Florida Academic Standards

What Are Florida's Academic Standards?

Florida uses the B.E.S.T. Standards (Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking) for math and ELA, and the NGSSS (Next Generation Sunshine State Standards) for science and social studies. Both are adopted by the Florida State Board of Education and published by the FDOE — and every Florida End-of-Course (EOC) assessment is built directly from them.

Quick Definition

B.E.S.T. = Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking. Florida's math and ELA standards, adopted by the State Board of Education in 2020 and fully in place by 2022–23. The Algebra 1 and Geometry EOCs are built from the B.E.S.T. Mathematics benchmarks.

NGSSS = Next Generation Sunshine State Standards. Florida's science and social-studies standards. The Biology 1 EOC is built from the NGSSS for science, and the U.S. History EOC from the NGSSS for social studies. If a benchmark is in the standard for a course, it can be tested; if it isn't, it won't be.

Why the Standards Matter for the EOC

A Florida EOC isn't built from a generic textbook or a national curriculum — it's built straight from the B.E.S.T. or NGSSS benchmarks for that specific course. That means:

  • Standards-aligned practice = directly relevant practice. Every question maps to a benchmark the exam actually samples.
  • Off-standard material is wasted study time. A generic Algebra 1 review might cover topics the EOC never tests while skipping benchmarks that appear every year.
  • Reporting categories are the diagnostic. Score low on a reporting category in practice, and that's exactly where to focus. Florida CAP Prep™ tags every question by its Florida benchmark so weak points surface immediately.

How to Read a Florida Benchmark Code

Benchmark codes look intimidating but follow a strict pattern. Example for B.E.S.T. Algebra 1:

MA.912.AR.2.5
MA
Subject — Mathematics
912
Grade band — grades 9–12
AR
Strand — Algebraic Reasoning
2
Standard within the strand
5
Specific benchmark

NGSSS codes follow the same idea: SC.912.L.14.3 is Science, grades 9–12, Life Science, body of knowledge 14, benchmark 3; SS.912.A.1.2 is Social Studies, American History. Florida CAP Prep™ questions are tagged with these codes so you can drill a specific benchmark — or see which one cost you points on a mock exam.

Who Writes Florida's Standards?

The Florida State Board of Education (SBOE), with input from Florida teachers, content experts, and public comment. The B.E.S.T. Standards for math and ELA were adopted in 2020 to replace Common Core; the NGSSS govern science and social studies. Both are administered by the Florida Department of Education (FDOE), and every standard and benchmark is published on CPALMS (cpalms.org), Florida's official standards repository.

Standards for Each EOC Subject

Each subject page lists every reporting category the EOC samples.

B.E.S.T. Algebra 1 standards
All reporting categories + practice
B.E.S.T. Geometry standards
All reporting categories + practice
Biology 1 standards
All reporting categories + practice
U.S. History standards
All reporting categories + practice

Florida Standards FAQ

What academic standards does Florida use?
B.E.S.T. Standards (Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking) for math and ELA, and the NGSSS (Next Generation Sunshine State Standards) for science and social studies. Both are adopted by the Florida State Board of Education and published by the FDOE.
Which standards does each Florida EOC test?
The Algebra 1 and Geometry EOCs test the B.E.S.T. Mathematics standards. The Biology 1 EOC tests the NGSSS for science, and the U.S. History EOC tests the NGSSS for social studies. Every Florida EOC is built directly from these benchmarks.
Are Florida's standards the same as Common Core?
No. Florida replaced Common Core with its own B.E.S.T. Standards, adopted in 2020 and fully implemented by 2022–23. They were written specifically for Florida by the State Board of Education; there is topic overlap, but the standards, sequencing, and benchmark codes are Florida's own.
How do you read a Florida benchmark code?
A B.E.S.T. code like MA.912.AR.2.5 reads as: MA = Mathematics, 912 = grades 9–12, AR = Algebraic Reasoning, 2 = standard, 5 = benchmark. NGSSS codes (e.g. SC.912.L.14.3) work the same way. Tagged practice questions tell you exactly which benchmark you're being tested on.
Where do I find the official Florida standards?
The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) publishes every standard and benchmark on CPALMS (cpalms.org), Florida's official standards repository, and adopts them through State Board of Education rule. B.E.S.T. covers math and ELA; the NGSSS covers science and social studies.
Why do the standards matter for the EOC?
Because the EOC is built from the B.E.S.T. and NGSSS benchmarks — not from a textbook, an AP outline, or a national standard. Standards-aligned practice hits exactly what the exam tests. Generic review may cover material the EOC never asks about while missing benchmarks that appear on every exam.

Standards-Aligned EOC Prep — Free Samples

Every practice question tagged by its Florida B.E.S.T. or NGSSS benchmark. Diagnose weak categories before exam day.

Browse EOC Subjects

Related Guides

What Is the Florida EOC?
Cost, format, passing score (Level 3), who can take it.
B.E.S.T. Achievement Levels Reference
What Levels 1–5 mean and the score you need to pass.