TSI

Please note: The Pre-Assessment Activity (PAA) must be completed BEFORE you can sit for your TSI exam. See the PAA section below for additional information.

What is the TSI?

The purpose of TSI tests is to provide you with useful information about your academic skills in math, english, and reading. The results of the assessment, in conjunction with your academic background, goals, and interests, are used by academic advisors and counselors to determine your course selection.

You can not "pass" or "fail" the placement tests, but it is very important that you do your very best on these tests so that you will have an accurate measure of your academic skills. Visit the TSI site to determine whether or not you need to take the exam.

Already taken the TSI at another location? Visit the TSI site to authorize LU to retrieve your scores.

For more information read the Student Informational Brochure.

Exam Fee

All Testing - ELAR & Math- $30.50
Math - $7.50
ELAR & Essay - $24.50

Pre-Assessment Activity

Before you take the TSI Assessment you will complete the Pre-Assessment Activity. The Pre-Assessment Activity (PAA) includes the following:

An explanation of the importance of the TSI Assessment;
Practice test questions and feedback;
Details about testing at Lamar;
Information on-campus resources that will help you succeed as a college student.

Under 'Select a Practice Test' choose the 'Texas Success Initiative 2.0 Pre-Assessment Activity (TSIA2 – PAA)' option.

After completing the PAA a certificate is awarded as documentation and sent to your email address. Print your PAA completion certificate and bring it to your testing appointment. A voucher for virtual testing will not be issued until your pre-assessment activity is completed. Ensure that you have received your certificate of completion, usually via email, before requesting your voucher.

Examity

Proctoring Fee: $25; all major credit and debit cards accepted. Please note: this fee is not part of the cost associated with the TSI Assessment.

Sessions are available 24/7, and students have access to Examity’s technical support through phone, email or chat.

If you wish to proceed with virtual testing, please verify that you are able to meet the technology and system requirements below.

Technology Requirement for Virtual Proctoring of TSI

Must be administered on a desktop computer or laptop, with an internal or external webcam and microphone
Connection to a network with sufficient internet speed-at least 2Mbps download speed and 2Mbps upload
Operating Systems: Windows 7 or newer, Mac OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion) or newer
Browser with pop-up blocker disabled: Google Chrome v47 or later, Mozilla Firefox v41 or later, Internet Explorer v10 or later, Microsoft Edge v12 or later, Apple Safari v6 or later
Check your system requirements. (This is not a test of your webcam and microphone.)

Requesting a Virtual Remote TSI

There are three steps you will need to take to set up a Virtual Remote TSI Test:

Step 1

Register for the Remote TSI exam. Please note that the student is responsible for any fees charged by the cooperating college or university as well as any fees payable to Lamar University's Testing Services.

A voucher will not be issued until Step 3 is complete.

Step 2

Complete the Pre-Assessment Activity.

Step 3

Complete the TSI Request Form.

Please allow 1-2 business days for your voucher to be issued.

The exam is not processed until the student is registered for the Remote TSI

Once this process is complete the student will receive the voucher number to test.

If a voucher must be reissued due to expiration, use, or incorrect exam selection you must repay and submit a TSI request form.

Exemptions

Find out exemption requirements for the TSI exam.

What to Bring on Test Day

You will need a valid photo ID. Examples of a valid (non-expired) photo ID are:

Driver's License
State ID
Passport
Military ID
School ID

Calculators will be provided on the computer. All examinees must have a social security number or Lamar ID number at the time of the exam.

Scores

Your scores will be electronically reported to Lamar University's Undergraduate Advising Center. You may request a copy of your scores, however these are not considered an official score report for the purposes for advising.

Testing Accommodations

To request accommodations for the TSI because of a disability, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Amendment Act of 1990 including the amendments of 2008, you must:

Register with the Accessibility Resource Center (ARC), submit documentation of your disability, and meet with the director of the ARC at least 1 week before your test date.
To register with the ARC or review disability documentation guidelines: Accessibility Resource Center (lamar.edu)
For more information about disability-related testing accommodations, please contact the ARC at arc@lamar.edu or 409-880-8347

The Center for Career and Professional Development and the person requesting accommodations will be notified of any assigned testing accommodations prior to the test date. No accommodations will be granted without documentation of disability being on file with the Accessibility Resource Center.

Possible testing accommodations that must be requested at least four weeks prior to the test date are:

Extended Time (Time and One-Half or Double Time)
Distraction Reduced Environment
Sign Language Interpreter during testing instructions for individuals who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing
Reader
Braille
Auto Compact Disk
Accessibility Preferences: Choice of Font Size/Color
Paper Based version
Scribe
Large Print

In Addition, the following assistive technology software is available:

Read & Write Gold
Majic
JAWS
Natural Reader

If you need further information, please contact the Director of Services for the Accessibility Resource Center at 409-880-8347, arc@lamar.edu, or visit the Communication Building, Room 105