Helping Students Make Informed Choices About College
Category: Pathways to and Through Postsecondary
The Texas Success Initiative Assessment 2.0 (TSIA2) was introduced in 2021, replacing the previous version utilized since 2013. As per the Texas State Legislature mandate, all students entering Texas public higher education institutions must undergo TSIA2 or qualify for one of its exemptions. The TSIA2 evaluates students' readiness for college-level coursework by testing them in English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR) and Mathematics.
In ELAR, TSIA2 focuses on two key areas: reading and writing. The reading portion assesses comprehension and analysis of literary, informational, and argumentative texts, including paired passages. Meanwhile, the writing portion evaluates skills in revising and editing sentences, paragraphs, and early drafts of essays.
In mathematics, TSIA2 focuses on four key areas: quantitative reasoning, algebraic reasoning, geometric and spatial reasoning, and probabilistic and statistical reasoning.
Students taking the TSIA2 begin by completing College Readiness Classification (CRC) tests in ELAR and mathematics, comprising multiple-choice questions. If students fail to meet the college readiness benchmarks on these CRC tests, they proceed with the multiple-choice diagnostic tests in ELAR and Mathematics. These diagnostic tests present an additional chance for the students to demonstrate their preparedness for college-level coursework. They also highlight students' strengths and weaknesses in specific content areas, thus facilitating their placement into suitable courses and enabling them to receive the necessary remedial support and interventions.
Year developed: 2021 (TSIA2 replaced TSIA introduced in 2013).
Content
Grades
Post secondary
Languages
English
Respondent
Student
Administration Information
Length
The test is untimed, each section can take up to two hours. The College Readiness Classification (CRC) Tests consist of 30 questions in English Language Arts Reading (ELAR) and 20 questions in Mathematics. The ELAR Diagnostic Test comprises 48 multiple
Access and Use
Price
Costs vary across testing centers. On average, the costs in 2023 are as follows:
ELAR only $15.00, mathonly $15.00, entire TSIA2 (ELAR+math) $30.00.
Contact
Kay Humes, Statewide Coordinator for Advanced Academics, Texas Education Agency
Open Access
No
Use in Research
Kallison Jr, J. M. (2017). The effects of an intensive postsecondary transition program on college readiness for adult learners. Adult Education Quarterly, 67(4), 302-321. https://doi.org/10.1177/0741713617725394
Villarreal, S., Montoya, J. A., Duncan, P., & Gergen, E. (2018). Leadership styles predict career readiness in early college high‐school students. Psychology in the Schools, 55(5), 476-489. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.22131
Psychometrics
Psychometric References
Cui, W., & Bay, L. (2016). The predictive placement validity study of Texas success initiative assessment (TSIA). CollegeBoard. https://reportcenter.thecb.state.tx.us/sites/docid/cache/file/B0C9C241-E5E1-185D-10B462760460E0D4.pdf
