The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) is a Texas legislature mandated program for students who attend Texas public institutions of higher education as of fall 2003 (Texas Education Code §51.3062). Students must comply with this mandate in order to enroll in Texas public institutions of higher education. The law requires all entering college students to be assessed for college readiness in reading, mathematics and writing unless the student qualifies for an exemption. Each student who fails to meet the minimum passing standards of the TSI Assessment test must be placed in a developmental education program designed to help the student achieve college readiness. 

Unless exempt, students entering a Texas public college or university must complete the Pre-Assessment Activity (PAA) and then take the state-approved TSI Assessment test and receive passing scores in order to enroll in credit bearing courses. Students who pass the state-approved TSI Assessment test have completed the TSI requirements. 

 If you do not make the minimum required score for each of the three academic areas (reading, writing, and math), you will be enrolled in a program of developmental education for the specific area(s) needing remediation. Students who do not meet the minimum requirement for math will be restricted from enrolling in college-level math courses. Students who do not meet the minimum requirement for writing will be restricted from enrolling in college-level English courses. Students who do not meet the minimum requirement for reading will be restricted from enrolling in college-level reading intensive courses of history, psychology, or political science. 

You may retest for reading and writing at any time. If you are enrolled in math, you must remain in the program for the full semester if you have not successfully retested within the first week of semester classes. Once you achieve a passing score, you have met the minimum TSI requirement, and you are no longer restricted from taking courses in the particular academic area(s).

You can check your exemption status by using our decision tree application.

 

The TSI Assessment test is the only state approved test for non-exempt students. Prior to taking the test, all students must complete the mandatory Pre-Assessment Activity (PAA). The PAA consists of reading information about the TSI Assessment test and then completing a TSI Assessment practice test. Only Texas public universities and colleges offer the TSI Assessment test. Call around to schools where you live for dates and times the test is offered.  Make sure you send your scores to Texas A&M after you test. You may fax your scores to 979-845-6419.  The TSI Assessment test is also offered at Texas A&M University. Go to TAMU Testing Services for more information.

Not meeting one or more of the requirements of the TSI Assessment test will not keep you from attending Texas A&M University. The tests are for placement purposes only. If you do not meet the minimum requirements for one or more sections, you will be enrolled in an appropriate developmental course.

If you have taken dual-credit courses and you want those courses to exempt you from any of the TSI requirements, you need to have an official college transcript sent to A&M from the college where you took the courses. Depending on the kinds of college courses you have completed you may be exempt from some or all of the TSI requirements. You would need:

TSI math requirement – college level MATH course
TSI writing requirement – college level ENGL Composition course
TSI reading requirement – college level HIST, PSYC, GOVT or POLS course