The TSI Assessment is a program designed to help Panola College determine if you are ready for college-level coursework in the general areas of reading, writing, and mathematics. This program also will help determine what type of course or intervention will best meet your needs to help you become better prepared for college level coursework if you are not ready.
If you are an incoming college student in Texas, you are required to take the TSI Assessment to determine your readiness for college-level work. Based on how you perform, you may either be enrolled in a college-level course that matches your skill level or be placed in the appropriate college preparatory course or intervention to improve your skills and prepare you for success in college-level courses. You can find the guidelines for course placement on the TSI/MMA Placement chart. TSI Assessment scores cannot be used to deny a student admission to a Texas public college or university.
Do I have to take the TSI assessment?
Not all incoming students need to take the TSI Assessment. There are many ways you can be exempt. Qualifying for a TSI Assessment exemption means that you can enroll in any entry-level college course without restrictions. In other words, there are no prerequisites for enrollment in college-level courses.
You may be exempt from TSI if you:
- Have met the minimum college readiness standard on SAT®, ACT, or a statewide high school test;
- Have successfully completed college-level English and math courses;
- Have enrolled in a Level-One certificate program (fewer than 43 semester credit hours);
- Are not seeking a degree; or
- Have been honorably discharged from military or currently on active duty.
How does the TSI assessment work?
If you are not exempt from taking the TSI Assessment, you will be asked by your college or university to take two tests: one in mathematics and one in English Language Arts Reading. Where necessary, you may be given an additional diagnostic test in a particular subject. This test is designed to provide more detailed information regarding your academic strengths and weaknesses. These assessments include multiple-choice questions that are aligned to the Texas College and Career Readiness Standards. For the writing assessment, it’s likely that you will be asked to write an essay. The assessments are computer adaptive, which means that questions increase or decrease in difficulty level depending on how you respond. The assessments are untimed; however, it is important to allow yourself enough time to complete each test because the results are a key factor in determining the course or courses in which you can enroll. When you complete the assessment, you immediately receive information on your score and your skill or proficiency levels. There is no limit on the number of times you can take the test. TSI test scores are valid for a five-year period.
Mandatory Pre-Assessment Activity
Before you take the TSI Assessment, you must participate in a Pre-Assessment Activity. You will not be allowed to take the TSI Assessment until you have completed this activity.
The activity includes the following:
- An explanation of the importance of the TSI Assessment;
- Practice test questions and feedback;
- An explanation of all your college preparatory options, if you don’t meet the minimum passing standard; and
- Information on campus and community resources that will help you succeed as a college student.
Each undergraduate student who enters Panola College, a Texas public institution of higher education, must be assessed for reading, writing, and mathematics skills prior to enrolling in any college-level coursework.
Should a deficiency be revealed in any of the three skill areas, the student MUST be enrolled and participate continuously (every semester) in a college preparatory course in at least one subject area, as determined by the institution. The student who is absent beyond the established minimum number of class days or does not participate in the coursework will receive a grade of “F” for the course.
Any student failing to take a section of the test or canceling the score on a section will be held liable for a college preparatory course in the section(s) not taken and not previously passed.
Placement Test Pass
If a student retakes and passes the section of the TSI Assessment for which he or she is enrolled in a remedial class, he or she can complete a Placement Test Pass form.
Immediately after passing a placement test, a student will take the placement test score document and “Placement Test Pass” form from the Admissions/Records Office to the instructor; the student and instructor must select and sign an option below on the “Placement Test Pass” form and immediately return the form to the Admissions/Records Office.
Placement Test Pass Form Options
- The student can elect to take the grade earned in the course, as of today, and will not be required to attend the course for the remainder of the semester; if a grade has not been recorded, the student must select another option.
- The student can elect to take an automatic “C” in the course and will not be required to attend the course for the remainder of the semester.
- The student can elect to remain in the course and earn a grade.
- During the designated period, the student may withdraw from the class and receive a “W”.
Exemptions/Waivers from Provisions of TSI
- State law provides for certain exemptions from the Texas Success Initiative provisions. Documentation must be on file in the Admissions/Records Office prior to enrollment. Exemptions/Exceptions are associated with actual enrollment in college. The following are exemptions and waivers of TSI:
- For a period of 5 years from the date of testing, a student who is tested and performs on a single administration of the test at or above the following standards that cannot be raised by institutions:
- 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.
The use of scores from both the ACT administered prior to February 15, 2023, and the ACT administered after February 15, 2023, is allowable, as long as the benchmarks set forth in the clause of this subparagraph (i) are met.
- SAT: A combined score of 1070 with a minimum of 500 on both the verbal and mathematics tests (prior to March 5, 2016).
SAT: A minimum score of 480 on the Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) test shall be exempt for both reading and writing sections of TSI; a minimum score of 530 on the mathematics test shall be exempt for the mathematics section of TSI (after March 5, 2016). Mixing or combining scores from SAT administered prior to March 5, 2016, and the SAT administered on or after March 5, 2016, is not allowable.
- 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;
- For a period of 5 years from the date of testing, a student who is tested and performs at or above the following standards that cannot be raised by institutions:
- On the eleventh grade exit-level Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) with a minimum scale score of 2200 on the math section and/or a minimum scale score of 2200 on the English Language Arts section with a writing subsection score of at least 3, shall be exempt from the TSI Assessment required under this title for those corresponding sections; or
- STAAR end-of-course (EOC) with a minimum score of Level 2 on the English III shall be exempt from the TSI Assessment required under this title for both reading and writing, and a minimum score of Level 2 on the Algebra II EOC shall be exempt from the TSI Assessment required under this title for the mathematics sections.
- A student who has graduated with an associate or baccalaureate degree from an institution of higher education.
- A student who transfers to an institution from a private or independent institution of higher education or an accredited out-of-state institution of higher education and who has satisfactorily completed college-level coursework as determined by the receiving institution.
- A student who has previously attended any institution and has been determined to have met readiness standards by that institution.
- A student who is serving on active duty as a member of:
- The armed forces of the United States or
- The Texas National Guard
- A student who is serving as a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States and has been serving for at least three years preceding enrollment.
- A student who on or after August 1, 1990, was honorably discharged, retired, or who was released from active duty as a member of the armed forces of the United States or of the Texas National Guard or served as a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States.
- A student who is enrolled in a certificate program of one year or less at a public junior college, a public technical institute, or a public state college.
- For a period of 5 years from the date of testing, a student who is tested and performs on a single administration of the test at or above the following standards that cannot be raised by institutions:
- Exception: An institution may exempt a non-degree seeking or non-certificate seeking student.
This information must be on file prior to enrollment. TSI exemptions and exceptions are associated with actual enrollment in college. Students interested in TSI exemptions or exceptions should contact the Office of Admissions/Records for additional information.
The complete Texas Success Initiative Plan for Panola College may be viewed online here.