Who has to take a TSI-approved test?
If you will be enrolling as an undergraduate student at a Texas public community college or university, you are required to take the test unless you qualify for a TSI exemption or waiver (see below). Undergraduate students transferring from an out-of-state or private university, regardless of their classification, must also meet this requirement.
Am I exempt from the TSI?
You may be exempt or qualify for a waiver from the TSI if any of the following applies to you:
TSI Exemptions
- You hold an associate and/or baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
- You, on a single test administration prior March 5, 2016, have an SAT composite score of 1070 with at least 500 on the Verbal (Critical Reading) and Math sections.*
- You, on a single test administration on or after March 5, 2016, have an SAT score of 480 on the Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) test and a score of 530 on the mathematics test.*
- You, on a single test administration, have an ACT composite score of 23 with at least 19 on the Math and English sections.*
- You have an exit-level TAKS score of 2200 on the Math section, and a 2200 on the English Language Arts section with a 3 on the Writing subscore.*
- You have a minimum score of 2000 (Level 2) on the STAAR English III EOC for reading or writing and a minimum score of 4000 (Level 2) on the STAAR Algebra II EOC.*
- You have been honorably discharged, retired, or released from active duty as a member of the Armed Forces, Texas National Guard, or served as a member of a reserved component of the Armed Forces on or after August 1, 1990. (A copy of your DD Form 214 or DD Form 295 indicating this status is required).
- You have met the readiness standard at another Texas public higher education institution. (The explanation for completion or the exemption must be indicated on your official transcript).
- If you are a transfer student from an accredited Texas private institution of higher education or an accredited out-of-state institution with acceptable college-level course work determined by the receiving institution. A&M-Corpus Christi has elected to use the following course work with the grade of A, B, C, or Pass/Credit:
- Math Readiness Standard - College Algebra (MATH 1314) or higher
- Reading Readiness Standard - a three-credit hour course in History, Political Science/Government, Economics, Philosophy, Literature, or Composition I (ENGL 1301) or Composition II (ENGL 1302) and
- Writing Readiness Standard - Composition I (ENGL 1301) or Composition II (ENGL 1302)
|
* SAT, ACT, TAKS, and STAAR EOC scores are valid up to five years from the date of testing to the first day of enrollment at an accredited Texas public college/university institution.
Note: After April 1, 2004, students holding the composite score on the SAT/ACT may be exempt from a portion of the TSI Assessment in the individual area in which they met the required score. For example, a student that holds a 1070 SAT composite on a test administered prior to March 2016 with a 600 on the Verbal (Critical Reading) section and a 470 on the math section will be exempt from the TSI Assessment in both reading and writing. A student holding a 480 on the EBRW SAT test administered after March 2016, will be exempt from both reading and writing. Mixing or combining scores from the SAT administered prior to March 2016 and the SAT administered on or after March 5, 2016 is not allowable. Students with an exit-level TAKS score of 2200 on the math, 2200 on the English Language Arts (ELA), and a 2 on the writing subscore, would be exempt from the TSI Assessment in math only. In order for a student to be exempt from the TSI Assessment in reading and writing with TAKS scores, the student must have both a 2200 on the ELA and a 3 on the writing subscore. Students with the required score on the STAAR Algebra II EOC, but not the STAAR English III EOC, will be exempt from the TSI Assessment in math only.
TSI Waivers
- You are serving on active duty in the Armed Forces, Texas National Guard, or Reserve Component of Armed Forces and have been serving for at least three years preceding enrollment. (Required - documentation that shows at least three years).
- You are a non-degree seeking, visiting student. (You must complete a TSI waiver contract). At the point you become degree-seeking, TSI standards must be met. It should be duly noted that, at the point in which you become a degree-seeking student, you will be required to meet TSI standards.
- You have successfully completed a college preparatory course under Texas Education Code §28.014 with one of our partnering school districts or institutions of higher education.*
|
*In regards to the college preparatory course, the waiver is good for a period of two years from the date of high school graduation with respect to the content area of the course.
What do I do if I am NOT exempt from the TSI?
If you are not exempt or do not qualify for a waiver, you will be required to take the TSI Assessment.
The assessment and/or the results of the assessment are not required as a condition of admission, but rather a condition of enrollment. Failure to take the test and have the scores placed with your student file at the University will result in your inability to register for Islander Launch and/or enroll in classes.
When do I need to take the test?
All TSI-liable students must attempt all three sections of the test prior to enrolling; freshmen will need to take the test and have their scores on file with the Office of Recruitment & Admissions prior to registering for Islander Launch. Students are required to take an institution’s Pre-Assessment Activity (PAA) prior to attempting the TSI Assessment. The PAA will address the following: (1) Importance of assessment in students’ academic career, (2) Assessment process and components, (3) Developmental education options, and (4) Student resources. Information on the PAA can be found under Texas Success Initiative on the CASA website.
Do I have to take/pass the test? What is considered a passing score?
If you do not take the TSI-approved exam, you will be ineligible to enroll in any college-level courses.
If you take a test and fail certain/all sections, you will be required to enroll in the appropriate developmental class(es). Placement and participation in developmental education is determined on an individual basis for students by the Center for Academic Student Achievement (CASA). For more on placement in developmental courses, you may contact an Intervention Specialist with CASA by phone at 361.825.2977 or go by their offices, located in the Glasscock Memorial Center.
If you fail certain/all sections of any given test, you have the option to re-test. Institutions may consider the performance in developmental education, in college-level courses, and on an assessment instrument in determining college readiness.
If you fail one or more portions of the assessment and have 60 or more cumulative college-level hours in the current semester, you may not be permitted to enroll in any senior-level courses (4000 level) until you pass the developmental program.
What is considered a passing score?
The scores expressed below are the state minimum passing standards on the TSI Assessment. These scores are valid for five years.
TSI Assessment - Prior to January 11, 2021
| Section |
Score |
| Reading |
351 |
| Mathematics |
350 |
| Writing Multiple Choice & Essay |
A placement score of at least 340, and an essay score of at least 4; or a placement score of less than 340, and an ABE Diagnostic level of at least 4, and an essay score of at least 5.
|
TSI Assessment 2 (TSIA2) - Beginning January 11, 2021
| Section |
Score |
| Mathematics |
A placement score of 950; or a placement score of 949 or less with a diagnostic score of 6 |
| English Language Arts and Reading(ELAR) & Essay |
A placement score of 945 and an essay score of a 5 or higher; or a placement score of less than 945, with a diagnostic score of 5 or 6 and an essay score of at least 5.
|
Where can I take the TSI Assessment?
The TSI Assessment is a Texas exam. It can be taken on-campus, off-campus at a participating remote test center, or virtually. You can locate a participating test center on the ACCUPLACER Student Portal.
TSI Assessment Registration Information
How do I get my official TSI Assessment scores sent to A&M-Corpus Christi if I took the test at another Texas institution?
You can request that your official test scores be sent to us electronically via the ACCUPLACER Student Portal.
Where can I review sample questions and learn more about the Texas Success Initiative (TSI)?
The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) is a state-legislated program that requires students to be assessed in the areas of reading, writing, and math prior to enrolling at a Texas public institution. The results of the TSI assessment are used to determine your placement in certain courses and overall readiness to enroll in collegiate-level coursework.
TSIA2 Informative Brochure
TSIA2 Interpreting Your Score
TSIA2 ELAR Sample Questions
TSIA2 Math Sample Questions
TSI WritePlacer Sample Essays
