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College Preparation & Testing Information
College Admissions Tests
DHS Code is: 441870
Decatur's County District Code is 249-905
SAT: According to the College Board, the SAT and SAT Subject Tests are a suite of tools designed to assess your academic readiness for college. These exams provide a path to opportunities, financial support and scholarships, in a way that's fair to all students. The SAT and SAT Subject Tests keep pace with what colleges are looking for today, measuring the skills required for success in the 21st century. For more information go to the College Board Website.
ACT: According to the Educational Testing Service (ETS), the ACT® test assesses high school students' general educational development and their ability to complete college-level work.
The multiple-choice tests cover four skill areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science
The Writing Test, which is optional, measures skill in planning and writing a short essay.
For more information visit the ACT Website.
See document at the bottom of the page for a comparison between the SAT and ACT.
PSAT: According to College Board, the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is a program cosponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). It's a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT®. It also gives you a chance to enter NMSC scholarship programs and gain access to college and career planning tools. For additional information go to the College Board website. The PSAT/NMSQT measures:
Critical reading skills
Math problem-solving skills
Writing skills
For a comparison of of SAT/ACT Test Prep Reviews, click here.
DHS offers a free online prep course: Method Test Prep. This course includes practice questions and practice tests for SAT and ACT which all DHS students may access.
Registration directions are as follows
Click on the “Signup” tab on the top of the screen
Each student will create their login.
Use your gaggle email account (all DHS students have a gaggle email) to register and you may choose your own password.
Click to sign up to take the TSIA2 at DHS. If you have any questions, please see Mrs. Thomas.
TSIA2 Resources
TSIA2 Website: https://tsia2.accuplacer.org/
TSIA2 Study App and Study Materials: https://accuplacer.collegeboard.org/students/prepare-for-accuplacer/tsia-texas-success-initiative-assessment
How to Use the Calculator and Highlighter on the TSIA2: https://youtu.be/i0UDMgHJvSc
How to Get Your TSIA2 scores: https://studentportal.accuplacer.org/#/studentisr
Commonly Asked Questions
Why do I need to take the TSIA2 Assessment?
All college students in Texas public colleges must take the TSIA2 Assessment to determine their readiness for college-level coursework. Based on how a student performs on the TSIA2, he/she may either be allowed to enroll in a college course or placed in a developmental course to help improve his/her skills and the likelihood of success.
In some cases, your SAT or ACT scores may qualify you to be exempt from all or part of the TSIA2 Assessment.
TSIA2 Exemptions:
ACT
TSI Mathematics - Composite 23 AND a 19 on ACT Math
TSI Reading and Writing - Composite 23 AND a score of 19 on ACT English
SAT
TSI Mathematics - 530 on SAT Mat.
TSI Reading and Writing - 480 on SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
See your college advisor or high school counselor for more information about TSIA2 exemptions.
How much does the TSIA2 cost?
Decatur ISD will pay for each student to take the TSIA2 for free one time. If you do not pass the test the first time, you will be required to pay to re-test. Each section will cost $12.
How long does the TSIA2 assessment take?
The TSIA2 is not a timed test. The average time to complete all sections is 3-5 hours.
What happens if I do not finish the test?
You have 14 calendar days to complete the test. If you do not complete the test within 14 days, you will have to begin again with Question 1 on the test section where you stopped.
What do I need to bring with me to test?
Government issued photo ID.
Can I bring a calculator to the test?
No. Calculators are not allowed. The mathematics test has an integrated calculator for questions that require a calculator.