Online TSIA2 Prep and Practice Tests
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Under Development
Launching fall 2024
Unrivaled TSIA2 Instructional & Practice Content
The best practice and support for the Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSIA) 2.
Practice TSIA Tests
Piqosity’s TSIA2 prep course includes 24 math and ELAR CRC and diagnostic practice tests.
How-To Lessons
Dozens of lessons teach core concepts in math and English with rich animations and instructor-led videos.
Practice Questions
More than 1,000 practice questions for TSIA2 math and English can be worked in adaptive or gamified styles.
Answer Explanations
Every test question includes a step-by-step answer explanation, and students can even request more clarification.
Made in Texas
Piqosity is based in Houston. We wrote our TSIA2 content for the thousands of local students who rely on our expertise.
Related Courses
Students preparing for the TSIA2 also gain access to our ACT & SAT courses plus Math & English for grades 5-11.
How to Improve Your TSIA Score with Piqosity
Plan
Set a target score and define a timeline with Piqosity Virtual Tutor.
Assess
Complete practice tests and work personalized problem sets.
Review
Watch or read lessons and internalize answer explanations.
Repeat
Iterate until you reach your goal by just clicking the “next” button!
Piqosity Virtual Tutor
Not knowing where to start is no issue for Patrick the Piqosity Virtual Tutor (PVT).
PVT adapts the course curriculum to your individual goals and walks you step-by-step through lessons, practice questions, and mock tests.
PVT optionally includes Intelligent Math Remediation, which automatically identifies prerequisite math weaknesses and prompts you to relearn them.
Personalized Practice
Piqosity allows you to choose how to tackle your practice.
In adaptive mode, Piqosity dynamically adjusts the difficulty up or down based off your correct or incorrect responses so that you’re always challenged accordingly.
In gamified mode, Piqosity combines elements of adaptive practice with instant scoring, badges, and sounds to liven up even the most challenging of practice sets.
Intuitive Lessons
Every course on Piqosity includes dozens of educator-created lessons to teach you everything you need to know.
And because one size does not fit all, many topics offer different variations on the same concept including video and text-based options.
Our growing community of real educators is constantly adding and updating new content.
Comparative Analytics
Piqosity dynamically peer norms every question for difficulty to ensure that you’re adequately challenged.
There’s no more guessing about what a “hard question” looks like—on Piqosity a hard question is simply the one where only the most advanced learners are answering it correctly.
Piqosity keeps track of your key performance indicators including improvement, timing, and weakest areas.
The Piqosity Advantage
TSIA2 Practice Tests
and access to our ACT, SAT, math, & English courses for unrivaled practice content
Innovative Platform
Our global team is continually expanding our app every 2 weeks
Mission-Driven
One product launch at a time, we’re on a mission to rethink education
Proven Experience
Our team has more than 2 decades of experience in K12 education
Piqosity’s Affordable Pricing for Online TSIA2 Prep
Coming Soon
Frequently Asked Questions
The TSIA2 exam is composed of two sub-tests:
- English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR)
- Mathematics
You must pass both ELAR and Mathematics to “pass the TSIA” and be considered college ready.
