Exempt
TSI Exemptions
Students may be exempt in the following ways:
- ACT
- SAT
- TAKS
- STAAR EOC
- Military
- High School Equivalency Tests
- Texas College Bridge
- Previous Coursework
- Previous Degree
ACT
| Exempt | Math | ELAR (English, Language Arts, and Reading) |
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*A composite score of 23 is required to be exempt in one or more areas. If a student does not meet the composite minimum their ACT scores cannot be used for TSI exemption.
If you made an ACT Composite score of 23+ with an ACT English score of 19+ you are exempt from the reading and writing areas.
If you made an ACT Composite of 23+ with an ACT Math score of 19+, you are exempt from the math area.
ACT score exemptions are good for five years.
SAT
| Exempt | Math | ELAR (English, Language Arts, and Reading) |
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SAT Test Date Prior to March 5, 2016
| Exempt | Math | ELAR (English, Language Arts, and Reading) |
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*A Math + Verbal score of 1070 is required to be exempt in one or more areas. If a student does not meet the 1070 combined minimum, then the SAT scores cannot be used for TSI exemption. (Verbal is sometimes labeled as "Reading")
If your SAT Verbal score was 500+ and your combined Math+Verbal score was 1070+, you are exempt from the reading and writing areas.
If your SAT Math score was 500+ and your combined Math+Verbal was 1070+, you are exempt from the math area.
SAT score exemptions are good for five years.
SAT score exemptions are good for five years.
11th Grade Exit-Level TAKS
| Exempt | Math | ELAR (English, Language Arts, and Reading) |
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If you made a TAKS ELA score of 2200+ and an essay score of 3+, you are exempt from the reading and writing areas.
If you made a TAKS math score of 2200+, you are exempt from the math area.
Beginning Fall 2013, 11th grade exit-level TAKS score exemptions are good for five years.
STAAR EOC
| Exempt | Math | ELAR (English, Language Arts, and Reading) |
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If you made a score of 2000 in English III Reading, Level II, you are exempt from the reading area.
If you made a score of 2000 in English III Writing Level II, you are exempt from the writing area.
If you made a score of 4000 in STAAR EOC Algebra II Level II, you are exempt from the math area.
STAAR EOC score exemptions are good for five years.
Military
Veterans who were honorably discharged on or after August 1, 1990, are granted a full TSI military exemption. These students are exempt in all areas.
Students who have been active duty for three or more years are allowed a temporary TSI waiver for all areas. Once the student is honorably discharged, the waiver may be replaced by a permanent TSI military exemption.
High School Equivalency Tests
Effective May 12, 2021, students who meet the college readiness benchmarks on the state’s approved high school equivalency (HSE) tests will qualify for a TSI exemption. Like similar exemptions for TSI purposes, the high school equivalency test exemptions are valid up to five years from the date the student took the exam
Please see the approved tests and relevant benchmarks below:
GED
| Exempt | Math | ELAR (English, Language Arts, and Reading) |
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Scores |
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• Students who received a minimum score of 165 on the Mathematical Reasoning subject test are exempt from the Math section of the TSI.
• Students who received a minimum score of 165 on the Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA) subject test are exempt from the Reading and Writing sections of the TSI.
HISET
| Exempt | Math | ELAR (English, Language Arts, and Reading) |
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• Students who received a minimum score of 15 on the Mathematics subtest are exempt from the Math section of the TSI.
• A minimum score of 15 on the Reading subtest and a minimum score of 15 on the Writing subtest, including a minimum score of 4 on the essay, allow students to exempt the Reading and Writing sections of the TSI.
Texas College Bridge
Sam Houston State University has partnered with Texas College Bridge which is a program that allows high school juniors and seniors to complete online English and Math college preparatory courses to earn a TSI Exemption. Students who complete either the Math, English, or both English and Math college preparatory courses will receive a TSI Texas College Bridge Exemption that is valid for two years for the completed subject areas.
Texas College Bridge English
The Texas College Bridge English TSI Exemption is valid for two years from the date of the student's high school graduation and it will only remain an active TSI exemption if the student enrolls in their core English during the student's first year of enrollment at Sam Houston State University.
If you have completed the Texas English Bridge program, please email tsi@shsu.edu with an attached copy of your English certificate and your SAM ID number to provide proof of completion of the Texas English Bridge program. This will then allow your TSI Reading and Writing status to be updated with an exemption.
Texas College Bridge Math
The Texas College Bridge Math TSI Exemption is valid for two years from the date of the student's high school graduation and it will only remain an active TSI exemption if the student enrolls in their core Math during the student's first year of enrollment at Sam Houston State University.
If you have completed the Texas Math Bridge program, please email tsi@shsu.edu with an attached copy of your Math certificate and your SAM ID number to provide proof of completion of the Texas Math Bridge program. This will then allow your TSI Math status to be updated with an exemption.
To learn more about the Texas College Bridge program, please visit the Texas College Bridge website
Previous Coursework (Transfer, Dual Credit, CLEP, and AP Credit)
If you received credit for coursework equivalent to SHSU's following courses with a grade of "C" or better, you are exempt in that area:
- Math: MATH 1314, 1316, 1324, 1332, 1342, 1369, 1384, 1385, or 1420.
- Reading and writing:
- ENGL 1301 or 1302
- HIST 2311 or 2312
- PHIL 1301, 2303, or 2306
- SOCI 1301 or 2319
- Reading only:
- ARTS 1303 or 1315
- BUAD 2301 or 2321
- CRIJ 2361 or 2362
- ECON 2300, 2301, or 2302
- ENGL 2332 or 2333
- GEOG 1321, 2355, or 2356
- HIST 1301 or 1302
- MUSI 2348
- POLS 2305 or 2306
- PSYC 1301 or 2315
- SOCI 1306
For CLEP and AP credit, grades of "CR" are also considered a "C" or better.
Previous Degree
If you received an associates degree or higher, you qualify for a Degree Exemption.
Please note: Students who earned an Applied Associates Degree do not qualify for a Degree Exemption.
For immediate assistance, please contact the Registrar's Office:
936.294.1040
Email: tsi@shsu.edu