TSI Assessment

The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) is a state-required assessment of reading, writing, and math skills to help make sure that students are prepared for college classes. All new students must take the TSI test before registering for classes unless you are exempt or are “TSI-complete.”

Important Facts About the TSI Assessment

If you are taking the TSI Assessment for the first time, you must complete the Pre-Assessment Activity (PAA) first. You only have to complete the PAA once.

There is no cost to take the TSI at ACC once you have completed your application for admission.

The TSI Assessment is NOT a pass or fail test and it does NOT prevent you from enrolling in college.
After taking the exam, you will receive a score report and a chart of what scores are considered college ready. Find these scores here.

Once you’ve taken the test and received your score report, you can work with an ACC advisor who will recommend courses you can enroll in to start your college career.

What is the PAA (Pre-Assessment Activity)?

The PAA will help you understand the following:

• Why you are being tested.
• How the TSI works, including calculator and highlighter tutorials, plus practice test questions.
• How test results impact your college options.
• The resources available to you.

You only have to take the PAA once, even if you take the TSI multiple times.

After you have reviewed all sections, you will receive an emailed Certificate of Completion​. Save this email for your records as you may need to show proof of completion to take the TSI.

Do I Have to Take the TSI?

You do not have to take the TSI Assessment if you meet one of the following criteria:

• Completed the SAT, ACT, GED, HiSET or other approved assessment exam with the minimum scores needed for TSI exemption.
• 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.
• Graduated college with an associate or bachelor’s degree.
• Previously attended any accredited Texas public institution of higher education and was determined by that institution to have met TSI college readiness standards in that specified TSI component area.
• Enrolled in a Level 1 waived certificate program and taking courses only in the certificate award plan
• Serving on active duty as a member of the armed forces of the U.S., the Texas National Guard, or as a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the U.S. 
• On or after August 1, 1990, were honorably discharged, retired, or released from active duty as a member of the armed forces of the U.S. or the Texas National Guard or service as a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the U.S.
• Enrolled in ESOL (English as a Speaker of Other Languages) courses only. ESOL-only students are waived from the TSI exam. This waiver is removed after 15 credit hours are earned. ESOL-only students should take the ESOL Assessment instead of the TSI Assessment

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.

Notes:

• Scores from ACT tests taken before and after February 15, 2023 can be combined.
• Mixing or combining scores from the SAT administered prior to March 2016 and the SAT administered March 2016 and later, is not allowed.
• HiSET will no longer administer tests after August 31, 2021 in Texas. Therefore, any tests taken after the August 31, 2021 test date will not be usable for the TSI exemption.
• The STAAR Algebra II and English III postsecondary readiness assessments are optional assessments for districts. Please verify with your local school district whether or not the assessment is offered.

TSI Accommodations

The Student Accessibility Services (SAS) Office can help with accommodations for the TSI Assessment.

Note: The TSI 2.0 is not timed. There also is a “save and finish” option that allows you to pause for breaks or pause the testing session so you can  complete it on another day. If you choose this option, you must log back in and complete the Math and/or ELR sections within 14 days of pausing. 

You must complete the essay portion of the assessment in one sitting; pausing to complete on another day is not allowed. There is also a virtual calculator built into the TSI 2.0 platform that has audio reader capabilities and is available once you complete the initial “basic math facts” portion of the Math section.

Request TSI Assessment Accommodations

If you need additional accommodations please contact the intake coordinator at [email protected].

If you need to take the TSI for another college or university with accommodations, please contact the Business Assessment Office ([email protected]).

Taking the TSI

Once you’ve completed the PAA, you’re ready to take the TSI Assessment. Here’s how to be the most successful and achieve the best outcomes.

Questions? Contact [email protected].

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