ELAR is further subdivided into three tests:
- College Readiness Classification (CRC)
- All students take the CRC
- 30 untimed, multiple choice questions, adaptive difficulty
- Scored from 910 to 990
- If you score a 945 or higher, you do not have to take the ELAR Diagnostic Test, but you do still have to write the Essay
- Diagnostic Test
- Only students scoring below a 945 on the CRC have to also take the Diagnostic test
- 48 untimed, multiple choice questions, adaptive difficulty
- Scored from Level 1 to Level 6
- Level 5 is considered passing, but Level 4 still allows you to take the Essay test
- Essay Test
- Only students who score a 945 or above on the CRC or above Level 4 on the Diagnostic Test are eligible to take the Essay Test
- Students must pass the Essay test to be deemed College ready
- Students see a short essay prompt followed by an assignment
- Essays are machined scored from 1 to 8 taking into account
- Purpose and focus
- Organization and structure
- Development and support
- Sentence variety and style
- Mechanical conventions
- Critical thinking
- Scores of 5 or higher are considered passing
Mathematics is further subdivided into two tests:
- College Readiness Classification (CRC)
- 20 untimed, multiple choice questions, adaptive difficulty
- Scored from 910 to 990
- If you score a 950 or higher, you do not have to take the Mathematics Diagnostic Test
- Diagnostic Test
- 48 untimed, multiple choice questions, adaptive difficulty
- Scored from Level 1 to Level 6
- Level 6 is considered passing
TSIA2 stands for the Texas Success Initiative Assessment, version 2. Launched in 2021, the TSIA2 is computer-adapted test taken by Texas high school students in order to enroll in a Texas college, including dual enrollment courses taken during high school. The TSIA2 is the assessment test created to support the Texas Success Initiative (TSI). The TSI is the product of a state law which outlines how Texas colleges are required to assess the readiness of applying students. About 135,000 high school students take the TSIA2 every year or about 35% of graduating seniors who are enrolled in a Texas public school.
Technically, any student wanting to enroll in a Texas college, including for dual enrollment during high school, would take the TSIA2. However, only about 35% of graduating Texas seniors actually take the TSIA2 during their high school career. The low percentage is because there are many ways (exemptions) to get out of taking the TSIA2 including getting a “passing score” on the ACT or SAT or joining the military.
Yes, most Texas students actually take the ACT or SAT instead of the TSIA2. For 2021-2022 academic year, 243,410 students took the SAT and 84,822 took the ACT, but only 50,269 took the TSIA2. You are exempt from taking the TSIA2 with the following scores:
ACT Test Minimum Scores for TSIA2 Exemption
- English & Writing – combined score of 40 or higher
- Math – 22 or higher
SAT Test Minimum Scores for TSIA2 Exemption
- Reading and Writing – 480 or higher
- Mathematics – 530 or higher
Students were previously allowed to take STAAR English III and STAAR Algebra II end of course exams instead of the TSIA2; however, those STAAR tests are no longer offered.
Most students take the TSIA2 in the spring of their sophomore year in preparation for dual credit courses their junior year. However, students can technically take the TSIA2 anytime and as often as they want so long as they complete it before they enroll in a Texas college.
Because TSIA2 scores are good for five years from the date of test completion, students could even take it as early as 8th grade!
The TSIA2 is not a particularly hard test in comparison to the more popular ACT and SAT college admissions exams. In particular, the fact that it is untimed and can be taken an infinite number of times makes it significantly less stressful than the ACT or SAT. However, it may be difficult for you if you were already scoring poorly in your on-level math and English courses.
The TSIA2 is a pass/fail test, so the only score that matters is one that allows you to pass. There are at least two ways to pass each exam.
Passing Scores for TSIA English Language Arts and Reading
- College Readiness Classification (CRC) score of at least 945 and an essay score of at least 5; or
- CRC score below 945, Diagnostic level of 5 or 6, and an essay score of at least 5.
Passing Scores for TSIAMathematics
- College Readiness Classification (CRC) score of at least 950; or
- CRC score below 950 and a Diagnostic level of 6.
Source: Texas Education Agency
The cost to take the TSIA2 out of pocket is generally $29 for all three sections (ELAR, Math, Essay). However, the cost is lower to retest only in the sections you previously failed. ELAR by itself is $20 (including essay), Math is $10, ELAR Multiple choice is $10, and Essay is $10. However, your high school will probably pay for you to take the TSIA2 test, especially if you need it for dual enrollment courses and it’s your first attempt.
Yes, you will have access to an on-screen calculator for many of the math questions. Depending on the particular question, you’ll have access to either a four-function calculator, a four-function calculator with square root, or a graphing calculator. However, you are not allowed to use your own, offline calculator.
Our preparation material for standardized tests like the ISEE, ACT, and SAT go through a rigorous research, writing, and editing process:
- We analyze the test specifications released from the publishers like College Board and ACT.
