Testing and Placement

The Texas Success Initiative (TSI)

The purpose of the Texas Success Initiative is to ensure that students enrolled in Texas public colleges and universities possess the academic skills needed to perform effectively in college-level coursework.

All students subject to the requirements of the Texas Success Initiative must take the TSI Assessment. Students must present scores to register for classes unless otherwise exempt, or are majoring in technical programs of less than 43 credit hours. NOTE: Students enrolling in the General Studies certificate are NOT exempt and are subject to the requirements of the Texas Success Initiative.

The LSCO Testing Center is dedicated to providing students ample opportunities to obtain TSI scores necessary for late enrollment through the official census day.

Exemption Standards of TSI

A student who achieves the passing standard on an assessment as set out in the graphic below shall be deemed exempt from the requirements of the Texas Success Initiative. An exempt student, that meets the criteria included below shall not be required to provide any additional demonstration of college readiness and shall be allowed to enroll in an entry-level academic course. 

A student who has met one of the criteria included on the graphic below shall be deemed exempt from the respective content area in which they demonstrate college readiness. The following chart contains the full list of courses and program completions and eligible exemptions.An exempt student, that meets the criteria included below shall not be required to provide any additional demonstration of college readiness and shall be allowed to enroll in an entry-level academic course. 

All full-time and part-time students enrolled in a college-level certificate (see advisors for exceptions) or degree program must take the TSI Assessment for reading, writing, and mathematical skills unless they qualify for an eligible exemption as previously described.

Pre-collegiate courses, such as developmental reading, writing, and math, are not counted in calculating the credit hours for meeting testing requirements. For further information please contact the Testing Center at (409) 882-3330.

Placement scores for the TSI Assessment

Placement scores for the TSIA2 Assessment

TSI Restricted Courses

Some academic courses are blocked from enrollment based on TSI requirements. In such instances, students must pass the appropriate section on an approved TSIA or TSIA2 test or complete the required corequisite course sequence to become eligible to enroll in the courses that are blocked. Restricted courses in each TSI area (reading, writing, and math) are outlined below:

Students must be TSI complete in reading and writing to enroll in:

• ENGL 1301  (applies only to dual credit students who are ineligible to enroll in Developmental co-requisite courses.)
• ENGL 1302  
• ENGL 2307  
• ENGL 2322  
• ENGL 2323  
• ENGL 2326  
• ENGL 2331  
• ENGL 2341  
• GOVT 2305  
• GOVT 2306  
• PSYC 2301  
• PSYC 2308  
• PSYC 2314  
• SOCI 1301  
• SOCI 1306  
• SOCI 2301  
• SOCI 2306  
• SOCI 2326  
• SOCI 2336  
• SOCI 2340  

Students must be TSI complete in mathematics to enroll in:

• CHEM 1411  
• MATH 1314  (applies only to dual credit students who are ineligible to enroll in Developmental co-requisite courses)
• MATH 1316  
• MATH 1325  
• MATH 1350  
• MATH 2305  
• MATH 2312  
• MATH 2318  
• MATH 2320  
• MATH 2413  
• MATH 2414  
• MATH 2415  

Students whose previous Texas public college or university has determined that they have met minimum passing standards in reading, writing, and/or math are exempt in the curricular area/s indicated but must develop and pursue an Academic Success Plan in any remaining area/s. An official transcript or other appropriate documentation of status must be submitted.

Students who have completed a TSI restricted course previously listed from a regionally accredited college or university earning a grade of C or higher are exempt in the curricular area of that course but must develop and pursue an academic success plan with an advisor in any remaining area/s.

Dual Credit College Readiness

THECB defines “college readiness” as a 70% likelihood of a student achieving a grade of A, B, or C in an entry-level college-credit course, as measured by meeting certain benchmarks on the SAT, ACT, TSIA, or STAAR English III, or Algebra II EOCs. Once students meet one or more of these benchmarks, they are considered “college-ready,” regardless of their performance in the college-level course. College readiness is determined by subject area.

Dual credit eligibility allows a high school student, who has not met the “college readiness” benchmark, to enroll in an entry-level college course offered for dual credit. Students who are “dual credit eligible” are not considered “college-ready” until they earn a grade of A, B, or C in mathematics and/or college-level course designated as reading and/or writing-intensive.