Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSIA/TSIA2) | Testing Center (2023)

Note:An updated TSIA exam (TSIA2) launched on January 11, 2021. Please see the TSIA2 section below for more information.

The Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSIA or TSIA2) is the state-mandated placement test (Texas Education Code §51.3062) that Texas public institutions must use to determine a student's readiness for college-level courses. The purpose of the TSIA test is to provide you with useful information about your academic skills in math, reading, and writing. You cannot "pass" or "fail" the placement tests, but it is very important that you do your very best on these tests so that you will have an accurate measure of your academic skills. The results of the assessment, in conjunction with your academic background, goals, and interests, are used by academic advisors to determine your course selection and where you will be most successful.

In addition, students are required to complete a TSI Pre-Assessment Activity (PAA) before completing the TSIA2 exam.

TSIA2
An updated TSIA exam (TSIA2) launched on January 11, 2021. The TSIA2 will take place of the previous TSIA exam. If you meet thecollege readiness benchmarks with the previous version of the TSIA exam, the scores will be valid for 5 years from the date that you took the exam. The same will be the case for the TSIA2 exam. The TSIA2 will differ from the TSIA by having reading and writing combined into one section which will be called the English Language Arts Reading (ELAR) section. There will still be a Mathematics section for the exam. The TSIA2 still requires the mandatory Pre-Assessment Activity (PAA) before completing the TSIA2 exam (link below).

The updated assessment includes the following enhancements:

• Integration of separate Reading and Writing assessments to one English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR) assessment
• Students not meeting college readiness benchmarks will now have one diagnostic assessment
• Free, online library of TSIA2 learning resources for instructional and practice materials that relate to the objectives of the assessments
• Mathematics section:
  • College readiness classification assessment – 20 items
    • Quantitative Reasoning
    • Algebraic Reasoning
    • Geometric and Spatial Reasoning
    • Probabilistic and Statistical Reasoning
  • Diagnostic assessment – 48 items
• ELAR section:
  • College readiness classification assessment 30 items
    • Literary text analysis
    • Informational text analysis and synthesis
    • Essay revision and editing
    • Sentence revision, editing, and completion
  • Diagnostic assessment – 48 items
  • Essay
• New TSIA2 College Readiness Cut Scores
  • ELAR
    • CRC score of a 945-990 with an Essay of 5-8 or,
    • CRC of a 910-944 with a Diagnostic Level of 5-6 and an Essay of 5-8
  • MATH
    • CRC score of 950-990 or,
    • CRC score of 910-949 with a Diagnostic Level of 6

TSI PRE-ASSESSMENT ACTIVITY (PAA)
The TSIA2 Pre-Assessment will discuss the content and importance of the TSI Assessment, exemptions, provide sample questions, testing details and support, and more. McLennan Community College is required by Rule §4.55.b of the Texas Administration Code to document your participation in the TSIA2 Pre- Assessment prior to taking the TSIA2 exam.

Start the TSI Pre-Assessment Activity

After completing the PAA, check your email for your PAA completion certificate. Email your certificate to testingservices@mclennan.edu or print it and bring it to your testing appointment.

VIRTUAL REMOTE TSIA2 EXAMS OPTION
For instruction on how to set-up your virtual TSIA2 exam, please click here.
For helpful tips to prepare you for test day, please click here.

OFF-CAMPUS/REMOTE TSIA2 EXAM OPTION
For information on how to take the TSIA2 exam at another testing location, please email testingservices@mclennan.edu, and someone will get back to you with instructions.

EXEMPTIONS
Students may possibly be exempt from taking the TSI for the following reasons:

• The student has achieved high ACT, SAT, GED, HiSET, TAKS, or STAAR scores
  • Copy of scores on an official transcript or official score report is required
• The student is seeking a Level – 1 Certificate
• The student has graduated with an associate degree or higher
• The student is active duty or retired military
• The student successfully completed a college preparatory course

For more detailed exemption requirements for the TSIA2, please click here.

For Dual Credit TSI Exemptions, please click here.

EXAM FEE
$21.00(plus $3.50 service fee) - Entire TSIA2 Assessment
$17.50(plus $3.50 service fee) - ELAR Multiple Choice or Essay and Math
$17.00(plus $3.50 service fee) - ELAR only (Multiple Choice & Essay)
$13.50(plus $3.50 service fee) - Essay only or ELAR Multiple Choice only
$14.00(plus $3.50 service fee) - Math only

For TSIA/TSIA2 Retest Scenarios and Option, please click here.

SCHEDULE AN EXAM

WHAT TO BRING ON TEST DAY
A valid, unexpired photo ID is required for all testing. Acceptable forms of government-issued IDs include a driver's license, state ID card, passport, military ID, national ID, tribal ID, naturalization card, certificate of citizenship, or permanent resident card (Green Card). A photo or photocopy of an ID is not acceptable. Photos must be clear and recognizable. Student IDs are acceptable for the following exams: MCC MPE, MCC Course Exams, Correspondence Exams, and TSIA2.

Do not have a valid, unexpired photo ID, then you may complete the ACCUPLACER Student ID Form.

Calculators will be provided on the computer within the exam.

SCORES
You will receive a copy of your score report upon completion of your exam.

Need MCC to retrieve your TSIA/TSIA2 scores from another testing location or for your TSIA/TSIA2 scores to be released to another College or University? Download and complete our Request Form for TSIA Scores.

The college will use the following minimum TSIA/TSIA2 cut scores to determine a student's readiness to enroll in freshman-level academic coursework. TSIA & TSIA2 scores are valid for five (5) years from the date of testing.

TESTING SCHEDULE
The TSIA2 is offered during regular testing hours.
Walk-in testing is available based on seat availability.

RESOURCES
TSIA 2.0 Assessment Student Brochure
TSIA 2.0 Math Sample Questions
TSIA 2.0 ELAR Sample Questions
TSIA 2.0 WritePlacer (Essay) Guide with Sample Essays
TSIA Study App
TSIA 2.0 Learning Resources
TSIA 2.0 Understanding Your Scores
How to Retrieve & Provide your Individual TSI Score Report

TESTING ACCOMMODATIONS
Testing Services works closely with Accommodations (Disability Services) to provide services for students with ADA accommodations. Testing candidates requiring testing accommodations must register first with Accommodations. The registration process with Accommodations should be done in a timely manner to allow enough reasonable time for Testing Services to prepare all testing accommodations.

Once testing accommodations have been approved, the student must inform Testing Services of his or her approved testing accommodations, so their RegisterBlast account can be appropriately set-up prior to registering for an exam. Students who do not follow these steps run the risk of not having their testing accommodations for that exam.

See the Requesting Accommodations webpage for process information. See webpage for ACT, SAT, CLEP, and HiSet for information on how to request accommodations for these exams.

FOR STUDENTS FROM ANOTHER COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY:
Your college or university must submit a Letter of Accommodation to Testing Services before any testing accommodations will be provided. Email to testingservices@mclennan.edu or fax to 254-299-6200 Attn: Testing Services.

Note: Any student who has approved accommodations and who cannot see or select their approved testing accommodation when registering for an exam should contact Testing Services immediately and prior to registering for any exams.