The Testing Center, located in the Student Success Center RM 3613, offers a comprehensive testing program to assist students with assessing occupational interests and educational achievements. Available tests include college entrance (ACT), course placement (TSI Assessment), program admission (ACCUPLACER), Credit by Examination (CLEP, DSST) and Temple College Institutional Exams. Also administered are the nursing pre-test (HESI A2) for the ADN and the LVN programs and the TEAS test for other allied health programs. Tests are proctored for the distance learning courses, Internet/on-line courses, make-up exams, and correspondence courses. Students may contact the Testing Center for more specific information on testing. Students should review the Testing Center guidelines, available on-line and in the Testing Center office, prior to testing.
Beginning in Fall 2013, new students seeking an Associate of Arts (AA) degree at Temple College are required to take the Computer Competency Test or approved course to show basic computer literacy. It is recommended that students complete this requirement early in their academic career and not wait until their planned graduation semester. Students will have two attempts at the Computer Competency Test. Students should contact the Testing Center for more information on this test.
Texas Administrative Code Title 19, Part 1, Chapter 4, Subchapter C requires that all students who enter public institutions of higher education in the fall of 2003 and thereafter must be tested for reading, writing and mathematics skills. This includes all full-time and part-time students enrolled in a degree or level-two certificate program. Performance on the test will not be used as a condition of admission.
New students who are not exempt or waived from TSI (Texas Success Initiative) requirements must have scores on file from an approved assessment test before registering for classes. In accordance with the Texas Administrative Code Title 19, Part 1, Chapter 4, Subchapter C:
The following assessment instrument is approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board:
- TSI Assessment
Pre-Assessment Activity: Before attempting the TSI Assessment, students must complete a Pre-Assessment Activity. Temple College’s Pre-Assessment Activity is available on-line through the Testing Center’s website.
From the TSI Assessment the following minimum passing standards shall be used by an institution to determine a student’s readiness to enroll in freshman-level academic coursework:
- Reading: 351
- Mathematics: 350
- Writing: Essay of 5 or Essay of 4 with a 363 multiple choice
- The following students shall be exempt from the requirements of this title (TSI):
- For a period of five (5) years from the date of testing, a student who is tested and performs at or above the following standards:
- ACT: composite score of 23 with a minimum of 19 on the English test and/or the mathematics test shall be exempt for those corresponding sections;
- Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT): a combined reading and mathematics score of 1070 with a minimum of 500 on the reading test and/or the mathematics test shall be exempt for those corresponding sections, (SAT scores for this requirement are for exams taken before March 2016). Starting March 2016, a student may be exempt with SAT scores with a minimum of 530 on the mathematics test and a minimum score of 480 on the evidence-based reading and writing exam.
- For a period of five (5) years from the date of testing, a student who is tested and performs on the Eleventh grade exit-level Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) with a minimum scale score of 2200 on the math section and/or a minimum scale score of 2200 on the English Language Arts section with a writing subsection score of at least 3, shall be exempt from the assessment required under this title for those corresponding sections.
- For a period of five (5) years from the date of testing, a student who is tested and performs on the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness End-of-Course exams (STAAR EOC) with a minimum score of 4000 on the English III shall be exempt from TSI Assessment required under the title for both Reading and Writing, and a minimum score of 4000 on the Algebra II EOC shall be exempt from the TSI Assessment required under this title for the Mathematics section.
- A student who has graduated with an associate or baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
- A student who transfers to an institution from a private or independent institution of higher education or an accredited out-of-state institution of higher education and who has satisfactorily completed nine (9) hours of college-level coursework with a cumulative 2.0 GPA as determined by the receiving institution.
- A student who has previously attended a fully accredited public college or university in Texas and has been determined to have met readiness standards by that institution.
- A student who is enrolled in a certificate program of one year or less (Level-One certificates, 42 or fewer semester credit hours or the equivalent) at a public junior college, a public technical institute, or a public state college.
- A student who is serving on active duty as a member of the armed forces of the United States, the Texas National Guard, or as a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States and has been serving for at least three years preceding enrollment.
