Testing Information
Testing should be completed before attending Hoggie Days. Students testing on the day of their orientation session may not be able to register for all desired courses and might miss important parts of the orientation program.
Texas Success Initiative (TSI)
The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) requires students to be assessed in reading, writing and mathematical skills before enrolling in a Texas public college or university. Texas Education Code, section 51.3062, provides institutions of higher education a means of determining a student's readiness to enroll in freshman-level course work. Students are required to complete one of four assesment tests before enrolling at Texas A&M University-Kingsville unless they meet one of the exemptions listed below.
The four assessment tests available to those who desire to enroll at Texas A&M University-Kingsville include the ASSET, ACCUPLACER, COMPASS and THEA (formerly the TASP test). Each instrument includes a testing component designed to provide diagnostic information about the reading, mathematics and writing skills of each student.
Exemptions
Students are exempt from taking a test to satisfy TSI requirements if a qualifying score has been made on the ACT, SAT or TAKS. It is the responsibility of the student to provide official ACT, SAT and/or TAKS scores to Texas A&M University-Kingsville to qualify for an exemption before enrollment in college level courses.
The following exemptions are effective for three years from the date a student takes the exit-level TAKS and achieves the set score level. It is effective for five years from the date the ACT or the SAT is taken and the set standard is achieved. Students enrolling for the first time in a public institution of higher education after those periods have elapsed must be treated as though they have not been tested.
- ACT Exemption: Obtain a composite score of 23 with a minimum of 19 on the English and/or the mathematics tests.
- SAT Exemption: A combined score of 1070 with a minimum of 500 on the math and/or verbal sections.
- TAKS Exemption: 2200 in Math and/or 2200 in English/Language Arts with a writing sub-score of at least 3.
- Military Exemption: Students who are serving on active duty as a member of the armed forces of the United States, Texas National Guard or reserves of the armed forces of the United States (must have served for the previous three years for those in the reserves), and those honorably discharged as of August 1, 1990 are exempt from TSI.
Placement Testing
We will be offering the ACCUPLACER and the ALEKS math placement tests throughout the summer if you are interested in placing out of developmental courses or your placement in college-level math courses.
The following dates will be available for ACCUPLACER and ALEKS placement testing:
|
Test Date |
Test Time |
|
April 20, 2012 |
1:30 pm |
|
May 3, 2012 |
8:30 am |
|
May 18, 2012 |
8:30 am |
|
June 1, 2012 |
8:30 am |
|
June 15, 2012 |
1:30 pm |
|
July 13, 2012 |
1:30 pm |
|
July 27, 2012 |
1:30 pm |
Testing will also be available on the Monday morning prior to each two-day orientation session, but we encourage you to test prior to your orientation session to ensure time for scoring and course advisement preparation.
For information on the ACCUPLACER, contact the Center for Student Success:
Tony Ramirez, Senior Academic Advisor II
kajar00@tamuk.edu
361-593-3308
Eckhardt Hall: Office 130
For information on the ALEKS math placement test, contact the Math Department:
Sue Sabrio, Coordinator of Introductory Mathematics
s-sabrio@tamuk.edu
361-593-2236
Rhode Hall 237
Credit by Exam
Students can earn credit at Texas A&M University-Kingsville by meeting certain scores on the ACT, SAT, Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), and International Baccalaureate (IB) exams. For more information on advanced credit opportunities, check out our Undergraduate Catalog.
CLEP exams will be offered throughout the summer. Visit our Academic Testing Center for more information on the tests and available dates.
This page was last updated on: April 16, 2012