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Texas Success Initiative (TSI)
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    The purpose of the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) program is to guide Texas public institutions of higher education in determining whether entering, non-exempt students are ready for entry-level college coursework in the areas of reading, writing, and mathematics through the administration of the Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSIA). Students who do not meet one or more of the established benchmarks of the TSIA are required to participate in developmental education support prior to, or together with, enrollment in college-level coursework. Developmental supports such as corequisite and non-course competency-based options help students succeed in meeting their academic and career goals.
     

    Starting January 11, 2021 the traditional TSI Assessment have been replaced with a Texas Success Initiative 2.0 (TSIA2). This assessment will only have two components Math and Reading and Writing will be combined into  English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR) 

    • Current Reading and Writing tests will be combined into one ELAR section
    • New college ready scores for Math and ELAR:
      TSIA 2.0 Scores:
      ELAR (Reading and Writing)- College Ready Classification (CRC) 945 and Essay 5 or College Ready Classification (CRC) less than 945 and Diagnostic Level of a 5 or 6 and at least a 5 Essay
      Math- College Ready Classification (CRC) 950 or below 950 and Diagnostic Level 6

    The Reading and Writing Sections will be combined into one ELAR section. You will not be able to take them separately. You will see both Reading and Writing questions and possibly the essay when taking the ELAR section. Your result on the ELAR section will determine if you reach the College Ready Classification in both Reading and Writing.

    Pre-Assessment Activity

    Before students are allowed to register for the TSI Assessment exam, they must complete the Pre-Assessment Activity (PAA).  At UTSA, the PAA must be completed online at:  https://practice.accuplacer.org/login

    All first-time freshmen who are “TSI Incomplete” are required to take the Pre-Assessment Activity prior to registering for their TSI Assessment.

    Students must complete their PAA online prior to testing registration. Registration for the TSI Assessment may be done online through ASAP after completion has been determined by the Testing Services office.

    Current TSI Options

    Below are our current options for taking the TSI

    Option 1- On Campus Testing

    Option 2- Virtual TSI via Zoom

    Option 3- Remote TSI at another Campus (not UTSA)

    TSI Study Guide

    The TSI Study Guide is located on the Accuplacer website: https://tsia2.pearsonperspective.com/perspective/

    TSIA 2.0 Passing Scores

    The following state score passing standards are shared with you so that you may compare your results today with those standards and determine if retesting or developmental activity is needed in your immediate future.

    Mathematics: College Readiness Score of at least 950 or CRC score below 950 and diagnostic level of 6 (Entry-level college Math or Statistics allowed).

    Obtaining a score of 950 or greater or a score below 950 and a diagnostic level of 6 enables students to register for MAT 1023,1033,1043 and MAT 1073 or STA 1043,1053.

    In order to register for MAT 1093 and 1214 students must take and pass an additional Mathematics placement exam.

    Scores below the required CRC will be evaluated for placement by the TSI office.

    ELAR: College Readiness Score of at least 945 and essay of 5 or greater or a score below 945 and a diagnostic level of 5 or 6 and essay score of at least 5 (Entry-level Reading and Writing courses).
    Scores below the required CRC will be evaluated for placement by the TSI office.

    TSI Exemptions

    Please contact TSI Programs at tsi@utsa.edu for any TSI holds, exemptions, or updates.  Testing Services administers the TSI Assessment and does not receive scores or update student records.
     

    Who needs to take the TSIA2?

    Not all students entering higher education need to take the TSIA2. There are many ways a student can be exempt, meaning they do not need to take the TSIA2 and can enroll in any freshman-level college course without required support.

    TSI exemptions are subject-specific, which means a student may qualify for an exemption in one area (such as ELAR) but not in another area (such as Mathematics). If you meet any of the criteria below, you may be exempt from one or both areas of the TSIA2. Contact your college adviser to confirm. Undergraduate students who enter without an exemption are required to take the Texas Success Initiative Assessment 2.0 (TSIA2).

    • ACT®: combined score of 23 with a minimum of 19 on English and Mathematics within the past 5 years ~OR~
    • SAT® (Administered prior to March 2016): combined score of 1070 with a minimum of 500 on Critical Reading and Mathematics within the past 5 years ~OR~
    • SAT® (Administered on or after March 5, 2016): minimum of 530 on Mathematics for exemption in TSI Math; minimum of 480 on Evidenced-Based Reading & Writing (EBRW) for exemption in TSI Reading and Writing ~OR~
    • Eleventh grade exit-level TAKS minimum scale score of 2200 on Math, 2200 on English Language Arts, and a Writing subsection score of at least 3 within the past 5 years ~OR~
    • STAAR® minimum score of 4000 on English III-Level 2 end of course (EOC) and a minimum score of 4000 on Algebra II-Level 2 EOC ~OR~
    • You have satisfactorily completed college-level coursework as determined by the receiving institution. ~OR~
    • You have earned an associate or baccalaureate degree from a college. ~OR~
    • You are enrolled in a certificate program of one year or less at a public college or public technical institute. ~OR~
    • You 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. ~OR~
    • On or after August 1, 1990, you 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. ~OR~
    • You completed a College Preparatory Course (CPC) in high school and are enrolling within 24 months from the date of high school graduation (see your adviser for additional requirements regarding this exemption). ~OR~
    • You have received a temporary ESOL Waiver granted by the college after demonstrating limited English proficiency.
     

    Full Exemptions

    SAT required scores as of March 5, 2016:  evidenced-based Reading and Writing (EBRW)- 480, Mathematics- 530.

    (scores prior to March 5, 2016: composite of 1070 without writing section with sub scores of 500 on ENG and MATH sections).

    ACT composite of 23 without the writing section with sub scores of 19 on ENG and MATH sections.

    STAAR required scores:  4000 English III Writing, 4000 English III Reading, 4000 Algebra II.

    (All scores good for a five year period)

    Partial Exemptions

    A partial exemption allows a student to be exempt from part but not all of the TSI Assessment. For example, a student achieving a 480 on the evidenced-based Reading and Writing of the SAT but only a 500 on the Math section will be exempt from the reading and writing sections of the TSI but must take the math section of  the TSI Assessment prior to registering for college-level courses.

    College Credit Exemption

    • Dual credit by course and section will be evaluated upon receipt of transcripts with final course grades to declare partial TSI completion by test section (i.e., math, reading, or writing)
    • AP test credit may be used once accepted by the student to declare partial TSI completion by test section.
    • Students transferring courses from another institution of higher education may be exempted (partially or fully) upon review of official transcripts*.
    • Students who have previously earned a Baccalaureate or Associate’s degree from another Texas public institution of higher education will be exempted (official transcript required).
    • Students who transferred to UTSA from a private, independent, or an accredited out-of-state institution of higher education and who have satisfactorily completed college-level course work as determined by this institution will be exempted.
    • Admitted, non-degree seeking students will be exempted.

    *Upon receipt of official transcripts from other colleges or universities, UTSA may declare a student “TSI Prior,” indicating that the student has completed the TSI obligation at that institution.

    Military Exemption

    Students who have served in the military (on or after August 1, 1990) and were honorably discharged, retired, or released from active duty as a member of the armed forces of the United States, the Texas National Guard, or a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the U.S. (copy of DD214 required) will be exempted.

    Active duty military members of the armed forces of the United States, the Texas National Guard, or a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the U.S. will be exempted (letter from commanding officer required). This temporary exemption will be valid for only one semester; orders must be resubmitted each semester.