Texas Success Initiative

The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) is a program designed to improve student success in college. There are two components of the program.

1. An assessment to diagnose students’ basic skills in reading, mathematics, and writing
2. Developmental instruction to strengthen academic skills that need improvement

Prior to registering for classes, students must provide information to document their Texas Success Initiative exemption or compliance.  This can be done by testing on campus, providing official test scores, or providing documentation of exemption.

Assessment

The TSI Assessment (TSIA2) exam is used to determine college readiness levels in math, reading, and writing.  Your test scores will determine if you are ready for college-level courses or need additional support such as corequisite or developmental courses when enrolling. The untimed test is not pass or fail but does inform course placement. Visit the Exemption and Waiver website to determine if you qualify.

Do you need to take the exam?  Some students are exempt from placement testing.  Completion of previous tests, completion of previous coursework and certain student populations are exempt from testing. 

Visit the Testing Centers website for information about taking the exam or having exam scores shared with LSC.  Unless exempt, all LSC students must complete a Pre-Assessment Activity and TSI assessment before enrolling.

The Pre-Assessment Activity (PAA) may be completed online or during an in-person session at an LSC college. The PAA can be completed in-person through a test-preparation session, or online through the myLoneStar Student Portal. Once completed, students will be able to schedule their TSI Assessment.  Log-in to myLoneStar to access the Pre-Assessment Activity.

The Pre-Assessment Activity includes:

• An explanation of the importance of the TSI Assessment;
• Practice test questions and feedback;
• An explanation of all developmental education options if a standard is not met; and
• Information about campus and community resources that help college students to succeed.

Enrollment in most college-level courses requires test scores high enough to place into the college-level course. 

Students scoring below the placement test standards are required to enroll in developmental courses. Course Placement Information is provided under Placement on this page.  

Developmental Instruction

Beginning in the Fall 2018, students qualifying for developmental education are encouraged to enroll in the developmental and college-level course at the same time.  The developmental course serves as a co-requisite to the college level course.  The following co-requisite options are available at Lone Star College:

Mathematics

English

ESOL

For additional information about developmental course options and enrollment, visit with an academic advisor at your campus. 

Successful completion of the developmental component and/or the College-level course will update your status to TSI complete. TSI completion allows you to enroll in college credit courses related to the skill area while completing other developmental education requirements.  While developmental courses appear on transcripts from LSC they typically do not transfer to four-year institutions, nor do they apply to LSC degrees or certificates.

All equivalent developmental courses transferred from another institution must be a "C" or better or the student will need to retake the section of the TSI Assessment and score high enough to place into the college-level course.