The TSI Assessment (TSIA) is a program designed to help determine if students are ready for college-level coursework in the areas of reading, writing, and mathematics. This program will also help determine what type of course or intervention will best meet individual students' needs, so they will be better prepared for college-level coursework.
Not all incoming students need to take the TSI Assessment. Qualifying for a TSI Assessment exemption means that you can enroll in any entry-level college course without restrictions. You may be exempt if you have one or more of the following:
- SAT: (Revised for testing completed after March 2016) a minimum of 480 of the Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing, and a minimum of 530 on the math;
- ACT:
- ACT administered prior to February 15, 2023: composite score of 23 with a minimum of 19 on the English test shall be exempt for both the reading and writing sections of the TSI Assessment, and/or 19 on the mathematics test shall be exempt for the mathematics section of the TSI Assessment;
- ACT administered on or after February 15, 2023: a combined score of 40 on the English and Reading (E+R) tests shall be exempt for both reading and writing or ELAR sections of the TSI Assessment. A score of 22 on the mathematics test shall be exempt for the mathematics section of the TSI Assessment. There is no composite score.
- GED: A minimum score of 165 on Mathematical Reasoning and Reasoning Through Language Arts.
- Have successfully completed college-level English and math courses;
- Have enrolled in a level-one certificate program (42 semester credit hours or fewer);
- Not seeking a degree; or
- Have been — or currently are — in the military (honorably discharged, retired, or released from active duty on or after Aug. 1, 1990).
If you think you may be exempt, or if you have additional questions, contact the Advising /Counseling center at counselor@lee.edu.
The Texas Success Initiative Assessment 2.0 (TSIA2) has replaced the original TSIA. If you meet the college readiness benchmarks with the current TSIA exam, the scores will be valid for five years from the date that you took the exam. The same will be the case for the TSIA2 exam. The TSIA2 differs from the TSIA by having reading and writing combined into one section, which is called the English Language Arts Reading (ELAR) section. There is still a mathematics section for the exam.
As before, the TSIA2 still requires the completion of the mandatory Pre-Assessment Activity (PAA) before taking the TSIA2 exam. Also, the exemptions currently in place (ACT, SAT, Military, etc.) continue with the TSIA2.
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 will contain the following:
- College readiness classification (CRC) assessment — 20 items
- Quantitative reasoning
- Algebraic reasoning
- Geometric and spatial reasoning
- Probabilistic and statistical reasoning
- Diagnostic assessment — 48 items (to be taken if the CRC passing benchmark is not met).
- ELAR section (integrated reading and writing):
- College readiness classification (CRC) assessment 30 items
- Literary text analysis
- Informational text analysis and synthesis
- Essay revision and editing
- Sentence revision, editing, and completion
- Diagnostic assessment — 48 items (to be taken if the CRC passing benchmark is not met).
- Essay
The following are the new TSIA2 College Readiness Cut Scores as set by the state. With the TSIA2, there is a second chance to prove college readiness with high scores from the diagnostic section.
- ELAR (integrated reading and writing)
- 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