- We analyze the previously released official practice tests.
- We write our practice tests based off this analysis while citing official practice test questions.
- We edit each question and test for facsimile to the official tests, difficulty, and completeness.
- We peer norm each question with actual students.
- And because 10,000 sets of eyes are still better than our 10 sets, we continuously make improvements from your feedback.
Our brilliant writers scored in the top 1% on these tests, and our Houston-based team of editor/educators has more than 20 years of experience in K12 education. We won’t let you down!
Yes, you can complete the ELAR test and Math tests in different sittings or even different days. You can even save and resume your progress as often as you like so long as the test is completed within 13 days from when you started. However, essays must be completed in a single session to avoid getting a different prompt.
The TSIA2 is an untimed test that can be paused and resumed infinitely so long as it is completed within 13 days from start date. However, assuming that most students will spend 1 minute per question, the test could be:
- As short as 60 minutes if you pass both the ELAR and Math CRC and aren’t required to take the Diagnostic but do spend 20 minutes on the essay.
- About 3 hours if you fail the CRC for both ELAR and Math and are required to also take the Diagnostic tests and make it to the Essay test.
- As long as 104 hours if you managed to spend 8 hours a day for all possible 13 days that you could sit for.
No, a dictionary is not allowed for any student either in the testing app or at the testing location. This restriction includes students classified as English for Speakers of Other Language (ESOL) or English Language Learners (ELL)
There’s technically no limit to the number of times you can take the TSIA2. However, if your school does not require you to pay for the test out of pocket, they may set their own restrictions if you want them to pay for the registration fees.
Unless something goes wrong, students will receive their scores instantly after completing all applicable sections. Even the essay is machine-scored so that score is also instant.
The Texas Education Agency and the test’s vendor, College Board, claim that the TSIA2 is super accommodating by design. Features that make it especially accommodating are that it’s untimed and includes features like a calculator, highlighter, save-and-continue ability.
Any additional accommodations must be requested from and approved by your school’s dual credit partner’s office of disability support services. That’s a mouthful that means you have to get additional accommodations not from your high school but from the college your school partners with. Note that accommodations for the TSIA2 are governed by Texas college rules and not Texas high school rules.
Texas law (TSI Rule 4.55b) requires that all students must complete the Pre-Assessment Activity (PAA) before registering to take the TSIA2 test. It’s basically a non-scored online “orientation” and includes these components:
- 2 videos lasting less than 5 minutes in total
- A few paragraphs about the TSIA2
- Two sample tests totaling 20 questions
- ELAR – 10, multiple choice questions, non-adaptive
- Math – 10, multiple choice questions, non-adaptive
- A couple of paragraphs telling you that you will receive an improvement plan if you fail the TSIA2 and that you have the right to retest at anytime.
- A few paragraphs providing some tips for doing well plus links to some test prep resources.
You will probably need less than an hour to complete the PAA if you take your time and try on the sample tests. After completing the PAA, you’ll instantly receive a PDF certificate of completion that you’ll need to show your TSIA2 administrator before you can register to take the test.
The PAA is purely a “for your information” and it does not matter where you take it, how long it takes you to complete, or how many questions you get right on the practice tests. The only thing that matters (outside of the information you’re supposed to be learning) is that you get that downloadable PDF certificate of completion.
Yes! We built Piqosity not only to be user friendly for parents and students at home but also for the advanced needs of tutors and teachers. Key features for educators include:
- Student management including the ability to see everything the student sees
- Automatic scoring and analysis of all student work
- Assignments with due dates
- Custom Branding (tutoring companies and schools)
The biggest features for educators are still yet to come. Beginning this fall we will open up our platform to enable any qualified educator to upload their own instructional content to Piqosity. This means that educators will be able to create their own lessons and questions. They will be able to share this content with all users or just with their own students.We are actively looking for educators and publishers to contribute to our platform. Please contact us for more information.
