Florida FAST + B.E.S.T. — Complete Reference: 5 Achievement Levels, EOC Formats, Concordant Scores

This is the most comprehensive single-page reference to Florida FAST (Florida Assessment of Student Thinking) and the B.E.S.T. (Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking) Standards we could compile from the Florida Department of Education's published documentation. Every claim below is sourced — you'll find the citations at the bottom.

This is an independent reference. We are not affiliated with the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) or any Florida school district. Anything specific about score scales, schedules, or graduation rules should be confirmed with the FDOE assessment site or your school counselor before you act on it.

The short version

• FAST = the umbrella name for Florida's K-10 assessment system, which replaced FSA in 2022-23.
• B.E.S.T. = the state's content standards (math, ELA), which replaced Common Core / Florida Standards in 2020. FAST tests measure B.E.S.T.
• For grades 3-10 ELA and grades 3-8 Math, FAST uses three progress-monitoring (PM) checkpoints per year: PM1 (fall), PM2 (winter), PM3 (spring).
• For Algebra 1, Geometry, Biology 1, Civics, and U.S. History, the format is an End-of-Course (EOC) exam — taken once at the end of the course, not three PMs.
• All results report on a 5-level scale. Per Florida Statute, Level 3 = “On Grade Level” — the passing threshold for graduation credit.
• Florida is one of only ~6 US states still requiring a math grad exam (along with Texas, Louisiana, Ohio, Virginia, New Jersey).

What is FAST? (Florida Assessment of Student Thinking)

FAST launched in 2022-23, replacing the Florida Standards Assessment (FSA). It's the state-mandated assessment program for grades 3-10 in ELA and grades 3-8 in Math. The key innovation is computer-adaptive progress monitoring — instead of one year-end high-stakes test, students take three shorter tests across the year, and the test adjusts in real time based on each answer.

FAST progress monitoring schedule (grades 3-10 ELA, 3-8 Math)

FAST is a computer-adaptive test. Each item shown depends on how the student performed on previous items — correct answers escalate difficulty; incorrect ones step back. This is why two students sitting next to each other see different questions.

What about Algebra 1, Geometry, Biology, Civics, U.S. History?

These subjects use the End-of-Course (EOC) format, not FAST's three-PM system. An EOC is a single comprehensive test taken when the course concludes — structurally similar to STAAR EOC in Texas or NY Regents.

• Algebra 1 EOC — graduation-required for the standard Florida diploma.
• Geometry EOC — required for many Florida diploma options; check current FDOE rules.
• Biology 1 EOC — counts toward course grade; not currently a graduation requirement on its own.
• Civics EOC — middle-school exam, required to advance to 9th grade.
• U.S. History EOC — counts toward course grade in 11th grade.

What is B.E.S.T.? (Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking)

B.E.S.T. is Florida's content standards framework, formally adopted by the State Board of Education in 2020. It replaced the previous Florida Standards (a Common-Core-derived framework). The transition was a deliberate political and pedagogical break from Common Core — Florida is now one of the few US states that has fully exited Common Core.

B.E.S.T. is divided into two domains:

• B.E.S.T. ELA Standards — covers reading, writing, communication. Includes Florida-specific features like cursive writing (grades 3-5), increased classical/foundational literature, and embedded civics content.
• B.E.S.T. Math Standards — emphasizes procedural fluency, number sense, and direct application over the long verbal problem-solving emphasis common in Common Core. Less complex word problems; more emphasis on mathematical reasoning and computational efficiency.

For Algebra 1 specifically, B.E.S.T. organizes content into Reporting Categories (see EOC structure section below).

The 5-Level Achievement Scale (most important table on this page)

All FAST and EOC results use the same 5-level achievement scale. Under Florida Statute, Level 3 is the “On Grade Level” standard — the passing threshold for any test that affects graduation. Levels 4 and 5 indicate proficiency beyond grade level.

One real-world data point shared publicly by a Florida student in a 2025 online post: a PM3 ELA scale score of 248 was reported as Level 3 (passing). Note: scale-score-to-level conversions are subject-specific and grade-specific — the same scale score does not represent the same level across different tests. Always confirm with the current FDOE cut-score documentation.

Algebra 1 EOC — detailed structure

The Algebra 1 EOC is administered by FDOE through the Florida Statewide Assessment system. Format details below are based on the most recent FDOE published assessment specifications.

B.E.S.T. Algebra 1 — main topic areas

• Linear functions and equations — slope, intercepts, point-slope, standard form, systems of linear equations.
• Quadratic functions and equations — factoring, the quadratic formula, vertex form, completing the square, parabola graphs.
• Exponential functions and equations — exponential growth and decay, comparing linear vs exponential.
• Polynomial operations — multiplication, factoring, simplifying.
• Systems of equations — substitution, elimination, graphical interpretation.
• Statistics and data analysis — scatter plots, line of best fit, two-way frequency tables, correlation vs. causation.
• Function notation and analysis — domain, range, evaluating f(x), comparing functions across representations.

