Texas Success Initiative (TSI)

The TSI is required by the Texas State Legislature for identifying and academically preparing students whose basic skills in reading, writing and/or mathematics may not be adequate to successfully complete college level courses.

It requires continuous student participation in developmental education classes if that student is deficient in the academic areas of reading, writing, and/or mathematics.

All NON-EXEMPT incoming students are required to complete the mandatory TSI Pre-Assessment Activity and take the TSI Assessment test before registering for classes.

• have graduated with an associate or baccalaureate degree from an institution of higher education; or
• have transferred from a private or independent institution of higher education or an accredited out-of-state institution of higher education and have satisfactorily completed college-level coursework as determined by the receiving institution; or
• have previously attended any institution of higher education and have been determined to have met college readiness standards by that institution; or
• are a student who is enrolled in a certificate program of one year or less (Level-One certificates, 42 or fewer semester credit hours or the equivalent) at a public junior college, a public technical institute, or a public state college; or
• are serving on active duty as a member of the armed forces of the United States, the Texas National Guard, or as a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States and have been serving for at least three years preceding enrollment; or
• on or after August 1, 1990, were honorably discharged, retired, or released from active duty as a member of the armed forces of the United States or the Texas National Guard or service as a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States; or
• are enrolled at TAMU on a temporary basis as a non-degree-seeking or non-certificate-seeking student (must be classified as a “U0″)

The following tests can be used to exempt you from one or more parts of the TSI Assessment:

SAT Administered Prior to March 2016

A student must first achieve a minimum combined critical reading and mathematics score of 1070 with:

• At least 500 on math for an exemption in math and/or
• At least 500 on critical reading for an exemption in reading and writing

Students must attend college within five (5) years from the date of the test in order to use the scores for an exemption.

SAT Administered In or After March 2016

• At least 530 on math for an exemption in math and/or
• At least 480 on the evidenced-based reading and writing for an exemption in reading and writing

Students must attend college within five (5) years from the date of the test in order to use the scores for an exemption.

ACT

A student must first achieve a minimum composite score of 23 with:

• At least 19 on math for an exemption in math and/or
• At least 19 on english for an exemption in reading and writing

Students must attend college within five (5) years from the date of the test in order to use the scores for an exemption.

TAKS

• A minimum score of 2200 in math for an exemption in math and/or
• 2200 in english language arts–with a writing sub-score of 3–for an exemption in reading and writing.

Students must attend college within five (5) years from the date of their 11th grade exit-level Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) test in order to use the scores for an exemption.

STAAR End-of-Course (EOC) Assessment

• Algebra II – a minimum score of Level 2 (4000 for the 2016-17 academic year) for an exemption in math
• English III – a minimum score of Level 2 (4000 for the 2016-17 academic year) for an exemption in reading and writing

Students must attend college within five (5) years from the date of their STAAR End-of-Course (EOC) test in order to use the scores for an exemption.

GED

• A minimum score of 165 on the Mathematical Reasoning subject test shall be exempt for mathematics
• A minimum score of 165 on the Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA) subject test shall be exempt for English Language Arts Reading (ELAR)

Students must attend college within five (5) years from the date of the test in order to use the scores for an exemption.

HiSET

• A minimum score of 15 on the Mathematics subtest shall be exempt for mathematics
• A minimum score of 15 on the Reading subtest and a minimum score of 15 on the Writing subtest, including a minimum score of 4 on the essay, shall be exempt for English Language Arts Reading (ELAR)

If you do not pass, you are welcome to take the test as many times and as frequently as you would like. If you do not make the minimum required scores for each of the three sections before the beginning of the semester, you will be placed into developmental education courses.

How to complete the assessment:

1. Check the Howdy Portal  to see if you are compliant.
   
   
2. If you are not compliant, you are required to take the TSI assessment in the area(s) of non-compliance. Note that beginning January 11, 2021, there are only two areas for the TSI: Math and English Language Arts Reading (ELAR)
   
   • Find an official testing center near you that accepts voucher forms
   • (Out of state students can contact the SLC to find the nearest testing center accepting voucher forms in their state)
   • Fill in and submit the *application for a testing voucher
   • Complete mandatory Pre-Assessment Activity. You may also have your TSI proctored online through Examity for a testing fee by filling out the application for a testing voucher and entering “Examity Online Proctor” for the Testing Site and Testing Site Campus. Review the Examity website for technology and other requirements.
     
     
3. Take the assessment! TAMUG will automatically receive your scores

TSI Testing Online:

You may use TSI proctoring online through Examity for a testing fee by filling out the application for a testing voucher and entering "Examity Online Proctor" for the Testing Site and Testing Site Campus. Review the Examity website for technology and other requirements.

TAMUG will be hosting free online Zoom proctoring sessions the week of April 19^th. Non-TSI compliant students will receive email communications about registration for TSI online proctoring, or they can register using the link below. Seating is limited.

*Voucher applications are only for testing centers that accept voucher forms. Email a copy of your score report to SLC@tamug.edu, or fill out the TSI Score Report Release Form to have your scores retrieved from another institution.

If taken before January 11, 2021

TSI Math: At least 350
TSI Reading: At least 351
TSI Writing: At least 340 on the writing portion and at least 4 on the essay OR at least 5 on the essay with an ABE Diagnostic level of at least 4

If you did not receive a college ready score in either Reading or Writing, you will be required to take the new ELAR exam, which contains both a reading and writing portion.

If taken on or after January 11, 2021

TSI Math: At least 950 OR Diagnostic level of 6
English Language Arts Reading (ELAR): At least 945 and at least 5 on the essay OR at least 5 on the essay with a Diagnostic level of 5 or 6

If you are not TSI Compliant, you cannot take the following TAMUG courses (excluding the required co-enrollment course, as detailed below)

TSI Math: Any MATH or CHEM courses
TSI ELAR: Any HIST, PSYC, POLS, or ENGL courses

Any students who are non-compliant in one or more areas are required to take the zero-credit developmental education course for that subject area. Additionally, a majority of students will be co-enrolled in a corresponding subject area course that will be credit bearing.

Developmental Education Courses

• ASCC 001: Basic Math Skills- Developmental instruction in mathematics includes the integers, rational numbers, applications, exponents, polynomials, solutions of equations, graphing, elementary geometry, and reasoning skills. May not be used toward a degree.
• ASCC 004: Reading/Writing Connection - Designed for students whose Texas Success Initiative requirement for ELAR has not been met; develops additional reading and writing skills by emphasizing the interrelatedness between the two disciplines. May not be used for credit toward a degree.

Co-Enrollment Courses

Math non-compliant students are co-enrolled in MATH 140 if they are in a degree plan requiring MATH 140/141. Math non-compliant students are co-enrolled in MATH 150 if they are in a degree plan requiring MATH 147/151. Students who are non-compliant in ELAR are co-enrolled in an appropriate English, History, Psychology, or Political Science course.

TSI Study App and Sample Questions

TSI Practice Test

TSI Review

TSIA2 Learning Resources

TSIA2 score reports will have a Learning Locator™ code that can be used with the website linked above to help you improve your skills in weak areas. (For exams taken on or after January 11, 2021) These resources can also be used for test preparation.