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Assessment (9-12)

What is TSI?
The TSI Assessment (TSIA) is part of the Texas Success Initiative program designed to help your college or university determine if you are ready for college-level coursework in the areas of reading, writing, and mathematics. If you are an incoming college student in Texas, you are required to take the TSI Assessment - unless you are already exempt (read below) - to determine your readiness for college-level work. Based on how you perform, you may either be enrolled in a college-level course and/or be placed in the appropriate developmental course or intervention to improve your skills and prepare you for success in college-level courses.
 
Which students must take the TSI Assessment?
Not all incoming students need to take the TSI Assessment. There are many ways you can be exempt. Qualifying for a TSI Assessment exemption means that you can enroll in any entry-level college course without restrictions. In other words, there are no prerequisites for enrollment in entry-level college courses. In certain cases, exemptions are subject-specific, which means you may qualify for an exemption in one area such as reading but not in another area like mathematics or writing. You may be exempt if you meet one or more of the following:
 
Texas Success Initiative Exemptions
All students in Texas public colleges are required to take the TSIA2 unless the student qualifies for a TSIA2 exemption. In addition, high school students can be waived from taking the TSIA2 by submitting approved placement scores, typically taken in the 10th grade, for 11th-grade Dual Credit eligibility. A high school student may be exempt or waived from taking the TSIA2 by meeting one of the following requirements.
Credit:www.lonestar.edu
 
What Does the TSI Assessment Cover?
  • Mathematics section:
    • College readiness classification assessment – 20 items
      • Quantitative Reasoning
      • Algebraic Reasoning
      • Geometric and Spatial Reasoning
      • Probabilistic and Statistical Reasoning
      • Diagnostic assessment – 48 items
  • ELAR section:
    • College readiness classification assessment 30 items
      • Literary text analysis
      • Informational text analysis and synthesis
      • Essay revision and editing
      • Sentence revision, editing, and completion
    • Diagnostic assessment – 48 items
    • Essay
 
For more information click here
 
What happens if you do not pass one or all parts of the TSI Assessment?
If you do not pass one or all parts (reading, writing, and math) of the TSI Assessment, you may be required to enroll in developmental education coursework or accelerated intervention before you can enroll in a college credit course for the subject in which you did not pass. In some cases, you may be allowed to enroll in a developmental intervention and college-credit course at the same time. The TSI Assessment is an on-demand test, and you may retake it at any time to determine your college readiness. Remember, developmental education courses and interventions often cost the same as a college-level course but do not count towards a certificate or degree program and do not transfer. It is best to avoid developmental education altogether by becoming college-ready in high school or before enrolling in a college or university.
 
What are the college-ready scores for the TSI Assessment?