The state of Texas requires students looking to enter the Texas Public College System to take the TSI Assessment (Texas Success Initiative).
Students who attain sufficient scores on the TSI Assessment can enroll in credit-bearing university or college courses whereas students with insufficient scores need to first attend remedial coursework.
This TSI study guide explains more about what TSI testing is all about and helps students get properly prepared for the TSI exam efficiently.
To get familiar with the content and format of the TSI Assessment, this website offers practice tests at no cost. These sample tests help students to understand what they will need to attain good scores on the exam.
If students know what to expect in a timely manner and get properly prepared by taking multiple sample tests, they will hone their skills and knowledge which saves time and money in the college application process.
Attaining good results on the TSI Assessment is critical to avoid having to take additional college prep courses before enrolling in college programs. Also if you already decided to take a gap year after graduating from high school, getting top results on there TSI is crucial for your future college enrollment.
Make a good start toward your college degree
Having to first take prerequisite courses or remedial classes may cause extra stress and is time-consuming. This TSI Assessment Study Guide helps college-bound students make a good start toward a college degree.
The content of this website’s TSI articles and practice tests is covering everything students will have to deal with on the TSI Assessment.
Our free TSI practice tests will help students identify their weak and strong academic knowledge areas so they can center more on the fields that require their attention most.
So this TSI Assessment Study Guide is a great help to identify what students need to learn if they want to be successful at the TSI Assessment.
TSI mathematics subtest
The TSI Assessment Math portion covers the topics students had in their high school curriculum. This subtest assesses what they remember. We show what it takes to get sufficient scores on the TSI Math subtest. We’ll explain what parts of math that students had high school show up in the TSI Math subtest.
Students can check if their knowledge is sufficient to enter college directly without the need to take extra coursework. That’s what we try to achieve with our TSI Math study guide. We help college-bound students remember the important math things so they’ll be in shape to demonstrate their math skills come testing day.
TSI reading subtest
Reading is about more than just understanding words. Students must be able to show their analytical skills and synthesize the words they read. Sometimes, they’re required to form ideas based on given texts.
Our free reading practice tests let students discover which areas they should focus on to get all set for the TSI Assessment Reading portion so they won’t have to take remedial classes prior to enrolling in college courses.
Some students think the TSI exam isn’t hard at all, but for all others, we provide help to get them perfectly ready and produce the best possible results.
TSI writing subtest
This TSI Writing Study Guide explains what good writing is all about and how students can get optimally prepares for this part of the TSI exam. The TSI Reading section includes a multiple-choice section and an essay-writing part.
College hopefuls really should get perfectly prepared to demonstrate their best writing skills. Good preparation will ensure that students won’t need to take any extra remedial coursework before they’re admitted into credit-bearing academic programs.
How many questions are included in the TSI assessment?
The Texas Student Success Initiative Assessment has three subtests that cover Reading, Writing, and Math. Each subtest includes 20-24 questions, all in the multiple-choice format.
The subtests are computer-adaptive and measure a student’s skill and knowledge level. Computer-adaptive testing means that, based on the student’s right or wrong answers, the level is adapted to the test-taker’s level. You can learn more about TSI scoring here.
Where is the TSI exam given?
Students have multiple options if they want to take the TSI Assessment. They should contact their school’s TSI Office to get fully informed about the options and for more explanation. Let’s see where TSI testing is possible.
- TSI exam in high school
Students can sit for the TSI Assessment when they’re still in high school. Actually, this is a great option and usually offered at no cost. Students should contact their school’s college counselor for information on high school TSI testing so they can submit their scores to their college of choice.
- TSI exam in community college
Students can also take the TSI Assessment at a community college. Keep in mind, though, that schools may charge proctor fees. There are also colleges, however, that allow future students to sit for the TSI Assessment for free or at a reduced fee. Students can get in touch with their college of choice’s TSI Office for more information. Students may also submit a college’s TSI Request Form and choose a remote proctor option.
- TSI exam online
Students may also take the TSI Assessment on a computer at home. They’ll need a webcam computer to enable a proctor to follow them online as they take the exam. While completing the TSI Request Form, just choose “online option.” The cost of the online TSI exam is $25.
All students that sit for the TSI Assessment must complete the Pre-Assessment Activity. If they don’t, they won’t be allowed to take the exam. Students should contact their school for additional information.
TSI exemption options
Not all college-bound students need to sit for the TSI Assessment. Some students are exempt, meaning they may enroll in entry-level credit-bearing college courses without having to take any extra entrance test.
Exemptions may be subject-specific meaning that students are only exempt from that specific subject area (e.g. math) but not from taking the other subtests (e.g. reading and or writing). You can read all about TSI exemptions in this post.
For TSI Assessment exemption, students must meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Attain minimally required ACT or SAT scores
- College-Ready (165-174) or College-Ready + credit (175-200) scores on the GED test
- Attain a 2200 score on the TAKS math section and a 2200-score on the Language Arts section while the Writing score is at least 3
- Students with military backgrounds are exempt
- Students with college-level achievements at accredited institutions can transfer credits to qualify for an exemption
- Students signed up for a 1-year certificate program (Level-1 certificate program) in Texas are also exempt