- A student who on or after August 1,1990, was honorably discharged or discharged under honorable conditions, retired, or released from active duty as a member of the armed forces of the United States or the Texas National Guard or service as a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States.
Students seeking exemption from the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) should contact the Temple College Testing Center. Courses transferred to Temple College will be evaluated during the student’s first semester in residence. Final admission to Temple College will not be granted until all official transcripts are on file in the Admissions and Records office. Students who do not submit all official transcripts will not be allowed to enroll into a consecutive semester.
Temple College is a designated national test center for the American College Testing Program (ACT). ACT tests are administered in February, April, June, September, October and December. Check with the Testing Center for dates and times or go on-line to www.actstudents.org.
A student who is qualified by experience or previous training may take a special examination to establish college credit in some courses. Temple College provides opportunities for students to receive college credit by examination through four methods:
- College Board Advanced Placement Program (AP)
- International Baccalaureate (IB)
- College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
- DSST Program (formerly known as DANTES)
- Credit by Examination may not be attempted in any course in which the student has earned credit.
- Students must complete one semester in residence at Temple College before any Credit by Examination is posted on the transcript. Credits earned through Credit by Examination will be posted on the student’s transcript either during the current semester, if the student is currently enrolled, or during the next semester in residence following the examination. The examinee must be a student at Temple College in order to receive credit for a Credit by Examination test.
- Completion of at least 25% of the credit hours required for the degree at Temple College must be earned in residence and may not be earned through Credit by Examination.
- Students must have successfully demonstrated Texas Success Initiative (TSI) eligibility for the specific Credit by Examination course(s) prior to completing registration for the examination.
- Fee schedules for CLEP are set by the College Board and fees for DSST tests are set by Prometric. There is no refund of examination fees.
- Registration information, application forms, procedures, and fee schedules are available in the Testing Center.
The Advanced Placement (AP) examinations are offered once a year in May, usually in high schools that offer college-level courses based on AP course descriptions. Each high school that gives the examinations sets it own registration deadline (no later than March) and collects fees. Contact the high school counseling center for additional information. If no high school in the vicinity is administering AP examinations, students should write for information, by February 1, to AP Services, CN6671, Princeton, NJ 08541, or call (609) 734-3800.
The International Baccalaureate (IB) curricula and corresponding examinations are now being offered worldwide to highly motivated students who are enrolled in courses that are affiliated with the IB program. For information on the IB program, contact your local high school counselor or International Baccalaureate North America, 200 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016 or call (212) 696-4464.
College Level Examination Program (CLEP) examinations demonstrate the specific knowledge and skills gained through job experience, outside course work, or specialized independent reading. The examinations require a high degree of knowledge. Information about CLEP examinations is available in the Testing Center and at <www.collegeboard.org/clep>.
- CLEP policies and requirements are established independently by each participating institution. Students who plan to transfer to another college should contact that institution for specific information about its policies.
- CLEP examinations are administered at Temple College and scored by the College Board.
- Students who meet minimum score requirements will receive “credit” on their transcripts. Letter grades will not be recorded.
The DSST Program is a testing program provided by Prometric Inc. DSST’s mission is to help non-traditional returning adults, corporate trainees, as well as military members obtain credit for knowledge and skills acquired through nontraditional educational experiences.
- Each institution that adopts the DSST Program uses only tests suited to its curriculum, sets its own fee for test administration, sets its own testing schedule, and administers the tests.
- DSST examinations are administered at Temple College and are scored by Prometric Inc. Two score reports are automatically provided by Prometric; one for the student (accessible through the student’s on-line account) and one for the selected receiving institution.
Students admitted to the College may obtain college credit by taking examinations offered by various departments on campus. Institutional examinations are administered at Temple College and scored either by the Testing Center or by the appropriate department. If the examination requires a lab, arrangements must be made with the Department Chair to administer and score that portion of the examination. Students meeting minimum score standards on Institutional Examinations will receive credit for the course on their transcripts. Students must complete one full semester in residence at Temple College before credit will be posted to their transcript. Institutional Exams may be taken one time. Permission to retake an exam may be granted by the Department Chair. Students interested in taking an Institutional Exam should contact the Testing Center.
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