Various high schools across the state of Florida have had their students participate in several kinds of standardized assessments as of late. The SAT/PSAT, the ACT (for juniors and seniors), and the FAST tests each have their own requirements and scoring systems for students to keep in mind while preparing for them. The Florida Civic Literacy Exam, or the FCLE, is no exception.
The FCLE is a statewide exam run by the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) and is exclusively for students that are enrolled in US Government or US Government Honors, which are required courses for graduation. According to FLDOE’s official website, it’s an entirely computer based assessment that usually contains 80 multiple choice questions that students get 160 minutes to complete, with an issued break after 80 minutes. The test itself is meant to measure students’ knowledge of civics, our country’s history, and the way our government is maintained through principles of American democracy. If you are looking to involve yourself in a career that requires an Associate of Science (A.S) degree, an Associate of Arts (A.A) degree, or a baccalaureate degree, then taking and passing the FCLE before graduation is a necessary requirement.
In order for a student to pass the FCLE, they have to get at least 48 questions right out of 80, which means that they need to score a 60 percent or higher. Any lower, and it counts as an automatic fail. However, there are a few opportunities for retakes, as schools always offer the exam in both the fall and in the spring. In general, a student will have to wait 30 days until they can take the test again.
From the beginning of the school year, students in US Government classes are taught the necessary skills that are needed to get a passing score on the test. By learning to take good notes, memorize key information, and review practice questions from past civic exams, many students have shared that these methods helped them feel prepared and ready to test when it was time to walk into their assessment rooms.
“We reviewed many [significant] cases and regularly went over the amendments,” states SHS senior Korri Lower, who took the FCLE the first week it was issued. “I felt [like the test] was easy because I was familiar with the questions asked. I didn’t feel rushed and I felt comfortable when taking it.”
“My personal testing experience was fine, but they overbooked my room which meant some people had to test somewhere else. Other than that, it went pretty smoothly,” SHS junior Amaya Cadman expressed when asked about how it went for her. “My teacher had activities for us to do to get us ready, and a lot of the information [was] within [the range of topics] I was tested on. [However], it was more difficult [for me] only because I could’ve studied more. I probably would’ve felt like it was easier [if I had].”
Most students in high school will end up taking the US Government course (after all, you need at least three history courses to graduate), which means that most will end up taking the FCLE. While it may not be as well known as the SAT or ACT, it is nevertheless an important exam that should be taken just as seriously. Passing the FCLE can prove to be extremely beneficial in the long run, and a retake is recommended by FLDOE for those who did not pass the first time around. Until then, all we can do is try our best and study hard. Good luck on your exam, Noles!