Texas Success Initiative (TSI)

What is TSI? Texas Education Code §51.3062 T The law requires all entering Texas college students to be assessed for college readiness in reading, mathematics and writing unless the student qualifies for an exemption Unless exempt, students who are entering a Texas college or university must take a TSI exam and receive a passing score in order to enroll in credit bearing courses

Why does the TSI Matter? For Seniors: If you are planning on attending a Texas college or university, you are required to have passed the TSI unless you are exempt. For Juniors: Important to know what scores on the SAT or ACT are required to be exempt from TSI. Also, taking the TSI your junior year allows you to complete a college requirement ahead of time. Finally, if you do not pass every section of the TSI you can retake it next year as a senior. For Sophomores: While you will not be taking the TSI, unless you are applying for dual credit, it is important to start thinking about what will be required of you as well as to understand what exemptions exist in order to avoid having to take the TSI as seniors.

Steps for taking the TSI If students have not already done so, they must independently create an Apply Texas account and apply to El Paso Community College at least 4 weeks prior to TSI exam. (EPCC application is ONLY necessary to create a college ID required for TSI exam only and does not require that students attend EPCC) 3 week waiting period while EPCC generates ID number that is required to take Pre-Assessment Activity (PAAM) needed before taking TSI Students must register to take TSI at Go Center (S133) by February 3rd Students MUST participate in PAAM held the week of February 20th before taking the TSI Students will NOT be allowed to take the TSI Assessment until they have completed the Pre-Assessment Activity (PAAM) Students will be assigned to take TSI test on the week of March 20th at Franklin after completing PAAM

What is on the TSI? Writing Placement What is accessed? Essay revision, subject-verb agreement, sentence structure, sentence logic Writing Multiple Choice- 20 Questions (Depending on the test result, the student may be required to take the Developmental Education (DE) or Adult Basic Education (ABE) Diagnostic) Essay- 5 paragraph and 550 Words DE Writing Diagnostic- 48 Questions ABE Writing Diagnostic- 30 Questions

What is on the TSI? Reading Placement What is accessed? Literary analysis, main idea and supporting details, inferences, author’s use of language Reading Multiple Choice- 24 Questions (Depending on the test result, the student may be required to take the Developmental Education (DE) or Adult Basic Education (ABE) Diagnostic) DE Reading Diagnostic- 48 Questions ABE Reading Diagnostic- 30 Questions

What is on the TSI? Mathematics Placement What is accessed? Algebra and functions, geometry and measurements, data analysis, statistics and probability Mathematics Multiple Choice- 20 Questions (Depending on the test result, the student may be required to take the Developmental Education (DE) or Adult Basic Education (ABE) Diagnostic) DE Mathematics Diagnostic- 48 Questions ABE Mathematics Diagnostic- 40 Questions

TSI Testing Facts Test is administered online and students are given 5 hours maximum to complete the TSI Test The assessments are computer adaptive, which means that questions increase or decrease in difficulty level depending on how you respond. If a student does not achieve a College Readiness benchmark in a given subject, that student MUST continue and take the Developmental Education (DE) or Adult Basic Education (ABE) Test Students may retake any or all portions of the test It will take up to 10 business days for scores to be uploaded

Why Take the TSI Now? If you are an incoming college student in Texas, you are required to take the TSI Assessment — unless you are already exempt. TSI will help determine what type of course or intervention will best meet your needs to help you become better prepared for college-level course work if you are not ready. The TSI administered at Franklin will be FREE whereas, many universities charge a fee for taking the TSI on their campus.

TSI Exemptions SAT SCORES A student may be exempt from the TSI if they have obtained the following on the NEW SAT exam: At least 530 on math for an exemption in math and/or At least 480 on critical reading for an exemption in reading and writing  

TSI Exemptions ACT Scores A student may be exempt from the TSI if they have obtained the following on the ACT exam: A student must first achieve a minimum composite score of 23 with: At least 19 on math for an exemption in math and/or At least 19 on English for an exemption in reading and writing

TSI Exemptions TAKS A minimum score of 2200 in math for an exemption in math and/or 2200 in English Language Arts AND a writing subsection of 3 for an exemption in reading and writing.

TSI Exemptions Dual Credit If a student has successfully completed and obtained a grade of 75 or above on a Dual Credit class, they are exempt ONLY from taking the portion of the TSI that relates to the class they passed. Example: Student enrolled in Dual Credit class for Math 1314 who passed with a 75 or above will be exempt from the TSI mathematics portion of the exam, but must take the reading and writing portion of the TSI.

PAAM and TSI Test Dates Both the PAAM and TSI test will be administered on campus at Franklin on the following dates. Students MUST take PAAM before they can take TSI. There will be no retakes on campus for missed exams. Registration Deadline for on campus TSI: February 3rd by 4:15 pm in the Go Center PAAM Test Date: Week of February 20th TSI Test Date: March 20th through March 27th Students will be informed of their specific testing dates for PAAM and TSI after registering in the Go Center.

Final Reminder for Seniors The FAFSA priority deadline is March 1st. If you want to receive any federal financial aide you must submit your FAFSA prior to that date. Franklin will be having a second FAFSA Night on Feb. 1st in the library computer lab. People will be on hand to help you and your parents complete your FAFSA.