TSI Exemptions

Can I be exempt from taking the TSI?
Students who do meet the following exemptions do not need to take the TSI Assessment prior to enrolling. You may be exempt from taking the TSI Assessment if you have:

Reading:

  • ACT: Composite 23 and English 19
  • ACT: Combined score of 40 on English and Reading (after February 2023)
  • SAT: Composite 1070 and Critical Reading/Verbal 500
  • SAT Evidence Based Reading and Writing (after March 2016): 480
  • TAKS: ELA 2200 & Writing Essay score 3
  • STARR End-of-course (EOC): min. score of Level 2 on English III exempts reading and writing (minimum scale score 4000)
  • GED: Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA) of 165
  • HiSET: 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, shall be exempt for English Language Arts Reading (ELAR)

Writing:

  • ACT: Composite 23 and English 19
  • ACT: Combined score of 40 on English and Reading (after February 2023)
  • SAT: Composite 1070 and Critical Reading/Verbal 500
  • SAT Evidence Based Reading and Writing (after March 2016): 480
  • TAKS: ELA 2200 & Writing Essay score 3
  • STARR End-of-course (EOC): min. score of Level 2 on English III exempts reading and writing (minimum scale score 4000)
  • GED: Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA) of 165
  • HiSET: 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, shall be exempt for English Language Arts Reading (ELAR)

Math:

  • ACT: Composite 23 and Math 19
  • ACT: Math score of 22 (after February 2023)
  • SAT: Composite 1070 and Math 500
  • SAT Math (after March 2016): 530
  • TAKS: Math 2200
  • STARR End-of-course (EOC): min. score of Level 2 on Algebra II exempts math (minimum scale score 4000)
  • GED: Mathematical Reasoning score of 165
  • HiSET: Math Score 15

Additional Exemptions:

  • Veteran Status: honorably discharged, retired, or released from active duty on or after August 1, 1990
  • Active Military Duty or Reserve Status for at least 3 years
  • Appropriate college coursework from another accredited institution
  • Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree 

**Test scores mentioned above are valid for 5 years from test date. Partial exemptions are allowed.

 

 

All students taking college-level courses must satisfy Texas Success Initiative (TSI) requirements, unless they qualify for a TSI Exemption. Official documents must be submitted to the TSC Testing Office (Oliveira Student Service Bldg.) for determining exemption.

 

TSI COVID-19 Alternative Placement

HIGH SCHOOL COMPLETERS:
For non-exempt students (high school completers) enrolling at higher education institutions in academic year 2020-2021 and 2021-2022, any one of the following can be used to indicate college readiness:

  • TSIA2 testing via proctoring through Zoom facilitated by TSC Testing Office or testing in person at the TSC Testing Center with a small group of 8 students testing on Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday.
  • High School GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • 4 years of high school English and/or 4 years of high school Math

Non-exempt students (high school completers) who have previously taken and did not pass the TSIA or TSIA2 in one or all areas may be placed in college-level courses using any of the alternative options listed in the bulleted list directly above.