Online Tutoring for the Florida Curriculum
One-to-one tutoring built around Florida's B.E.S.T. Standards, from VPK through AP coursework. Florida replaced its previous standards and its previous testing system, and every tutor is matched to what your child is actually assessed on, including FAST progress monitoring and the B.E.S.T. EOCs.
B.E.S.T. Aligned
Florida benchmarks in every lesson
Recommended by parents and students for Florida curriculum tutoring
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What Florida Actually Tests
Florida moved away from a single end-of-year exam. FAST measures progress three times a year, and the B.E.S.T. EOCs assess specific courses. Knowing which applies at which stage is the starting point for any useful tutoring plan.
B.E.S.T.
Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking
FAST
ELA Reading 3–10, Mathematics 3–8
EOC Exams
Algebra 1, Geometry, Biology 1, Civics, US History
Science
Statewide Science Assessment, grades 5 and 8
FAST is computer adaptive, so questions get harder or easier depending on how your child is answering. Results are reported as a scale score and an achievement level from 1 to 5, with Level 3 representing grade-level performance. Writing is assessed separately in grades 4–10.
Understanding PM1, PM2 and PM3
Florida tests three times a year, and the three windows do not mean the same thing. This is the single most misread part of the system, and it causes a great deal of unnecessary worry each autumn.
PM1 — Baseline
Taken near the start of the year, before the grade-level content has been taught. A low PM1 score is common and expected. It is a starting point for measuring growth, not a verdict on your child.
PM2 — Mid-Year
A mid-year comparison against the baseline. This is the most useful window for intervention, because there is still most of a school year left in which to act on what it shows.
PM3 — Summative
The end-of-year measure of mastery, and the one used for school accountability. PM1 and PM2 are informational; PM3 is the score that counts, including for the grade 10 ELA graduation requirement.
The practical implication is straightforward. If PM1 or PM2 shows a gap, there is still time to close it before the score that matters. Families who wait for PM3 results are acting a year late.
Subject Specialisms
Targeted support across every core subject, from elementary foundations through AP and dual enrollment coursework. Each subject links to a dedicated page with tutor profiles and topics covered.
Online Math Tutors
- FAST Mathematics, grades 3–8
- Algebra 1 & Geometry EOC
- Precalculus & AP Calculus
Online English Tutors
- FAST ELA Reading, grades 3–10
- Grade 10 graduation requirement
- Writing, grades 4–10
Online Science Tutors
- Grades 5 & 8 Statewide Science
- Middle grades comprehensive science
- Environmental & marine science
Online Physics Tutors
- Physics 1 & Physics Honors
- AP Physics 1, 2 & C
- Math foundations for physics
Online Chemistry Tutors
- Chemistry 1 & Chemistry Honors
- Stoichiometry & equilibrium
- AP Chemistry
Online Biology Tutors
- Biology 1 EOC preparation
- Genetics, ecology & evolution
- AP Biology
Where Students Need Help, Grade by Grade
Difficulties rarely appear where they are first noticed. These are the stages where Florida students most often lose ground, and what tends to be behind it.
VPK–Grade 2
Early literacy and number sense, monitored through Star assessments rather than FAST. Reading fluency here is what makes grade 3 manageable, and Florida takes grade 3 reading seriously.
Grades 3–5
The first FAST years. Fractions are the usual sticking point in mathematics, and grade 5 brings the first Statewide Science Assessment, which rewards reasoning over recall.
Grades 6–8
Ratios, proportional reasoning and algebraic thinking, plus the grade 7 Civics EOC. How securely this lands determines whether Algebra 1 goes well, and Algebra 1 carries a graduation requirement.
Grades 9–12
The Algebra 1 EOC, the grade 10 ELA requirement, Biology 1 and US History EOCs, and the GPA that determines Bright Futures eligibility. Earlier gaps become expensive here.
The Two Tests You Must Pass
To earn a standard Florida high school diploma, students must pass two specific assessments: the grade 10 FAST ELA Reading assessment, measured at PM3, and the B.E.S.T. Algebra 1 EOC. Everything else is a course credit requirement. These two are the hard gates, and they are where tutoring most often changes an outcome.
There is also a detail that surprises many families: the Algebra 1 EOC counts as a substantial share of the final course grade, not merely as a separate graduation test. A weak EOC result therefore affects the transcript as well, which in turn affects the GPA that Bright Futures eligibility depends on. One exam quietly touches three different outcomes.
Explore Math TutoringFlorida's Five EOC Assessments
- Algebra 1 — required to graduate
- Geometry
- Biology 1
- Civics — middle grades
- US History
Graduation, assessment and Bright Futures requirements are set by the Florida Department of Education and the State Board, and are periodically updated. Always confirm current requirements with your school counselor.
Why Math Make Smart Works for Florida Students
B.E.S.T., Not Common Core
Florida replaced its previous Common Core-based standards with the B.E.S.T. Standards, and its science standards are Florida's own rather than NGSS. National tutoring materials sequence topics differently, so tutors are assessed on the Florida benchmarks specifically.
Built Around the Three Windows
Because FAST reports three times a year, progress is visible while there is still time to act on it. We plan tutoring around the PM windows rather than waiting for a single end-of-year result.
Progress You Can Read
Written summaries after every session and a bi-weekly report showing which benchmarks have been mastered and which still need attention, in the language of your child's FAST report.
Florida Curriculum Questions, Answered
The questions Florida parents ask us most often about the B.E.S.T. Standards, FAST and graduation.
My child scored poorly on PM1. Should I be worried?
Usually not, and this is the most common source of unnecessary alarm in Florida. PM1 is taken near the start of the school year, before the grade-level material has been taught, so it is designed to establish a baseline rather than to measure mastery. What matters is the trajectory from PM1 to PM3. A low PM1 followed by strong growth is a good year. What deserves attention is a flat line between PM1 and PM2, because that suggests the material is not landing.
What does an achievement level actually mean?
FAST reports a scale score and an achievement level from 1 to 5. Level 3 represents grade-level performance, so Levels 1 and 2 indicate a student is working below the benchmarks for their grade. Because the same scale is used across all three windows, you can compare PM1, PM2 and PM3 directly to see growth, which is more informative than any single score in isolation.
What if my child fails the Algebra 1 EOC?
They can retake it, and many students do. Florida also allows an alternative route using an approved comparative score from another test in place of the EOC result. Note the vocabulary, because it trips people up: Florida uses “comparative scores” for the Algebra 1 requirement and “concordant scores” for the grade 10 ELA requirement. Your school counselor can confirm which options apply to your child's cohort, since the accepted tests and scores are periodically revised.
Does Florida still use Common Core?
No. Florida replaced its previous Common Core-derived standards with the B.E.S.T. Standards, fully implemented alongside the move from the FSA to FAST. Florida also uses its own science standards rather than the Next Generation Science Standards. This matters practically rather than politically: tutoring materials written to national standards will not match the order in which your child is taught topics, which is why we match tutors to the Florida benchmarks.
Ready to build real confidence in the Florida curriculum?
Start with a free assessment. We'll find out where your child actually stands against the B.E.S.T. Standards and match them with a tutor who knows the courses their school runs.