Can You Use a Calculator on the PERT Test?

PERT Test Calculator Policy Checker

Get an immediate answer about whether a calculator is permitted for your specific situation on the Florida PERT exam.

What is the PERT Test Calculator Policy?

When preparing for the Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT), a common question is: can you use a calculator on the PERT test? The answer is not a simple yes or no; it depends entirely on the section of the test and specific circumstances. Personal or handheld calculators are generally forbidden. However, the testing system itself provides an on-screen calculator for certain questions.

The primary goal of the PERT is to assess your academic skills to ensure correct course placement. Therefore, the restrictions are in place to accurately measure your abilities. For the Reading and Writing sections, calculators are irrelevant and not permitted. For the Mathematics section, the policy is more nuanced. An online calculator is made available only for specific questions where complex computation is not the skill being tested. This ensures a fair evaluation of your mathematical reasoning and problem-solving abilities.

PERT Calculator Rules by Test Section

The official rules for calculator usage vary significantly across the three sections of the PERT exam: Mathematics, Reading, and Writing. Understanding these differences is critical for test day readiness.

Official PERT Calculator Policy Summary

Test Section	Handheld Calculator Allowed?	On-Screen Calculator Provided?	Official Guideline
Mathematics	No	Yes, for specific questions only	An on-screen, 4-function calculator will pop up automatically when its use is permitted for a question.
Reading	No	No	Calculators are not permitted as they are not relevant to assessing reading comprehension skills.
Writing	No	No	Calculators are not permitted as they are not relevant to assessing grammar and writing skills.

Practical Examples

Let’s look at two common scenarios to see how the PERT calculator policy applies.

Example 1: Standard Student taking the Math Section

• Inputs: Test Section = Mathematics, Accommodation = No
• Policy: The student cannot bring their own calculator. For certain questions, the testing interface will automatically present an on-screen calculator for them to use. For other questions, no calculator will be available.
• Result: Conditional use of the provided on-screen calculator only.

Example 2: Student with Accommodation taking any Section

• Inputs: Test Section = Any, Accommodation = Yes (IEP/504)
• Policy: If a student’s official IEP or 504 plan includes a calculator accommodation, the rules may be different. They should confirm with the testing center beforehand, but often this allows for the use of a specified calculator (e.g., a handheld four-function calculator) even on non-calculator portions, if stipulated in their plan.
• Result: Likely yes, but the type and usage depend on the specific, pre-approved accommodation.

How to Use This PERT Calculator Policy Checker

Our tool simplifies the official rules into an easy-to-use format. Here’s how to use it to determine if you can use a calculator on the PERT test:

1. Select Your Test Section: Choose between Mathematics, Reading, or Writing from the first dropdown menu. This is the most important factor.
2. Specify Accommodation Status: In the second dropdown, indicate whether you have an officially approved accommodation like an IEP or 504 plan that allows for calculator use.
3. Check Your Situation: Click the “Check My Situation” button.
4. Review the Result: The tool will display a clear result: “Yes,” “No,” or “Conditional,” along with a detailed explanation based on your selections. This provides an instant, personalized answer to your question. For more resources, check out our guide on PERT practice tests.

Key Factors That Affect Calculator Use on the PERT

• Test Section: This is the number one factor. The Mathematics section is the only one where a calculator is ever provided.
• Type of Calculator: Personal, handheld calculators are strictly prohibited. Only the on-screen calculator provided by the test software is permitted.
• Specific Question: Even within the Math section, the calculator is not available for every question. It appears only when deemed appropriate by the test designers.
• Official Accommodations: A documented disability requiring a calculator (via an IEP or 504 plan) is the main exception to the standard rules.
• Testing Center Rules: Always confirm policies with your specific testing center, as they are responsible for enforcing the rules. You can find more details in our article about PERT exam prep.
• Test Integrity: The rules are in place to prevent unfair advantages and ensure that the test accurately measures a student’s readiness for college-level courses.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I bring my own graphing calculator for the PERT test?

No, you absolutely cannot bring your own calculator of any kind, including graphing or scientific calculators. Doing so is a violation of testing rules.

What kind of calculator is on the PERT test?

The on-screen calculator provided for some math questions is a basic, standard 4-function calculator.

Will I know which math questions allow a calculator?

Yes. For questions that permit its use, a calculator icon will appear on the screen. You can click it to open the on-screen calculator. If there is no icon, you cannot use a calculator for that question.

What if I have a documented disability that requires a calculator?

Students with an IEP or 504 plan that specifies calculator use as an accommodation may be allowed to use a handheld calculator. This must be arranged and approved with the testing center *before* test day. Thinking about your score? Learn what a good PERT score is.

Is the calculator available for the PERT Reading or Writing sections?

No. Calculators are never permitted or provided for the Reading and Writing sections of the PERT.

Why isn’t a calculator allowed on all math questions?

The PERT Math test assesses a range of skills. Some questions are designed to test your mental math, estimation, and problem-solving logic without computational aid. Allowing a calculator on every question would prevent the test from accurately measuring these specific skills. Get ready with our PERT math study guide.

Does the on-screen calculator follow the order of operations (PEMDAS)?

The provided calculator is a standard 4-function model and typically performs operations in the order they are entered, so you should be careful to input calculations correctly.

Where can I find more information about the PERT?

The official Florida Department of Education website and your college’s testing center website are the best sources. We also have a PERT test information page with more details.