The TSI—otherwise known as the Texas Success Initiative—is meant to evaluate how prepared you are for the college learning environment before you sign up for your first course load. As it stands, this particular examination is required of every student preparing to start college in the state of Texas. There are a few points of exemption for this exam, however, especially for those who performed well on a national college readiness exam, such as the SAT or ACT. If you turn out to have to take this exam before you enroll in your first official college courses, don’t feel discouraged.

What Is Featured on the TSI READING Section?

Author’s Use of Language, Literary Analysis, Inferences in a Text or Texts, and Main Idea and Supporting Details

Skills in Referring

• Conclusions That Are Stated Directly

• Denotative and Connotative Meanings

• Inductive and Deductive Reasoning

• Plotline

• Historical Context

• Context

• Persuasive Text and Bias

• Supporting Details

• Text Evidence

• Textual Evidence for Predictions

• Textual Support for Interpretations

• Topics and Main Ideas

• When There’s No Keyword

• Theme

Skills in Reasoning

• Skills in Reasoning

• Identifying a Logical Conclusion

• Interpretation of Expository or Literary Text

• Inference

• Predictions

• Purpose of the Author

• Determining Word Meanings

• Multiple Meaning Words

• Point of View

• Cause and Effect

• Rhetorical Strategy of Cause and Effect Analysis

• Different Perspectives from Different Authors

• Author’s Position