Texas Success Initiative
The State of Texas requires all incoming undergraduate students to demonstrate college readiness in reading, writing, and mathematics as defined by the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) program. Students can satisfy this requirement in various ways. All students must have documentation for each area on file before the start of the semester.
How to Satisfy the Requirement
TSI Assessment
There are multiple ways you can complete your TSI Assessment Requirement. The most common are:
- Register and complete TSI Assessment at your local community college
- Register and complete TSI Assessment through the Tarleton Testing Center (in-person and virtual options available)
TSI Assessment Benchmark
To satisfy the TSI requirement with the TSI exam, the following minimum scores are required:
| Reading | 351 |
| Mathematics | 350 |
| Writing | 340 and an essay score of 4 (if less than a 340 is scored, an essay score of 5 and an ABE Diagnostic level of 4) |
Effective January 11, 2021: Reading and Writing objectives are combined into one exam, English Language Arts Reading (ELAR).
| Objective | Score | Diagnostic | Essay |
| Mathematics | 950 | ||
| Mathematics | >950 | 6 | |
| English Language Arts Reading (ELAR) | 945 | 5 | |
| English Language Arts Reading (ELAR) | >945 | 5 | 5 |
Submit Your Assessment Results
If you completed your TSI Assessment at a local community college or location other than Tarleton’s Testing Center, complete the score release form below to give Tarleton access to your results.
Submit Score Release Form to give Tarleton access to your TSI Assessment
Complete Your TSI Assessment at Tarleton
Schedule an appointment at our Stephenville campus testing center. The TSI assessment is offered daily at our Stephenville and Fort Worth campuses with both morning and afternoon times available. You may also sign up to complete your assessment online with a virtual proctor!
Schedule an exam at the Stephenville Testing Center
Schedule an exam at the Fort Worth Testing Center
When scheduling an exam, make sure you select “Placement Exams” as exam type and “TSIA2” as exam.
Texas College Bridge Program
The Texas College Bridge program is a program that prepares high school juniors and seniors for college with free, self-paced, online courses to strengthen English and Math skills. Students that successfully complete the program will earn their TSI exemption at Tarleton.
Speak with your high school counselor to see if the Texas College Bridge program could be an option for you!
Submit Your Texas College Bridge Certificate of Completion
Request your certificate sent to us from Texas College Bridge.
SAT, ACT, or STAAR Exams
To satisfy the TSI requirement with SAT, ACT, or STAAR exams, the following minimum scores are required:
| Exam | Mathematics | Reading | Writing |
| ACT (pre-February 15, 2023) | Math 19 and Composite 23 | English 19 and Composite 23 | English 19 and Composite 23 |
| ACT (February 15, 2023-present) | Math 22 | Combined 40 English and Reading | Combined 40 English and Reading |
| SAT (pre-2016) | Math 500 and Combined 1070 | Combined 1070 and Verbal 500 | Combined 1070 and Verbal 500 |
| SAT (2016-present) | Math 530 | Evidence Based 480 | Evidence Based 480 |
| STAAR | Algebra II 4000 | English III 2000 | English III 2000 |
Submit Your SAT, ACT, or STAAR Scores
- Request your SAT scores sent to us from College Board.
- Request your ACT scores sent to us from ACT.
- STAAR scores will be on your official high school transcript.
AP or CLEP Exams
To satisfy the TSI requirement from AP or CLEP exams, the following minimum scores are required:
| Exam | Mathematics | Reading | Writing |
| CLEP – American Government | 50 | ||
| CLEP – Calculus | 50 | ||
| CLEP – College Algebra | 50 | ||
| CLEP – College Composition | 50 | 50 | |
| CLEP – Introductory Psychology | 50 | 50 | |
| CLEP – Precalculus | 50 | ||
| CLEP – U.S. History I | 50 | ||
| CLEP – U.S. History II | 50 | ||
| CLEP – Western Civilization I | 50 | ||
| CLEP – Western Civilization II | 50 | ||
| AP – Language and Composition | 3 | 3 | |
| AP – Literature and Composition | 3 | ||
| AP – Government and Politics: US | 3 | ||
| AP – World History | 3 | ||
| AP – European History | 3 | ||
| AP – American/US History | 3 | ||
| AP – Calculus AB | 4 | ||
| AP – Calculus BC | 3 and AB Subscore 4 or 4 | ||
| AP – Statistics | 3 |
Submit Your AP or CLEP Scores
Request your AP or CLEP scores sent to us from College Board.
College Coursework
The following courses transferring from a regionally accredited institution will satisfy the TSI requirement:
| Course (minimum 3 credits) | Mathematics | Reading | Writing |
| Any college-level Math course | X | ||
| English Composition I | X | X | |
| English Composition II | X | X | |
| General Psychology | X | X | |
| Introduction to Philosophy | X | ||
| Any History Course | X | ||
| Any Literature Course | X | ||
| Any Government Course | X |
If you have earned an associate’s or bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, the TSI requirement will be satisfied.
Order Your Official College Transcript
Contact the college you attended and order an official college transcript sent to us.
Military Service
If you are currently serving (or have previously served) in the military, your TSI requirement is satisfied:
- Active duty as a member of the armed forces of the United States or the Texas National Guard
- Service as a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States (excludes reserves of Texas National Guard).
Complete and return the Military TSI Form. The form must be submitted every semester until coursework or scores satisfy the requirement.
General Education Diploma (GED)
If you completed a GED, the following scores are required:
- Reading and Writing: 165 Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA)
- Math: 165 Mathematical Reasoning
Submit Your Official GED Transcript
Order an official GED transcript sent to us.
