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Assessment
The TSI Assessments measure college readiness in reading, writing and math, and scores are used for college
placement purposes. Examinees take a placement test of 20-25 items that produces a numeric scale score ranging
from 310 to 390. Those students who do not score at the college-ready level (see below) on the math or reading
placement test will take the diagnostic test in order to gain detailed information regarding the academic strengths and
weaknesses of the student in that subject area. Students who score 350 or higher or the writing multiple-choice test or
who score an NRS Level 4 on the ABE Writing multiple-choice test will be asked to submit an essay.
The TSI Placement and Diagnostic tests are adaptive assessments, and the specific questions that appear on any given
test administration varies based on each individual student’s performance on each item. Questions increase or
decrease in difficulty depending on how a student responds.
The assessments are untimed, however, it is important for students to allow enough time to complete each test
because the results are a key factor in determining the course or courses in which they can enroll. As students
complete the assessment, a score report will be generated.
Blocked Courses
Some academic courses are blocked based on TSI requirements. Generally, a student must pass the appropriate
section on an approved TSI test or complete the required developmental course sequence in order to have course
blocks removed from their degree plan. Blocked courses in each TSI area (reading, writing, and math) are outlined
below: (Business and CTE college credit courses are not blocked based on TSI requirements)
READING (LEVEL ONE)
Students placed in Developmental Reading I (DEVL 0306) are blocked from enrolling in the following courses:
ARTS
1301
Art Appreciation
ARTS
1303
Art History I
ARTS
1304
Art History II
DRAM
1310
Theatre Appreciation
ECON
2301
Principles of Macroeconomics
ECON
2302
Principles of Microeconomics
HUMA
1301
Intro Humanities
PHIL
1301
Introduction to Philosophy
PHIL
1304
World Religions
PHIL
1316
History of Religion I
PHIL
1317
History of Religion II
SOCI
1301
Introduction to Sociology
SOCI
1306
Contemporary Social Problems
SPCH
1311
Fundamentals of Speech
SPCH
1321
Business & Professional Speech
SPCH
1315
Public Speaking
READING (LEVEL TWO)
Students who have not passed the reading section of an approved placement test are blocked from enrolling in the
following courses:
BIOL
1406
General Biology I
BIOL
1407
General Biology II
GOVT
2305
U.S. Government and Constitution
HIST
1301
United States History to 1877
HIST
1302
United States History from 1877
PHIL
2303
Introduction to Logic
PHIL
2306
Introduction to Ethics
