Testing

Placement Testing / TSI Compliance

For local testing information or assistance in determining TSI status, students are encouraged to visit with their high school counselor, area community college or university.

Until a student is TSI complete, the student may not enroll in certain courses.  However, the student is still eligible to participate in the Gateway program.

What is TSI?

Texas Success Initiative

The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) is the state law that replaced the TASP law.  All students must be tested with one of the approved test instruments: THEA (formerly TASP), ASSET, COMPASS, or ACCUPLACER.  This testing must take place prior to enrollment in any college-level courses.

A student is TSI complete if he/she has earned passing level scores as follows:

  1. THEA (230 Reading, 230 Math, and 220 Writing and an essay of 5);
  2. ASSET (41 Reading, 38 Elem. Algebra, 40 Writing and an essay score of 5);
  3. COMPASS (81 Reading, 39 Algebra, 59 Writing and an essay score of 5);
  4. ACCUPLACER (78 Reading , 75 Elem. Algebra, 80 Writing and an essay score of 5).

On all of the assessments, an essay score of 6 or higher counts as passing the writing section regardless of the multiple choice score.  To view this in a chart format, click here.

A student is EXEMPT from testing if any of the following conditions are met:

  1. satisfactorily completed college-level coursework at a private or out-of-state institution (earned a grade of B or better in an approved reading or writing or a C in an approved math course); (for Gateway eligibility,  the course(s) must have been completed BEFORE graduation from high school)
  2. has met the readiness standard at another Texas public higher education institution as reported on an official copy of that institution’s transcript;
  3. performs at levels set by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for an exemption on the SAT, the ACT, or TAKS and enrolls within the time limits defined in the THECB rule. 

THECB Exemption Scores are listed below:

TAKS : English Exemption: LA score 2200 or higher AND score +3 or higher on the essay

Math Exemption: Math score 2200 or higher

*Students may be exempt in one or both area(s).  Students MUST test in any area where exemption status has not been met.

 

ACT: English Exemption: Composite score 23 or higher AND English score 19 or higher.

Math Exemption:  Composite score 23 or higher AND Math score 19 or higher.

*Students may be exempt in one or both area(s).  Students MUST test in any area where exemption status has not been met.

 

SAT: English Exemption:  Combined score of 1070 or higher AND Critical reading score 500 or higher.

Math Exemption:  Combined sore of 1070 or higher AND Math score 500 or higher.

*Students may be exempt in one or both area(s).  Students MUST test in any area where exemption status has not been met.

 

ACT and SAT scores may be no more than five years old, and the exit-level TAKS scores may be no more than three years old.

If a student does not meet the above requirements, the student must successfully complete the coursework that is set up for him. 

 

SUMMER GATEWAY:  If you feel your TSI compliance information is inaccurate, contact Kay Gilmer (806) 894-9611  Ext 2375 kgilmer@southplainscollege.eduor Barbara Webb (806) 894-9611 Ext 4907 bwebb@southplainscollege.edu

For additional information or to schedule a test contact:

Barbara Webb at (806) 885-3048, ext. 4907  email - bwebb@southplainscollege.edu

Melissa Strickland at (806) 885-3048, ext. 4689 email - mstrickland@southplainscollege.edu

Dr. Deborrah Caddell at (806) 885-3048, ext. 4631 email- dcaddell@southplainscollege.edu

For testing dates and times click here.

Practice THEA test click here.