Texas Success Initiative (TSI)
The State of Texas requires that all undergraduate students entering public colleges and universities in Texas have the skills necessary to perform effectively in college-level coursework. The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) is the program that administers testing to measure college-level readiness in mathematics and english/language arts (reading and writing).
All incoming students, unless EXEMPT, must take a TSI Assessment prior to registering for classes. You will not be allowed to enroll in college level Math, Reading or Writing intensive courses until TSI requirements have been met. Once you have met these requirements, you will be considered “TSI complete” and allowed to enroll in college level courses in these areas.
You may enroll at Hill College before you become TSI complete; however, you may be required to register for developmental coursework as condition of your enrollment.
TSI Information
TSI Assessment
- Offered in the Testing Center at Hill College (Hill County Campus and Johnson County Campus)
- Take the pre-assessment online
- Contact the Academic Advising and Success Center for testing referral
- Make an appointment with the Testing Center to take the TSI Assessment
- Cost $39 and must make payment prior to taking the test
- Consists of 4 parts: Essay, Sentence Skills, Reading Comprehension, and Elementary Algebra
- Not timed
- Texas Success Initiative Assessment Student Informative Brochure
- ACCUPLACER® Sample Questions for Students
TSI (thru January 10, 2021)
Math: 350 or higher
Reading: 351 or higher
Writing: Essay 4 or Higher AND TSI Score of at least 340
TSI 2.0 (beginning January 11, 2021)
Math: College Readiness Classification (CRC) score of at least 950; or
a CRC score below 950 and a diagnostic level of 6.
English/Language Arts: College Readiness Classification (CRC) score of at least 945 and an essay score of at least 5; or
a CRC score below 945 and a diagnostic level of 5 or 6 and an essay score of at least 5.
Students are exempt from individual areas of testing if any one of the following is met:
READING |
ACT: Composite 23 and English 19 SAT: Composite 1070* and Critical Reading/Verbal 500 Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 480 |
MATH |
ACT: Composite 23 and Math 19 SAT: Composite 1070* and Math 500 Mathematics 530 |
WRITING |
ACT: Composite 23 and English 19 SAT: Composite 1070* and Critical Reading/Verbal 500 Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 480 |
*SAT Composite = Critical Reading plus Math
ACT and SAT scores are valid for a period of five (5) years from date taken.
Students are exempt from TSI Testing if any one of the following is met:
- A student who is enrolled in a Level 1 Certificate of Completion program.
- A student who has graduated with a bachelor's degree from a United States regionally accredited institution.
- A student who has graduated with an associate or baccalaureate degree from an institution of higher education.
- A student who transfers from a private or out-of-state institution of higher education and who has satisfactorily completed college-level coursework as determined by Hill College.
- A student who has previously attended another Texas public institution of higher education and has been determined to have met readiness standards by that institution. TSI information is often not included on transcripts, so you may need to provide proof of test scores or other documentation.
- A student who is 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 has been serving for at least three (3) years preceding enrollment.
- A student who on or after August 1, 1990, was 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 served as a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States.
- A student who has graduated from a Texas high school and has completed college preparatory courses in Math and/or English/Language Arts through the Texas College Bridge program. Math and English/Language Arts certificates of completion are valid for two years from the date of high school graduation.
TSIA 2.0 (TSIA2) will launch on January 11, 2021. 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
- College readiness classification assessment – 20 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
- College readiness classification assessment 30 items
- New score range of 910-990 and essay scores of 1-8
TSIA2 Useful Information
- For students who are retesting, students cannot combine TSIA and TSIA2 test results (this will mainly apply to Reading and Writing scores/assessments)
- Current TSIA scores remain valid for 5 years from date of testing
- Any new student who takes TSIA2 on and after January 11th 2021 will be placed in developmental education courses or considered college ready based on the new assessment scores (910-990). Placement scores for Math Pathways and INRW will be coming soon.
- For Dual Credit partners – please make sure institutional administrators of TSIA complete the mandatory training for TSIA2 that is ongoing right now. These administrators can go to the Accuplacer website for training dates, times, and more information.
If you are unsure of your exemption status, contact any of the Academic Advising and Success Centers or email for more information advising@hillcollege.edu.
Hill County Campus 112 Lamar Drive Hillsboro, TX 76645 254.659.7650 |
Johnson County Campus 2112 Mayfield Pkwy. Cleburne, TX 76033 817.760.5650 |
Burleson Higher Education Center |