The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) mandates that all students entering college level academic degree programs in Texas colleges or universities are required to take the Texas Higher Education Assessment (THEA) or COMPASS (TSI approved) test before college admission.  High school students may take the THEA or the COMPASS test if they have passed all sections of the 10th grade TAAS or TAKS test and have completed their sophomore year of high school.

The Quick THEA is offered before each registration period and scheduled on Saturdays.  The COMPASS test is scheduled at various times during the week.  The THEA and COMPASS tests require a registration fee of $29.00 each.  THEA and COMPASS test schedules are located in the high school counseling office, or phone 979-230-3040 to schedule a THEA or COMPASS test at the college.

TSI Exemptions *
Waivers will continue to be provided for students in certificate programs; temporary students from private colleges or out of state institutions who are not seeking a degree at BC; or students with appropriate scores on the ACT, SAT, TAKS or TAAS tests.

You do not have to take the THEA or COMPASS Test if you:

• Have an ACT composite score of 23, with a minimum of 19 on both the English and Math tests; or
• Have a SAT combined verbal and math score of 1070, with a minimum of 500 on both the verbal and math tests; or
• Score 1770 on the TAAS writing test; score 86 on the Texas Learning Index on the math test; and score 89 on the Texas Learning Index on the reading test.
• Score 2200 on the TAKS English Language Arts test; score a 3 on the writing sample; and score 2200 on the math test.
• Enroll in a certificate program of 42 semester hours or less at a public community college or technical college and only take courses that apply to the certificate.