TSI and SAT scores information
The SAT is, like the ACT, an entrance exam required by universities and colleges for admission.
Students should take the SAT college entrance exam in the spring of their junior year so that, if they need to retake the test, they’ll have time to do so before college admission deadlines during the summer or fall of their senior year.
When students attain sufficient scores on the SAT entrance exam, they are exempt from taking the TSI (Texas Success Initiative) Assessment.
SAT scores dating back to before March 5, 2016, that qualify students for exempt status are 500 on the Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) portion and 500 on the Mathematics portion of the SAT.
For students that took the SAT on or after March 5, 2016, the following minimum scores out for TSI exempt status: 480 on the Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) portion and 530 on the Math portion.
SAT and ACT scores are valid for five years so 2020 is the last year that old SAT scores are still valid. Combining new and old SAT scores is not allowed. For TSI exemption and ACT required scores check out this post.
The SAT edition that was introduced in 2016 requires students to write an essay and then evaluate their essay and determine the structure, the reasoning elements, and the evidence.
The new SAT math portion includes more advanced math concepts that the earlier edition (matrices, trigonometry, etc.), and the grammar portion is practically identical to that of the ACT exam though, in general, the ACT assesses slightly more advance and complex math subject fields.
The SAT is scored on a 400-1600 scale with an average score of 1000 overall and an average score of 500 per SAT section.
Let’s see how much time you are given to deal with each individual SAT problem:
On the SAT Writing and Language portion, you have 35 minutes to deal with 44 problems, so 48 seconds per individual Writing+Language problem.
On the SAT Reading section, you have 65 minutes to solve 52 problems, so you have 75 seconds per individual reading problem.
On the SAT Mathematics portion, you are allowed 80 minutes to deal with 58 problems, so you have 83 seconds per individual math problem.
Exempt status
When you are accepted to your preferred college, you must submit your TSI scores or demonstrate proof of your exempt status. If you don’t you cannot enroll in college courses. College education comes at a cost but fortunately, there are many scholarships available in Texas for motivated or underprivileged students.
If you took the SAT entrance exam and scored sufficiently to attain exempt status, you must submit your SAT scores as well. If you don’t, the college or university cannot check your TSI exempt status. For the acceptance rate of major Texas colleges and universities, check out this post.
You may be exempt from taking one TSI section if your SAT score for that portion is sufficient. You will still have to take the rest of the TSI Assessment to qualify for college.
The TSI includes three testing fields that measure a college-bound student’s skills and college readiness in reading, writing, and math capabilities. All students looking to go to college are required to sit for the TSI Assessment unless they attained exempt status.