Texas Success Initiative (TSI) Practice Test

If you need help studying for the TSI test or just want some more information about what the test is like, you’ve come to the right place.

Click below to take a free TSI practice test!

Subject-Specific Practice Tests
What’s on the TSI Test?
How to Register
TSI Scores
TSI Online Course
FAQs
Self-Assessment Modules

Subject-Specific Practice Tests

If you need some extra practice in a specific subject, click one of the subjects below to get started on a subject-specific TSI practice test.

What’s on the TSI Test?

Before we look at the specifics of the TSI test, it’s important to note that there are two different versions of the test you may have to take: the CRC test and the diagnostic test.

CRC vs. Diagnostic

The test you’re given first is called the College Readiness Classification (CRC) test. This is used to determine whether you’re ready for college-level reading, writing, and math. If you don’t perform well on a section of this test, you’ll be given that section again via a second test called the diagnostic test. This test contains slightly more detailed questions that are designed to pinpoint your specific weak points.

TSI Test Outline

The CRC version of the TSI test contains 50 questions and is split into two main parts: English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR) and Mathematics.

ELAR
CRC | 30 questions

There are two types of questions in the ELAR section: reading-focused and writing-focused.

The reading-focused questions are designed to test how well you comprehend and analyze what you read, while the writing-focused questions are designed to test how well you can revise and edit sentences, paragraphs, and essays.

In addition to these 30 multiple-choice questions, you will be asked to write an essay. The essay portion requires you to write 300-600 words in response to a given prompt. The whole point of the essay is to show how well you grasp the following qualities:

Purpose and focus
Organization and structure
Development and support
Sentence variety and style
Mechanical conventions
Critical thinking

MATHEMATICS
CRC | 20 questions

The math questions are designed to test your knowledge and skills in four specific areas:

Quantitative reasoning
Algebraic reasoning
Geometric and spatial reasoning
Probabilistic and statistical reasoning

It’s important to note that you will not be able to use a handheld calculator on this section of the test. A built-in calculator will pop up on the screen for some more difficult questions.

The diagnostic version of the test contains 48 multiple-choice questions per section and covers the same topics as the CRC test.

How to Register

To get started with the registration process, you’ll need to contact the college you’re planning to attend to (or the one you’re already enrolled in). Each school has its own set of requirements and processes for registration.

TSI Study Guide and Flashcards

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TSI Scores

Once you have completed the test, the hard part is over!

The multiple-choice questions for the ELAR and Math sections of the CRC test are scored on a scale of 310 to 990, and the essay is scored on a scale of 1 to 8. For the diagnostic test, all sections are scored on a scale of 1 to 6.

On your score report, which you should receive as soon as you finish the test, you’ll find one of the following three score levels:

Basic: you need significant improvement in the subject area
Proficient there’s some room for improvement in the content area
Advanced you’ve shown exemplary skills in the content area

These are the college readiness benchmarks for the TSI test:

ELAR

For the ELAR section, you need a CRC score between 945 and 990. You also need a score of at least 5 on the essay.

If your CRC score is below 945, you’ll need to take the diagnostic test and score at least a 5 on both the multiple-choice section and the essay.

Math

For the Math section, you need a CRC score between 950 and 990.

If your CRC score is below 950, you’ll need to take the diagnostic test and get a score of at least 6.

Online TSI Prep Course

If you want to be fully prepared, Mometrix offers an online TSI prep course. The course is designed to provide you with any and every resource you might want while studying. The TSI course includes:

Review Lessons Covering Every Topic
1,250+ TSI Practice Questions
More than 500 Digital Flashcards
Over 220 Instructional Videos
Money-back Guarantee
Free Mobile Access
and More!

The TSI prep course is designed to help any learner get everything they need to prepare for their TSI exam. Click below to check it out!

Get the TSI Course

FAQS

What is TSI?

TSI is the Texas Success Initiative, which is a program mandated by the law to assist Texas public schools in determining whether students are ready for introductory college courses.

How many questions are on the TSI?

There are 50 multiple-choice questions on the CRC version of the TSI test. The diagnostic test contains 48 questions per section.

How can you be exempt from the TSI test?

You may be exempt from the TSI test (or just one section) if you meet other college readiness benchmarks via other standardized tests, like the ACT or SAT.

How long is the TSI test?

The TSI is actually not a timed test! Some schools recommend 2 hours for the writing questions and 1 hour for the reading and math questions.