TSI Assessment
Purpose and Importance
The TSI Assessment is a placement test designed to assist Texas higher education institutions in determining student readiness for college level course work in the general areas of reading, writing and mathematics. All incoming college students attending a public higher education institution in Texas are required to take the TSI Assessment, unless exempt via an alternate approved method. (See below)
TSI Exemptions
Students who are non-degree seeking or non-certificate-seeking.
For a period of five (5) years from the date of testing, a student who is tested and performs at or above the following standards on the following tests:
ACT – Composite score of 23 or higher, with individual math, reading and English scores of no less than 19. Residual ACT cannot be used for TSI exemption.
SAT – Composite score of 1070 or higher, with 500 critical reading (formally "verbal") and 500 math. Residual SAT cannot be used for TSI exemption.
Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) — 11th grade exit-level TAKS with a minimum scale score of 2200 on the math section and/or a minimum scale score of 2200 on the English Language Arts section and a writing subsection score of at least 3, are TSI exempt for the corresponding sections. (Note: The writing subsection score is often not printed on high school transcripts, but can usually be found on the exit level TAKS score report.)
STAAR end-of-course (EOC) – A minimum score of Level 2 on the English III shall be exempt from the TSI Assessment required under this title for both reading and writing, and a minimum score of Level 2 on the Algebra II EOC shall be exempt from the TSI Assessment required under this title for the mathematics section.
If you are not exempt from taking the TSI Assessment, you will take the TSI Assessment which covers three subject areas: reading, mathematics, and writing. If you have an exemption in one area, you will only take the test in the remaining subject area(s). Students that do not meet the minimum score indicating college readiness are required to enroll in Developmental Education coursework – in the area in which they are not TSI complete.
TSI Assessment College Ready Cut-Scores
Mathematics – 350
Reading – 351
Writing – Essay score of 5 OR Essay score of 4 and Multiple Choice of 363
FREE Access to the TSI Assessment Study App
Click Below for the App
STUDENT INFORMATIONAL BROCHURE from the Texas Higher Education College Board.