Testing Center

Temple College has two locations: Main campus in Temple, TX and at the East Williamson County Higher Education Center (EWCHEC) in Hutto, TX.  The main campus testing center is located in the Barron Student Success Center, RM 3613. The EWCHEC-Hutto testing center is located in Building One, RM B116.  Both testing centers offer 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 VN 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.

Required State Testing -Texas Success Initiative (TSI)

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:

1. 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:

1. Reading: 351
2. Mathematics: 350
3. Writing: Writing 340 with an Essay score of 4, or a placement score of less than 340, and an ABE Diagnostic level of at least 4, and an Essay score of at least 5

TSI Exemptions

1. The following students shall be exempt from the requirements of this title, whereby exempt students shall not be required to provide any additional demonstration of college readiness and shall be allowed to enroll in any entry-level freshman course as defined in §4.53(12) of this title (relating to Definitions):
   1. 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 that cannot be raised by institutions:
      1. ACT: composite score of 23 with a minimum of 19 on the English test shall be exempt for both the reading and writing sections of the TSI Assessment, and/or 19 on the mathematics test shall be exempt for the mathematics section of the TSI Assessment;
      2. SAT
         1. SAT administered prior to March 5, 2016: a combined critical reading (formerly “verbal”) and mathematics score of 1070 with a minimum of 500 on the critical reading test shall be exempt for both reading and writing sections of the TSI Assessment; a combined critical reading (formerly “verbal”) and mathematics score of 1070 with a minimum of 500 on the mathematics test shall be exempt for the mathematics section of the TSI Assessment.

         2. SAT administered on or after March 5, 2016: a minimum score of 480 on the Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) test shall be exempt for both reading and writing sections of the TSI Assessment; a minimum score of 530 on the mathematics test shall be exempt for the mathematics section of the TSI Assessment. There is no combined score.

         3. Mixing or combining scores from the SAT administered prior to March 5, 2016 and the SAT administered on or after March 5, 2016 is not allowable.

   2. For a period of three (3) years from the date of testing, a student who is tested and performs on the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) with a minimum scale score of 1770 on the writing test, a Texas Learning Index (TLI) of 86 on the mathematics test and 89 on the reading test.

   3. 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 that cannot be raised by institutions:
      1. 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 TSI Assessment required under this title for those corresponding sections; or
      2. STAAR end-of-course (EOC) with a minimum Level 2 score of 4000 on the English III shall be exempt from the TSI Assessment required under this title for both reading and writing, and a minimum Level 2 score of 4000 on the Algebra II EOC shall be exempt from the TSI Assessment required under this title for the mathematics section
   4. A student who has graduated with an associate or baccalaureate degree from an institution of higher education.
   5. 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 college-level coursework as determined by the receiving institution.
   6. A student who has previously attended any institution and has been determined to have met readiness standards by that institution. For students meeting non-Algebra intensive readiness standards in mathematics as defined in §4.59(d)(1)(B) of this title (relating to Determination of Readiness to Perform Entry-Level Freshman Coursework), institutions may choose to require additional preparatory coursework/interventions for Algebra intensive courses, including MATH 1314/1324/1414 (or their local equivalent). It is the institution’s responsibility to ensure that students are clearly informed of the consequences of successful completion of a mathematics pathways model which results in meeting the mathematics college readiness standard only for specific courses.
   7. 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.
   8. 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.
   9. A student who on or after August 1, 1990, was honorably discharged, 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.
   10. A student who successfully completes a college preparatory course under Texas Education Code §28.014 is exempt for a period of twenty-four (24) months from the date of high school graduation with respect to the content area of the course. The student must enroll in the student’s first college-level course in the exempted content area in the student’s first year of enrollment in an institution of higher education. This exemption applies only at the institution of higher education that partners with the school district in which the student is enrolled to provide the course. Additionally, an institution of higher education may enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with a partnering institution of higher education to accept the exemption for the college preparatory course.
   11. An institution may exempt a non-degree-seeking or non-certificate-seeking student.
   12. ESOL Waiver–An institution may grant a temporary waiver from the assessment required under this title for students with demonstrated limited English proficiency in order to provide appropriate ESOL/ESL coursework and interventions. The waiver must be removed after the student attempts 15 credit hours of developmental ESOL coursework or prior to enrolling in entry-level freshman coursework, whichever comes first, at which time the student would be administered the TSI Assessment. Funding limits as defined in Texas Education Code, §51.3062(l)(1) and (2) for developmental education still apply.
   13. Any student who has been determined to be exempt in mathematics, reading, and/or writing under subsection (a) or (b) of this section shall not be required to enroll in developmental coursework and/or interventions in the corresponding area of exemption.

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.

American College Testing Program

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.

College Credit by Examination

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:

1. College Board Advanced Placement Program (AP)
2. International Baccalaureate (IB)
3. College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
4. DSST Program (formerly known as DANTES)

Credit by Examination Policy

1. Credit by Examination may not be attempted in any course in which the student has earned credit.
2. Students must complete one semester in residence at Temple College before any Credit by Examination is posted on the transcript.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Registration information, application forms, procedures, and fee schedules are available in the Testing Center.

College Board Advanced Placement Program (AP)

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 its 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.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

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

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>.

1. 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.
2. CLEP examinations are administered at Temple College and scored by the College Board.
3. Students who meet minimum score requirements will receive “credit” on their transcripts. Letter grades will not be recorded.

DSST Program (Formerly DANTES)

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.

1. 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.
2. 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.

Institutional Examinations

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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