Parent score guide · Grades 3–6 · 2026–27
Florida FAST Math Scores Explained: PM1, PM2, PM3 and Levels 1–5
Understand your child's Florida FAST Math scale score, achievement level, percentile rank, reporting categories, and the difference between PM1, PM2, and PM3.
What does a Florida FAST Math score mean?
A Florida FAST Mathematics report gives an overall scale score and an achievement level from 1 through 5. Level 3 means on grade level. The report also shows performance by reporting category and a percentile rank that compares the student with Florida students who took the same assessment.
PM1, PM2, and PM3 measure different points in the year
| Assessment | Purpose | Best parent response |
|---|---|---|
| PM1 | Beginning-of-year baseline across the full grade-level blueprint | Identify one or two early priorities; do not treat the level as an end-of-year prediction |
| PM2 | Midyear progress check compared with the PM1 baseline | Look for growth and update the practice focus using category results |
| PM3 | End-of-year summative measure of grade-level mastery | Review the full-year result and use strengths and gaps to plan summer or next-grade support |
Florida states that PM1 and PM2 are for informational purposes only. PM3 is the summative administration used for school accountability. A student can be below Level 3 early in the year and still be on a reasonable path toward end-of-year success.
What FAST Math Levels 1 through 5 mean
| Level | State description | How to respond |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Well below grade level | Coordinate with the teacher and prioritize foundational skills and substantial support |
| Level 2 | Below grade level | Use category results to target gaps and monitor whether support is producing growth |
| Level 3 | On grade level | Strengthen weaker categories while maintaining grade-level mixed practice |
| Level 4 | Proficient | Continue grade-level work and include more complex reasoning and explanation |
| Level 5 | Exemplary | Provide appropriate challenge without rushing past careful reasoning or grade-level foundations |
2026–27 FAST Mathematics score ranges for Grades 3–6
The same scale score can represent a different achievement level in a different grade. Always match the score to the student's tested grade before interpreting it.
| Grade | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 3 | 140–182 | 183–197 | 198–208 | 209–224 | 225–260 |
| Grade 4 | 155–199 | 200–210 | 211–220 | 221–237 | 238–273 |
| Grade 5 | 158–206 | 207–221 | 222–233 | 234–245 | 246–285 |
| Grade 6 | 168–212 | 213–228 | 229–238 | 239–253 | 254–287 |
How to read the FAST Math report without stopping at the overall level
- Confirm the tested grade, subject, and administration window—PM1, PM2, or PM3.
- Read the overall scale score and achievement level together.
- Check the percentile rank to understand how the score compares with other Florida students who took the same assessment.
- Open the reporting-category results and note which areas are below, at or near, or above the standard.
- Compare PM1 with PM2 or PM3 when more than one administration is available; look for the direction and size of growth.
- Choose one or two categories for action instead of trying to reteach the entire grade at once.
Florida's Family Portal can display the overall result, category results, question-level information, and within-year progress. Families typically receive access through the school or district; the exact sign-in route can vary.
Scale score, percentile rank, and category results answer different questions
- Scale score: the numerical result for the full assessment, converted to Florida's B.E.S.T. reporting scale.
- Achievement level: the performance band, from Level 1 through Level 5, containing that scale score.
- Percentile rank: the percentage-based comparison with Florida students who took the same test; it is not the percent of questions answered correctly.
- Reporting categories: broad skill areas that help identify where performance was stronger or weaker.
- Question-level information: where available, it can show the reporting category and whether an individual scored item was answered correctly.
Turn the score report into a focused practice decision
- Select the lowest reporting category or the category the teacher identifies as the highest priority.
- Give a short set of problems from that category and watch the child's setup and explanation, not only the final answer.
- Classify errors as misunderstanding the question, choosing the wrong operation or model, calculation, or incomplete labeling.
- Practice the specific error pattern in short sessions, then use a mixed set to check whether the child can choose the strategy independently.
- Recheck after several sessions and adjust the priority if accuracy and explanation improve.
Questions parents commonly ask about FAST Math scores
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Official sources
FastMathKit is independent. Assessment facts on this page were checked against the following Florida Department of Education materials.
- 2026–27 FAST Grades 3–10 ELA Reading and Grades 3–8 Mathematics Fact Sheet — Florida Department of Education
- Understanding Florida Statewide Assessment Reports for Families — Florida Statewide Assessments Portal
- Family Portal FAQ for Families — Florida Statewide Assessments Portal
- B.E.S.T. Standards Achievement Level Descriptions — Florida Department of Education
Next scheduled source review: December 1, 2026. School and district schedules can differ within the statewide window.