transition ... engage ... learn

Texas Success Initiative (TSI)

Students are required to complete an approved TSI exam prior to enrolling, unless exempt. The TSI is required by Texas law to ensure that students enrolled in Texas public colleges possess the academic skills needed to perform effectively in college-level course work. TSI includes a testing component designed to provide placement information based on the reading, mathematics, and writing skills of each student.

Students who meet the following standards may be considered exempt from TSI, providing they possess valid ACT, SAT, TAAS/TAKS, or evidence of active military service. It is a student’s responsibility to provide official ACT, SAT, TAAS/TAKS, and military records to Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) to qualify for an exemption prior to enrollment in any college level courses.

These exemptions are effective for five years from the date the SAT or the ACT is taken and the set standard is achieved. Exemptions are effective for a period of three (3) years from the date of testing for both TAAS and TAKS. Students enrolling for the first time in a Texas public institution of higher education after those periods have elapsed must be treated as though they had not been tested.

Exemptions / Waiver

• For a period of five (5) years from the date of testing, a student who is tested and performs at or above the following standards:
  (A) ACT: composite score of 23 with a minimum of 19 on the English test and/or the mathematics test shall be exempt for those corresponding sections;
  (B) Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT): a combined verbal and mathematics score of 1070 with a minimum of 500 on the verbal test and/or the mathematics test shall be exempt for those corresponding sections; or
• For a period of three (3) years from the date of testing, a student who is tested and performs on the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) with a minimum scale score of 1770 on the writing test, a Texas Learning Index (TLI) of 86 on the mathematics test and 89 on the reading test.
• For a period of three (3) years from the date of testing, a student who is tested and performs 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 assessment required under this title for those corresponding 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 enrolled in a certificate program of one year or less (Level-One certificates, 42 or fewer semester credit hours or the equivalent) at a public junior college, a public technical institute, or a public state college.
• 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 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 service as a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States.
• An institution may exempt a non-degree-seeking or non-certificate-seeking student.
  

TAMUK recognizes all exemptions/exceptions listed in the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) TSI Policy Manual of September 1, 2003.

Texas Success Initiative
Coordinator

THEA & Accuplacer