Geometry EOC — detailed structure

The Geometry EOC uses the same delivery platform and similar format to Algebra 1. Standards alignment is to B.E.S.T. Mathematics — Geometry strand.

B.E.S.T. Geometry — main topic areas

• Congruence and similarity — triangle congruence theorems (SSS, SAS, ASA, AAS), similarity ratios.
• Right triangle trigonometry — sin, cos, tan; special right triangles (30-60-90, 45-45-90); the Pythagorean Theorem.
• Circles — arcs, chords, tangents, inscribed angles, equations of circles.
• Coordinate geometry — distance and midpoint formulas, coordinate proofs, transformations (translation, reflection, rotation, dilation).
• Polygons and quadrilaterals — angle sums, parallelogram properties, special quadrilaterals.
• Three-dimensional figures — surface area and volume, cross-sections.
• Logic and proofs — conditional statements, two-column proofs, paragraph proofs.

Concordant scores — SAT/ACT as substitute

Florida is one of the more flexible states regarding alternate graduation pathways. If a student cannot pass the Algebra 1 EOC at Level 3 after multiple attempts, FDOE accepts concordant scores from the SAT, ACT, or PSAT/NMSQT in lieu of the EOC.

FDOE publishes the current concordant cut scores on its assessment website — these are updated periodically and vary by exam version. Always confirm with FDOE or your school counselor before relying on a specific number.

The student who is repeatedly close to but not at Level 3 on the EOC may benefit more from a focused SAT or ACT prep cycle than from another EOC retake — both paths satisfy the same Florida graduation requirement.

How Texas CBE™ practice fits Florida prep

Disclaimer first: we are a Texas-focused practice platform. We are not Florida-aligned, not B.E.S.T.-certified, and not Florida-state-adopted. We do not claim to be an official Florida prep service.

That said, the math content overlap is real. Florida B.E.S.T. Algebra 1 and Texas TEKS Algebra 1 cover roughly 70-80% of the same mathematical content — linear, quadratic, exponential, systems, polynomial operations, statistics, function analysis. These are universal Algebra 1 topics; they're not state-specific.

The differences are mostly cosmetic:

• Item format — Florida EOC has more drag-and-drop and equation-editor items than the typical Texas CBE we publish; our format is mostly multiple-choice.
• Standard codes — Florida codes (e.g., MA.912.AR.1.1) and Texas TEKS codes (e.g., A1.4A) are different even when describing the same skill.
• Pacing/sequence — the same Algebra 1 content is taught in slightly different orders across the two states' curricula.

If you're using us for Florida Algebra 1 EOC prep: pair our 518-question Algebra 1 practice bank with FDOE's official B.E.S.T. sample items to get full coverage. Use us for volume, fluency, AI explanations, and topic coverage; use FDOE for format and platform familiarity.

Want to see where your child actually stands before the EOC? Try our Algebra 1 free sample — no signup, no payment. Mixes equations, functions, and quadratics. Scoring 85%+ cold on the sample is a reasonable proxy for being in Level 3+ range on the Florida Algebra 1 EOC. Below 60% means more foundation work is needed. Other related subjects: Geometry, Algebra 2, Biology, Chemistry, U.S. History.

Related guides on this site

• Florida Algebra 1 EOC — how to practice for the B.E.S.T. test
• Florida Algebra 1 EOC retake — how to pass and graduate on time

Sources

• Florida Department of Education, Office of Assessment. Achievement Level Descriptions — B.E.S.T. Standards (March 2024). Defines the 5-level achievement scale and per-grade/per-subject level descriptors for ELA grades 3-10, Math grades 3-8, Algebra 1 EOC, and Geometry EOC.
• Florida Department of Education. End-of-Course (EOC) Assessments page. fldoe.org/accountability/assessments/k-12-student-assessment/end-of-course-eoc-assessments/
• Florida Statute §1003.4282 — high-school graduation requirements (including Algebra 1 EOC).
• Florida State Board of Education rules establishing the cut scores for each achievement level on FAST and EOC tests.
• Florida Department of Education. Concordant and comparative scores documentation — SAT, ACT, and PSAT/NMSQT alternative pathways.
• Florida Department of Education. B.E.S.T. Standards — full content standards for ELA and Mathematics adopted 2020.

This is an independent reference. Texas CBE™ is not affiliated with the Florida Department of Education, the College Board, ACT, or any Florida school district. Content above is compiled from publicly available FDOE documentation at the time of writing. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.