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Texas Success Initiative Assessment

Princeton ISD tests all students during their junior year. Students who wish to enroll in dual credit courses beginning in their sophomore year as part of the Collegiate Academy must attend the Dual Credit informational meeting held in the fall of their freshman year (typically in October). During this meeting, students will receive information about registering to take the TSIA during their freshman year to ensure eligibility for dual credit courses.
 
Students may take dual credit courses from sophomore through senior year; however, they must attend the Dual Credit informational meeting the year before enrollment to ensure they meet all eligibility requirements.

Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSIA)

The TSIA is the result of the Texas Success Initiative mandated by the Texas State Legislature. The assessment is designed to guide Texas public institutions of higher education in helping them determine whether students are ready for entry-level college coursework in the areas of ELAR and mathematics.
 

What are TSIA Benchmarks?

TSIA Test Scores:
  • Mathematics: a minimum score of 950 or less than 950 and a diagnostic level 6
  • ELAR: A minimum score of 945 on the multiple-choice section with an essay score of 5-8, or less than 945 on the multiple-choice section, a diagnostic level of 5 or 6, and an essay score of 5-8. 
TSIA Exemptions:
  • A combined score of 40 on the ACT English and reading (E+R) tests shall exempt both the reading and writing or ELAR sections of the TSIA.
  • A score of 22 on the ACT Mathematics test shall exempt the mathematics section of the TSIA with no composite score required.
  • A minimum score of 530 on the SAT Mathematics test administered in March 2016 or later shall exempt the math section of the TSIA.
  • A minimum score of 480 on the SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing test taken in March 2016 or later earns an exemption for the reading and writing sections of the TSIA.

TSIA Test Prep

Accuplacer
Practice tests, sample questions, and essays are available at the College Board’s Accuplacer Website. You can download practice questions and sample essays and sign up for the free web-based study app.
 
TSI Preparation Classes
This Continuing Education TSI course is designed for students who have taken the TSI and not placed at the college-ready level. The course prepares students with a review of topics that students need to know to successfully pass the Texas Success Initiative Assessment exam. Courses are taught by Collin College Math Faculty and are delivered online. Course schedule and registration information can be found here.
 
Learning Express TSI Resources
EBSCO Learning Express offers TSI preparation practice exams for the ELAR, Essay, and Math assessments. Follow these instructions for how to locate the resources and create an account.
 
Anthony Peterson Center for Academic Assistance (APCAA)
The APCCA on our campuses will be glad to help you review materials to prepare to take the TSI assessment for the first time, or to retake the assessment if you did not receive the score you wanted. For more information, go to the APCAA Website.
 
Learning Locator Code
If you did not get the score you would like, and you would like to retake the TSI, you can review materials by using the Learning Locator Code (LLC) on your score report to enter the Math or ELAR code into this Website.
 
Other Resources
Here are a few other free websites that may provide you with additional practice activities related to the TSI.
**Note: Collin College is not affiliated with these organizations and makes no claim as to the quality of the information they present.
 
The following sites are great resources if you know the specific skills you want to search:

Retaking TSIA for Dual Credit

If you need to retake the TSIA to be eligible for dual credit courses, you must first complete your application for Collin College. Next, you will need to register for TSI testing through the college's testing sign-up process.
 
 
The cost to take the TSI exam on campus is $29. In-person testing is recommended, as it allows you to choose a testing location, including Farmersville or McKinney campuses.
 
The deadline to retake the TSIA to qualify for dual credit courses during the 2026-2027 school year is January 14, 2026.
 
 
If you need TSIA scores for a college you plan to attend after high school and did not pass the TSIA during your junior-year testing (or did not pass both sections for dual credit eligibility), you will need to contact the college’s admissions office to determine whether you must retake the exam through their testing process.