Texas Success Initiative (TSI)
|
Important: The THECB (Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board) has approved the release of the new TSI 2.0 effective January 11th 2021. All students testing January 11th and onward for the TSI exam will need to take the new version of the TSI exam. To learn more about the TSI 2.0 please view the TSI 2.0 FAQs. |
Texas law requires students to complete assessments in reading, writing, and mathematics before enrolling in college. The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) mandates that any new undergraduate student entering a public institution must be assessed for readiness to enroll in college coursework.
Students who fall below the minimum placement scores in reading, writing, and/or mathematics will be placed in developmental education courses for each subject area in which college readiness is not demonstrated.
If you have taken placement testing (TSI, Accuplacer, TAKS, STARR, ACT, SAT, etc.) or have taken college coursework before, please contact the Testing Center before scheduling or paying for the TSI to verify if testing is required.
Non-Alamo Colleges District students testing at Palo Alto College will need to request a remote voucher from the college/university they will be attending. Requested vouchers will be emailed to the Palo Alto College Testing Center. Remote voucher students must pay a $20 correspondence fee to Palo Alto College in order to test.
If you have already taken TSI and would like Palo Alto College to retrieve your scores from another college, university, or high school, please fill out the Cross-Institution Score Retrieval form (PDF). The form can be scanned and emailed to pac-testcenter@alamo.edu along with copy of a valid photo ID.
Click the tabs below for more information.
Students enrolling in college for the first time who are requesting an appointment for the TSI Assessment must complete the following steps:
- Complete an ApplyTexas application for Palo Alto College at www.applytexas.org. Applications may take 3-5 business days to process.
- Confirm application has been processed through ACES, the Alamo Colleges District online student portal.
- Submit official high school transcripts for evaluation of previous test scores (TAKS, SAT, ACT) for possible TSI exemptions.
- Complete required AlamoENROLL modules online via ACES.
- Obtain student Banner ID number. A Banner ID will be required to make an appointment.
- For questions, please contact the Assessment and Testing Center at 210-486-3444.
Students transferring to Palo Alto College who are requesting an appointment for the TSI Assessment must complete the following steps:
- Complete an ApplyTexas application for Palo Alto College at www.applytexas.org. Applications may take 3-5 business days to process.
- Confirm application has been processed through ACES, the Alamo Colleges District online student portal.
- Submit official transcripts from previous college(s) for evaluation of test scores and/or completed courses for possible TSI exemptions.
- Complete required AlamoENROLL modules online via ACES.
- Obtain student Banner ID number. A Banner ID will be required to make an appointment.
- For questions, please contact the Assessment and Testing Center at 210-486-3444.
Some students enrolling at Palo Alto College may be exempt from the TSI Assessment.
- ACT: Taken prior to February 15, 2023 a composite score of 23 or higher, with a minimum of 19 in both English and Math. Test must be taken within (5) years prior to enrollment.
- ACT: Taken on or after February 15, 2023 English and Reading 40+ and Math 22+
- SAT (taken before March 5, 2016): scores must be 500+ Critical Reading and 500+ Math with a total of 1070 or higher. Test must be taken within five (5) years prior to enrollment.
- SAT (taken after March 5, 2016): scores must be 480+ for Evidenced Reading & Writing and 530+ for Math.
- Transfer Student: Must have met college readiness standards in all areas from a public, private, or out-of-state college or university.
- Military Personnel: with DD214 copy 4.
- Active Duty Military: with LES or PCS Orders
- Students who have earned an associate degree or bachelor's degree from an accredited Texas public institution of higher education.
TSI Assessment Exemption/Waiver Request Form
Students who do not provide official documentation to verify one of the exemptions are required to take the TSI assessment.
Please contact the Testing Center before paying to verify if TSI is required. Pay fees through the Palo Alto College Virtual Business office. All testing fees are non-refundable.
TSI Assessment Fees
Full TSI Exam: $32
Two Subjects $24
One Subject: $12
Correspondence Fee: $20 (for non-PAC students testing with a TSI remote voucher)
Please contact the Testing Center before paying to verify if TSI is required.
Phone: 210-486-3444
Email: pac-testcenter@alamo.edu.
To schedule an appointment for the TSI assessment, please follow the steps below.
- Students must:
- Have an application on file with one of the Alamo Colleges.
- Have a Banner ID number.
- Bring payment receipt.
- Complete GO FAARR and Test Prep modules
- Schedule an appointment through by calling the Test Center at 210-486-3444 at least on (1) day prior to desired test date.
- On the day of the test, students must:
- Bring valid photo ID.
- Bring a printed copy of the TSI payment receipt.
- Students will not be allowed to test with out proof of payment and a valid photo ID and will be required to reschedule.
The testing center does provide lockers for small personal items that can be used while testing. Please do not bring any large or oversized bags, backpacks, purses, or other items that cannot fit into a 10"x8"x10" locker. The Testing Center will not be responsible for any personal belongings.
Students are allowed to retest one (1) day after the initial test. However, we recommend a student retest following a formal test intervention program (Palo Alto College Refresher Course) or review ACCUPLACER prep material online. A $12 fee will be charged for each portion retaken.
You can now take the TSI assessment from home through Examity, an online service provided by an outside source contracted with College Board’s Accuplacer/TSI testing program. Services are available 24 hours a day by appointment.
This service is available to students who are unable to take the TSI assessment at Palo Alto College.
TSI 2.0 FAQs
The TSI 2.0 is the new version of the TSI exam approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to launch Monday January 11, 2021. On Monday January 11th 2021 the current TSI will no longer be available and anybody testing for TSI from that day forward will be testing under the new TSI 2.0 version.
Yes, if you have taken the current TSI, your test scores are valid for a period of 5 years from the date of testing. However, if you are not yet TSI complete on any section of the TSI, and test on or after January 11, 2021, you will need to test with the new TSI 2.0 test.
Some of the TSI 2.0 changes include:
- Current Reading and Writing tests will be combined into one ELAR section
- New passing scores for Math and ELAR, awaiting THECB approval
- New TSI 2.0 test fees effective January 11, 2021
The Reading and Writing Sections will now be combined into one section now named ELAR test, and cannot be taken separately. You will see both Reading and Writing questions and possibly and essay when taking the ELAR section. Your result on the ELAR section will determine if you are complete on the Reading and Writing sections that have not yet been passed or completed.
No, if you are TSI complete on Math on the current TSI you do not have to test as long as your test scores are still valid and not older than 5 years from the date of testing.
Contact Information:
|
Phone: Location: |
Hours: Please note: office hours are not exam testing hours
|
|