TSI Assessment

The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) is a state-required assessment test to determine college-readiness in reading, writing, and math. All entering students must take the TSI test before enrolling in classes unless you are exempt or complete.

  • Step 1: Do I need to take the TSI Assessment?
    • To ensure you need to do the TSI Assessment, please scroll down the page to view TSI Exemptions.
  • Step 2: Do I complete the Pre-Assessment Activity (PAA)?
      • If you are an incoming college student in Texas, the State of Texas requires all students to complete a Pre-Assessment Activity (PAA) before taking the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) Assessment.
        Note: Students who are retesting for the TSI Assessment, are not required to redo the PAA.
      • After you have reviewed all sections, you will receive an email of Certificate of Completion​. Make sure you save this email for your records as we may require you to show proof of completion.
        Click on the following link to begin the PAA - http://sites.austincc.edu/tsiprep/.
  • Step 3: How do I pay for the TSI Assessment or see if I can qualify for a fee waiver?
      • To purchase the TSI Assessment go to ACC’s Marketplace. Make sure you save this email for your records as we may require you to show proof of payment.

        Fee Waivers
        • TSI / ESOL: You may also qualify for a Financial Aid TSI/ESOL fee waiver. Students seeking a TSI/ESOL waiver need to email finaid@austincc.edu and request that they assess your eligibility for a waiver before paying the TSI/ESOL fee. A financial aid staff member will review the request and email you back. If approved, you will forward this email with all required documents to initiate the testing process. 
  • Step 4: What if I need to test with accommodations?

    • The Student Accessibility Services (SAS) office can assist you if you require accommodations for the TSI Assessment.

      **Note that the TSI 2.0 is not timed, there is also a "save and finish" option that allows for students to "pause" for breaks as they please or to "pause" the testing session all together for completion on another day. If the student chooses this option, they must log back in and complete the Math and ELR sections within 14 days of "pausing". The exception is the essay portion - which students must complete in one sitting. There is also a virtual calculator built into the TSI 2.0 platform - this calculator has audio reader capabilities and is available once a student gets through the initial “basic math facts” portion of the Math section.

      Request TSI Assessment Accommodations

      If, after reviewing this information, you need additional accommodations please contact our intake coordinator at SASApplication@austincc.edu.

      Please contact our Business Assessment (bact@austincc.edu) office if you need to take the TSI for another college or university with accommodations.

  • Step 5: Are you ready to take the TSIA?

General TSI Information

Verify TSI status

Check the list of TSI exemptions and score completions to determine if you have already met TSI requirements in one or more areas (reading, writing, and math) or meet the criteria for an exemption. You must show proof of exemption. You may take your proof of exemption or waiver, if applicable, to any campus Advising Office.

  • TSI Exemptions/Waivers

    • You do not have to take the TSI Assessment if you:

      • Graduated college with an associate or bachelor’s degree; or
      • Have earned a C or higher in a college-level course at an accredited institution. The course must be equivalent to an ACC course on the approved ACC TSI course list.
      • Have previously attended any accredited Texas public institution of higher education and had been determined by that institution to have met TSI college readiness standards in that specified TSI component area.
      • Are enrolling in a Level 1 waived certificate program and are taking courses only in the certificate award plan
      • Are 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 have been serving for at least three years preceding enrollment. You are waived from the TSI Assessment.
      • Are enrolling in ESOL courses only. ESOL only students are waived from the TSI exam. The waiver is removed after 15-credit hours are earned. ESOL only students should take the ESOL Assessment instead of the TSI Assessment
      • On or after August 1, 1990, were 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.
      • You have completed the SAT, ACT, GED, HiSET or other approved assessment exam with the minimum score needed for TSI exemption.
  • Test Score Exemptions

    • The following tests can be used to exempt you from one or more parts of the TSI Assessment. Tests must have been taken within the previous five years.

      MINIMUM SCORES ELIGIBLE FOR TSI ASSESSMENT EXEMPTION 

      TEST READING & WRITING EXEMPTION MATH EXEMPTION
      SAT (March 2016 and later) 480 Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 530 Math
      ACT 23 Composite with 19 English 23 Composite with 19 Math
      TAKS 2200 ELA (English Language Arts) with 3+ Writing sub-score 2200 Math
      STAAR 4000 on the English III (EOC) 4000 on the Algebra II (E0C)
      GED 165 on the Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA) for the English Language Arts Reading (ELAR) Exemption. 165 on the Mathematical Reasoning
      HiSET 15 on the Reading subtest, a minimum score of 15 on the Writing Subtest with a minimum score of 4 on the essay, for English Language Arts Reading (ELAR) Exemption 15 on the Mathematics subtest Math Exemption

      Notes:

      • Mixing or combining scores from the SAT administered prior to March 2016 and the SAT administered March 2016 and later, is not allowable.
      • HiSET will no longer administer tests after 8/31/2021 in Texas. Therefore, any tests taken after the 8/31/2021 test date will not be useable for the TSI exemption.
  • TSI Complete Scores

    • The following are the current sets of score ranges. You have completed Texas Success Initiative requirements for a subject area if you earn the minimum score listed in the charts and date ranges below.

      State-Approved Minimum Scores to be TSI Complete, effective January 11, 2021
       
      Assessment English, Language Arts & Reading (ELAR) Math
      TSI Assessment 945 and an Essay of  5 or more
      or
      Less than 945 and a Diagnostic Level of 5 or more and an Essay of 5 or more      		 950
      or
      Less than 950 and Diagnostic Level of 6
      State-Approved Minimum Scores to be TSI Complete for assessment taken prior to January 11, 2021 (good for 5 years from date of exam, if presented for placement and enrollment at any college or university within 5 years of the test date.)
       
      Assessment  Reading Writing Math
      TSI Assessment 351 *5 or 4/340 350

      Note*: A placement score less than 340 and an ABE Diagnostic level of at least 4, and essay score of at least 5.

Request TSI Scores

Retrieve TSI scores to enroll at ACC:

If you have taken the TSI Assessment within the last 5 years at a testing site outside of Austin Community College, but within the State of Texas, please complete the Retrieve TSI Scores form.

Send TSI scores to another college/University:

If your college or university needs your TSI scores that were taken at Austin Community College, please complete the Send TSI Scores form.