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TSI (Texas Success Initiative) & THEA

More About THEA & COMPASS Tests Here

What Is TSI?

It is an acronym for Texas Success Initiative, and it involves a test which must be taken by all students (except those who are exempt—see below) who enroll at public colleges in Texas.  The test is designed to measure the ability of students—as indicated by their skills in reading, writing and math—to do college-level course work.   Students who demonstrate deficiencies in any of these areas will not be allowed to enroll in certain college-level courses and will be required to enroll in developmental courses for areas in which they have not passed. In summary:

State Law* Requires the THEA To Be Taken By:

ALL students who are not exempt (see below for exemptions) PRIOR TO ENROLLING in a public college. Continuous remediation is required for all students who have not passed all sections of the THEA. Students who have taken the THEA Test but do not have passing scores in all three areas of the THEA must participate continuously in remediation each semester in at least one subject area not passed until having proof of passing scores in all three areas of the THEA. Students may take more than one developmental course during the semester, but any sequence started must be continued each semester until that sequence is complete. A final grade of "C" or better is required for each developmental course. Contact the NCTC Counseling Center about rules regarding remediation and re-testing on the THEA.

ATTENTION ALL STUDENTS – IMPORTANT NOTICE!


Who is Exempt from Testing?*:

  • Students who have graduated with an associate or baccalaureate
    degree from a Texas public institution.
  • Any student wishing to enroll in a THEA-waived certificate program .  Such "Level One" certificates are programs of one year or less that require at least 15 but no more than 42 semester credit hours.                         
  • Students who are serving on active duty as a member of the U.S. armed forces, or serve as a member of a reserve component of the U.S. armed forces, or National Guard for at least three years preceding enrollment.  All THEA rules apply when the student is discharged from the military.
  • Students who were honorably discharged, released or retired from active duty as a member of the U.S. armed forces, the Texas National Guard, on or after August 1, 1990.
  • Students who transfer from private or out-of-state institutions may use transferred courses for which college credit is earned in the areas of Reading, Mathematics, and Writing.

          

  • Students with the following scores: (Partial Exemptions available on tests taken on or after April 2004)
    ACT – Composite score of 23; at least 19 on both English and Math portions. Note that scores must have been earned in one sitting within the past five years.
    SAT – Combined score of 1070; at least 500 on verbal and 500 on math for tests taken after April 1995.  Note that scores must have been earned in one sitting.  Other scores apply to SAT tests taken before April 1995.

    TAKS - For a period of three(3) years from the date of testing, a student who is tested and performs at or above the following standards of the Eleventh grade Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) may be exempted for the corresponding section:

    • minimum scale score of 2200 on the mathematics section
    • minimum scale score of 2200 on the English Language Arts section   with a writing subsection score of 3.

*These rules are subject to change by the Texas Legislature.

May I Re-test?*

  • Students who have not yet passed a section of THEA, COMPASS, ACCUPLACER or ASSET may re-test on any regularly scheduled test date(see next page) during the semester.  They will then be eligible to proceed to college level course work in the areas for which they receive a passing score. 
  • If a student falls below the deviation standard, they can re-test at any time afterwards, then complete their developmental and be deemed college ready.

 

ATTENTION ALL STUDENTS – IMPORTANT NOTICE!

Students are NOT allowed to enroll in the following courses IF thay have not passed the THEA test:
  • READING: If score is LESS than 230, students will not be allowed to enroll in: HIST1301 or 1302 (U.S. History); GOVT2305 or 2306 (American Government); ANY sophomore literature course; or PSYC2301 (General Psychology).
  • MATHEMATICS: If score is LESS than 230, students will not be allowed to enroll in: MATH1332 (College Math); MATH 1314 (College Algebra); or MATH 1316 (Trigonometry).
  • WRITING:  If score is LESS than 220, students will not be allowed to enroll in: ENGL1301 (Grammar & Composition) or ENGL1302 (Literature & Composition).