Testing

Texas State Initiative (TSI)

What is TSI?

The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) is a state-legislated program designed to ensure that students have the skills in Reading, Writing, and Math to be successful with college level work.  There are two major components of the program:
 
  • an assessment to diagnose students' basic skill in reading, mathematics, and writing, and
  • developmental instruction, to strengthen academic skill that need improvement.

TSI Requirements

An academic advisor can help you determine whether or not you are TSI satisfied.  TSI status will fall into one of the following categories:
 
TSI Exempt:  Student must present proof of exemption at or prior to registration
 
TSI Waived:  Student must plan to enroll in an eligible certificate program that allows TSI requirements to be waived.  Student may only enroll in courses listed on their certificate plans.
 
College Ready:  Student has fulfilled college readiness requirements when they meet one of the following criteria:
 
  • Receive passing scores on any state-approved placement exam
  • Receive a grade of C or better in their exit-level developmental math, reading, and/or writing class
  • Completion of "TSI Restricted Courses" at another institution

A student Not College Ready must enroll in a minimum of at least one developmental course in the area(s) needing remediation, each long (Fall & Spring) semester until college readiness is obtained in all areas.

TSI Exemptions

A student is exempt from all TSI requirements under any one of the following conditions:
 
  • The student has earned a bachelor's degree or an associate's degree from a regionally accredited Texas institution.
  • The student is 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 has been serving for at least three years preceding enrollment.
  • The student has 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 served as a member of a reserved component of the armed forces of the United States on or after August 1, 1990.
  • The student is a non-degree-seeking (up to 9 credit hours of transferable coursework) or a certificate-seeking student.
  • The student has earned prior academic college credit prior to August 1, 1990.
*Students claiming one of the above exemptions still must meet departmental prerequisites.
 
A student is exempt from one or more TSI requirements under the following conditions.
 
SAT and ACT scores used to support an exemption must be less than five years old;  TAKS scores must be less than three years old.
 
ACT & SAT scores are NOT required for admissions into Western Texas College; however, scores can be used to exempt a student from placement testing if standard is met.
 
A student with an exit-level (11th grade or higher)
  • TAKS math score of at least 2200 is exempt from math requirement.
  • TAKS English/language arts score of at least 2200 and an essay score of at least 3 is exempt from the reading and writing requirements.
  • STAAR English III minimum score of Level 2 is exempt for both reading and writing.
  • STAAR Algebra II minimum score of Level 2 shall be exempt for math