100 of those students. It says nothing about how many questions were answered correctly.
Where do I find my child's FAST score?+
In Florida's Family Portal, using the six-digit access code from your child's school plus your child's birth date and first name as it appears in school records, or through your district's parent portal if it links to Family Portal. Access codes are reset each October, so ask the school for the new code if the old one stops working.
When is the next FAST test?+
The winter test (PM2) comes mid-year on dates your district sets. For 2026-27, the statewide spring window (PM3) for grades 3 to 10 Reading and grades 3 to 8 Math is May 3 to 28, 2027. Your school picks its exact days inside that window.
Want practice that matches the test?
The state's free sample questions show what the test looks like on screen. Our Grade 4 workbooks have full-length practice tests for Reading, Math, and Writing.
TestPrepLoom is an independent publisher and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Florida Department of Education. Score ranges are taken from the Department's published family guide; always check your child's official report and talk with the teacher about decisions for your child.