Texas Success Initiative

(Formerly TASP)

The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) was instituted by the Texas Legislature in 2003 as a replacement for the Texas Academic Skills Program (TASP). The purpose of the Texas Success Initiative is to ensure that students enrolled in public colleges and universities possess the necessary academic skills. All undergraduate students who are not exempt from the Texas Success Initiative must take an assessment test PRIOR to enrollment in college-level courses. The approved assessment tests are:

  • Texas Higher Education Assessment (THEA) (formerly TASP test)
  • ASSET or COMPASS (offered by ACT)
  • ACCUPLACER (offered by the College Board)

Texas public universities and colleges offer these tests. Call around locally where you live for dates and times. Make sure you send your scores to Texas A&M.

Students who do not meet established minimum standards for the Texas Success Initiative assessment test are required by Texas law to be enrolled in the appropriate developmental program determined by Texas A&M.

If you take the THEA less than one month prior to your New Student Conference (NSC) at any Texas college close to your home, you should bring proof of attendance to 525 Blocker (Student Learning Center) to be cleared for registration. If you have taken another approved test, you must bring a copy of your test results. You will not be permitted to register for classes if you do not have proof of having tested for the Texas Success Initiative or if you do not furnish scores indicating exemption.

Freshman - ACCUPLACER, a computer-based test will be available at 5:15 pm the day PRIOR to your NSC for out-of-state students and others who have not met the TSI requirements prior to that time. Call Measurement and Research Services (MARS) at 979-845-0532 for additional testing availability during your NSC.

Transfer Students - ACCUPLACER, a computer-based test, will be available the first day of your NSC at 5:15 pm for out-of-state students and others who have not met the TSI requirements prior to that time. Call Measurement and Research Services (MARS) at 979-845-0532 for additional testing availability during your NSC.

If you have questions concerning the Texas Success Initiative mandate, call (979) 845-2724.

Testing Accommodations

Disability Services works with Measurement and Research Services to provide special testing accommodations for eligible students with disabilities. Reasonable testing accommodations are provided to allow students with documented disabilities (recognized under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990) an opportunity to demonstrate their skills and knowledge. In order to receive special testing accommodations for any of the tests offered through New Student Conferences, the student must submit documentation to Disability Services two weeks prior to the scheduled testing date.

TSI Exemptions

Texas Success Initiative (TSI) Exemptions:

You do not have to take the THEA or an approved alternative test if you:

  • have received an Associate's or Bachelor's degree from an institution of higher education; or
  • have transferred from a private or independent institution of higher education or an accredited out-of-state institution of higher education and have satisfactorily completed college-level coursework; or
  • have met the readiness standard of another Texas public institution of higher education; or
  • have been on active duty in the military for at least 3 years preceding enrollment; or
  • have been honorably discharged, retired, or released from the US Military, Texas National Guard, or one of the reserve components of the armed forces of the United States on or after August 1, 1990; or
  • are enrolled at TAMU on a temporary basis (must be classified as a "U0" at TAMU)

The following tests can be used to exempt you from one or more parts of the THEA or an approved alternative test:

SAT
The student must first achieve a minimum combined verbal and math score of 1070 before partial scores of a least 500 are allowed for the verbal and/or math sections. If the combined score of 1070 is not first met, then partial scores are not allowed even if those individual scores exceed the score of 500. A student must attend college within five years from the date of the test in order to use the scores for an exemption.
ACT
The student must first achieve a minimum composite score of 23 before partial scores of at least 19 are allowed for the English and/or Math tests. If the minimum composite score of 23 is not first met, then partial scores are not allowed even if those individual scores exceed the score of 19. A student must attend college within five years from the date of the test in order to use the scores for an exemption.
TAKS
Students must attend college within three years of their exit-level TAKS test in order to use the scores for an exemption.
MATH
Partial TAKS scores in math are allowed if the 11th grade TAKS math score is a minimum of 2200.
E/LA
Reading and writing sub-scores may not be considered apart from one another. Exemptions may be given for both the reading and writing only with a minimum score of 2200 and a written composition sub-score of at least 3. For example, if a student has an E/LA score of 2450 with a written composition sub-score of 2, s/he will not be exempt in either the reading or the writing section.

If you think you meet one of these exemptions please verify that Texas A&M has this information. Do not assume that the information is on file.