TSI Testing and Exemptions

If you are an incoming college student, you must take the TSIA2 unless you are already exempt. Depending on your results, you may be asked to:

Enroll in a college-level course that matches your skill level.
Participate in a developmental course to build your skills.
Participate in an intervention.

Pre-Assessment Activity

Before you take the TSI, you must attend a mandatory Pre-Assessment Activity (PAA) unless you have already completed a PAA at TSTC or another institution or are exempt.

The PAA provides practice test questions, developmental education options, and available campus and community resources.

Sign up for your PAA

Schedule your PAA at this link.

Taking the TSIA2

Step 1: Meet with an Enrollment Coach

Step 2: Schedule and pay

Step 3: Bring these documents to your assessment

Step 4: Take the TSIA2

Step 5: Receive your score report

An Enrollment Coach will help you determine whether you need to take the assessment. You may be exempt based on other testing or coursework you have completed.

Schedule your exam at one of our locations. You can also arrange to have your test administered close to home.

When you take the test, please bring:

A valid photo identification.
Your PAA completion certificate or confirmation email.

Expect to spend up to five or six hours if you are planning to take the entire test.

If you need accommodation

To arrange a disability accommodation, please contact Access & Learning Accommodations at adarequest@tstc.edu at least two weeks before your test date. Late requests will be considered but cannot be guaranteed.

You will receive a score report at the end of your test. Bring it with you when you meet with an Enrollment Coach so they can determine the appropriate next steps based on your results.

What if my scores don’t meet the minimum standards?

If your scores do not meet minimum standards, you have two choices:

You can take the test again at any time but testing fees will apply.
You will have to take developmental courses until you reach the required level to be college-ready.

Step 1: Meet with an Enrollment Coach

An Enrollment Coach will help you determine whether you need to take the assessment. You may be exempt based on other testing or coursework you have completed.

Step 2: Schedule and pay

Schedule your exam at one of our locations. You can also arrange to have your test administered close to home.

Step 3: Bring these documents to your assessment

When you take the test, please bring:

A valid photo identification.
Your PAA completion certificate or confirmation email.

Step 4: Take the TSIA2

Expect to spend up to five or six hours if you are planning to take the entire test.

If you need accommodation

Step 5: Receive your score report

You will receive a score report at the end of your test. Bring it with you when you meet with an Enrollment Coach so they can determine the appropriate next steps based on your results.

What if my scores don’t meet the minimum standards?

If your scores do not meet minimum standards, you have two choices:

You can take the test again at any time but testing fees will apply.
You will have to take developmental courses until you reach the required level to be college-ready.

Requesting an exemption

Submit your test scores or official transcript to the Enrollment Center. If you have taken the TSI Assessment at another institution, please sign and fill the Authorization for the release of TSIA/TSIA2 scores to authorize the Testing Center to access your score report.

Test

Exemption Requirements

Expiration

SAT (Administered prior to March 5, 2016)

A combined critical reading and math score of 1070 with: A minimum of 500 on the math section for an exemption in math and/or A minimum of 500 on the critical reading section for an exemption in reading and writing

Valid for 5 years

SAT (Administered after March 5, 2016)

A minimum of 530 on the math section for an exemption in math A minimum of 480 on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) section for an exemption in reading and writing Mixing or combining scores from the SAT administered prior to March 2016 and the SAT administered after March 5, 2016 is not allowable.

Valid for 5 years

ACT

A composite score of 23 with: At least 19 on the math section for an exemption in math and/or At least 19 on English for an exemption in reading and writing

Valid for 5 years

TAKS

A minimum score of 2200 on the Mathematics section for na exemption on math and/or A minimum score of 2200 on the English Language Arts section with a writing score of 3 for an exemption on reading and writing

Valid for 5 years

STAAR-EOC

Algebra II-Level 2 with a minimum score of 4000 for an exemption on the math section English III-Level 2 with a minimum score of 4000 for an exemption on reading and writing

Valid for 5 years

TASP

TASP Exempt or TASP passed prior to the Fall 2003 semester

N/A

GED

A minimum score of 165 on the Math test for an exemption in Math. A minimum score of 165 on the Reasoning Through Language Arts test for an exemption in English Language Arts (ELAR).

Valid for 5 years

HiSET

A minimum score of 15 on the math test for an exemption in Math. 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, for an exemption in English Language Arts (ELAR).

Valid for 5 years (HiSET scores with test administration date after 8/31/21 will no longer be useable)

TSIA Preparation Materials

Build your knowledge Does math scare you? Practice here. Get familiar with the TSI by taking some test prep Before you take the TSI, learn more.