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Academic Advising Center

Texas Success Initiative

The Academic Advising Center advises students who have not successfully completed the Texas Success Initiative (TSI). TSI, a measure passed by the Texas Legislature, is designed to ensure that students entering a Texas public college or university are prepared for college-level math, writing, and reading-intensive courses.

Students complete TSI when they pass the reading, writing, and math sections of the TSI Assessment Test or when they pass certain writing, math, and reading-intensive courses with an appropriate grade.


The following TSI exemptions are provided by the state:

  • Students with an ACT composite score of 23 with a minimum of 19 on the English and/or mathematics sections*.

  • Students who score 1070 on the SAT with a minimum of 500 on the English and/or math sections prior to March 5, 2016*.
  • Students who score a minimum of 480 on the Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) and a minimum score of 530 on the mathematics on or after March 5, 2016*. Mixing or combining scores from the SAT administered prior to March 5, 2016 and the SAT administered on or after March 5, 2016 is not allowable.
  • Students who score 1770 on the TAAS test, with a Texas Learning Index (TLI) of 86 on the math test and 89 on the reading test*.

  • Students who took the eleventh grade exit-level Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) with a minimum scale score of 2200 on the math section and/or a minimum scale score of 2200 on the English Language Arts section with a writing subsection of a 3*.

  • Students with a STAAR end-of-course (EOC) with a minimum score of Level 2 on the English III shall be exempt from the TSI Assessment required under this title for both reading and writing, and a minimum score of Level 2 on the Algebra II EOC shall be exempt from the TSI Assessment required under this title for the mathematics section*.

  • Students who have an associate’s or baccalaureate degrees from an institution of higher education

  • A student who has previously attended any Texas institution and has been determined to have met readiness standards by that institution.

  • Students enrolled in certificate programs of one year or less at public junior colleges, public technical institutes, or public state colleges.

  • Students on active duty as members of the armed forces, the Texas National Guard, or reserve forces for at least three years before enrolling.

  • Students honorably discharged, retired, or released from active duty as members of the armed forces, Texas National Guard, or reserve forces after August 1, 1990.

  • Students who are not seeking a degree or certificate
  • Students who transfer to UTEP from a private institution of higher education or an accredited out-of-state institution of higher education and has satisfactorily completed college-level coursework with a C or better per TSI area (reading, writing, and math) will be exempt for the corresponding area.

  • A student who is enrolled in a certificate program of one year or less (Level-One certificates, 42 or fewer semester credit hours or the equivalent) at a public junior college, a public technical institute, or a public state college

  • A student who successfully completes a college preparatory course under Texas Education Code §28.014 is exempt for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of high school graduation with respect to the content area of the course. This exemption applies only at the institution of higher education that partners with the school district in which the student is enrolled to provide the course.

* SAT, TAKS and ACT scores are valid for five (5) years from the date of testing.  The TAAS test is valid for three (3) years from the date of testing.
TSI