Testing

The Texas Success Initiative is a program designed to ensure students attending public colleges and universites in Texas have the necessary reading, math, and writing skills to be successful in college-level coursework. 

Texas Success Initiative involves an assessment component, an individual advising component and a developmental education program for those students who do not pass all parts of the assessment. Students who are not exempt from the Texas Success Initiative must present test scores in order to register. 

Students who are exempt must present official documentation of their exemption in order to register.

Exemptions

Students are considered exempt from placement testing if they meet one of the following conditions:   

  1. Have graduated with an associate or baccalaureate degree from an institution of higher education  
  2. Earned qualifying scores on either the ACT, SAT, or TAKS:
    ACT
    • A composite score of 23 or higher and a minimum of 19 on the English will exempt a student from the reading and writing sections of the TSI. 
    • A composite score of 23 or higher and a minimum of 19 on the mathematics section will exempt a student from the math section of the TSI.
    SAT (prior to March 2016) -
    • A combined critical reading/math score of 1070 or higher and a minimum of 500 on the critical reading section will exempt a student from the reading and writing sections of the TSI. 
    • A combined critical reading/math score of 1070 or higher and a minimum of 500 on the mathematics section will exempt a student from the math section of the TSI. 
    SAT (After March 2016) -
    • An Evidence-based Reading and Writing score of 480 will exempt a student from the reading and writing sections of the TSI. 
    • A Math score of 530 will exempt a student on the math section of the TSI. Scores from a revised SAT (March 2016 and later) cannot be combined with SAT scores prior to March 2016. SAT Exemptions must come from revised SATs (March 2016 or later) or prior SATs but not both.
    STAARS - 
    • an English III EOC (end-of-course) score of Level 2 will exempt a student on the reading and writing sections of the TSI. 
    • An Algebra II EOC score of Level 2 will exempt a student on the math section of the TSI. 
    TAKS – 
    • A minimum scale score of 2200 and an essay score of 3 or higher on the English/Language Arts on the exit-level TAKS (11th grade) will exempt a student on the reading and writing sections of the TSI. 
    • A minimum scale score of 2200 on the math section of the exit-level TAKS (11th grade) will exempt a student on the math section of the TSI. Scores must be less than 5 years old at the first test administration.
    ***Scores must be less than 5 years old and from a national test administration
  3. A student 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 has been serving in the reserves for at least three years preceding enrollment. Proof of active duty will be required. 
  4. A student who on or after August 1, 1990 was 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. Proof of service will be required (DD214). 
  5. A transfer student with approved coursework may be exempted from one, two or all three sections of the TSI. A student should bring a transcript(s) to a counselor for evaluation to determine if they are exempt, or need to take all or parts of the TSI. This should be done well in advance so as not to delay registration.