The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) requires students to be assessed in reading, math, and writing prior to enrolling in college. Beginning in the Fall of 2013, Texas only accepts the TSI Assessment as fulfillment for this requirement. All students must complete a Pre-Assessment Activity before they can take the TSI. The Pre-Assessment Activity can be found at https://accuplacer.collegeboard.org/students/free-tsia2-pre-assessment-and-practice-resources.
Upon completion of the Pre-Assessment Activity, the student will receive a certificate in an email with the subject line “PAA Certification Completion,” which will need to be forwarded to advising@texarkanacollege.edu. The advisor will send a testing ticket to the Testing Center to inform them of the test(s) a student will need to take. The student will receive an email from the Testing Center letting them know the ticket has been received. The student will take the test(s) in the Testing Center and receive a copy of the test score(s), which will then need to be taken to the Office of Enrollment Services to speak with an Advisor. If indicated by the scores on the test, the Advisor will place the student in developmental education courses.
TSI Exemptions
- Earned Associate or Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education
- ACT taken prior to February 15, 2023: ACT composite score of 23 or higher with a minimum of 19 on the math and/or English sections (scores are good for 5 years)
- ACT taken on or after February 15, 2023: a combined score of 40 on the English and Reading (E+R) tests and a score of 22 on the mathematics test. No composite score
- ACT: The use of scores from both the ACT administered prior to February 15, 2023, and the ACT administered after February 15, 2023, is allowable
- GED: Minimum score of 165 on the Mathematical Reasoning subject test. Minimum score of 165 on the Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA) subject test for ELAR
- SAT taken prior to March 2016: SAT total score of 1070 combined with a minimum of 500 on the math test and/or 500 on the critical reading test (scores are good for 5 years)
- SAT taken on or after March 5, 2016: 480 on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and/or 530 on the math test. There is no combined score
- SAT: Combining scores from the SAT taken prior to March 2016 and the SAT taken on or after March 5, 2016 is not allowable
- STAAR: Dual-Credit Students with a STAAR end-of-course (EOC) 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
- TAKS (exit level): 2200 ELA + 3 on essay; 2200-MATH; (scores are good for 5 years)
- TASP: Students with previous TASP exemptions may be determined to have satisfied TSI criteria
- Transfer coursework from a regionally or nationally accredited state, private, or independent institution of higher education in Texas with a grade of C or better in certain courses
- Transfer coursework from an out-of-state institution with a grade of C or better in certain courses.
- 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
- Student who successfully completes a college preparatory course under Texas Education Code §28.014 is exempt for a period of twenty-four (24) months from the date of high school graduation with respect to the content area of the course. The student must enroll in the student’s first college-level course in the exempted content area in the student’s first year of enrollment in an institution of higher education. This exemption applies only at the institution of higher education that partners with the school district in which the student is enrolled to provide the course
TSI Waivers
- Non-degree or non-certificate-seeking student
- Enrollment in most Level 1 certificate programs
- Active-duty military service or members of reserve armed forces serving for at least 3 years preceding enrollment
Workforce and Vocational Certificate Requirements
All students must take the TABE exam and meet with an Advisor in the Advising Office. The following programs require that a student make a certain score on the TABE exam:
- Air Conditioning/Heating & Refrigeration Technology (TABE score of 537)
- Auto Body Technology (TABE score of 537)
- Automotive Technology (TABE score of 537)
- Business Office Technology (TABE score of 537)
- Cosmetology (TABE score of 576)
- Construction Technology (TABE score of 537)
- Culinary Arts (TABE score of 537)
- Diesel Technology (TABE score of 537)
- Electrical Technology (TABE score of 537)
- Instrumentation/Robotics (TABE score of 537)
- Mechatronics (TABE score of 537)
- Welding (TABE score of 537)