If you upgrade from the free On-Track plan, your credit card will only be charged the one time without automatic, recurring charges. All paid plans are currently valid for 365 days from the date of activation. No credit card is required to create a free account at Piqosity.
Piqosity means to pique curiosity. We are a Houston-based education technology startup on a mission to rethink education. One product launch at a time, we are on a journey to democratize education publishing, personalize student learning, and empower future generations to tackle the greatest challenges. Our team has more than 18 years of tutoring and test prep experience since we first helped our first student out of a Rice University dorm room in 2003. Click here to learn more about our company.
Yes! We are actively looking for educators and publishers to contribute to our platform. Please contact us for more information.
No, as an education-technology company, Piqosity does not directly provide tutorial services. However, we do partner with independent, third-party educators across the world. Some of our course packages include a consultation or tutorial session with these tutors and teachers.
Every practice set on Piqosity, including adaptive questions and full-length mock tests, can be downloaded as a PDF file for easy printing.
Piqosity’s online classes are suitable for many different types of self-directed learners. Whether you’re a student looking for additional \ enrichment and test prep outside of the classes or are simply looking for a little remediation, Piqosity’s courses provide you with the tools and resources you need to meet your goals.
However, online learning is not for everyone. Students who struggle to focus on the computer may find that classroom learning is better suited to their needs.
As always, it’s free to sign up with Piqosity’s Community Plan, which provides you with limited access to premium content. The paid plan unlocks all of Piqosity’s key innovative platform features, including:
- Instructional lessons with multiple variations including videos
- Adaptive practice including the option for gamification
- Student analytics and strengths and weakness diagnostics
- Answer explanations from both the original author and third-party educators
- Printable PDF practice tests and question sets
- Timers with settings for time and a half and double time
- Online test taking tools like whiteboard, question scratch throughs, and flagging
Register now to get started!
Piqosity does not provide tutorial services. However, we do partner with independent, third-party educators across the world. Some of our course packages include a consultation or tutorial session with these tutors and teachers.
Yes! All of our courses include a free membership level. For test prep courses like ACT, SAT, and ISEE, this free plan even includes access to two, full-length practice tests. No credit card is required to register. If you decide that you want access to more premium content, simply upgrade your plan. Upgraded course plans are single-pay, non-recurring, and provide access for 365-days from the date of purchase.
Our content is partly written in-house and partly by third party publishers including tutors and teachers. Our in-house team has more than 15 years of experience helping thousands of students achieve their potential at our home base in Houston and around the world.
Our content is aligned to both Common Core and Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). We and our partners also write content in accordance with our experience and the specifications set forth by the test makers (i.e. ACT, College Board, and ERB).
All courses are available for a full 365 days after the date of purchase.
Piqosity is not an accredited institution and does not offer course credit. We do not currently offer certificates of completion at this time, but are working towards doing so in the near future.
Yes! Every practice set on Piqosity, including adaptive questions and full-length tests, can be downloaded as a PDF file for easy printing.
Piqosity works hard to make our platform as straightforward and easy-to-navigate as possible. If you are experiencing issues, please visit our support center for immediate answers to most questions, including how-to guides for students and educators, as well as a list of known technical issues. You can also contact us via support ticket any time or call us at +1 713-234-6098 within business hours.
Yes! Piqosity’s courses are designed to meet your student where they are, and they can be used for both enrichment and remediation. Your child can use Piqosity’s lessons and practice materials to review and reinforce the concepts they are struggling with in class. If they aren’t sure where to start, they can take a diagnostic test to help them understand where their weaknesses lie, or they can use the Piqosity Virtual Tutor to progress through the Course Outline from start to finish.
Currently, all of our Math and ELA courses are estimated to take around 40 hours to complete. School is in session for roughly 35 weeks out of the year; assuming a student works roughly 1 hour per week, your Piqosity math course will take the average student a full academic year to complete. Students using Piqosity to remediate or prepare for a standardized test such as the ISEE Lower Level, will likely have to compress this timeline.
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