The Basics of Admissions Tests and Placement Exams

Posted by Texas OnCourse on Jan 25, 2021 4:00:29 PM

Admissions tests have long been an essential part of the college application process. The admissions test process includes test prep, taking the actual test (sometimes multiple times), interpreting scores, and finally, submitting it to the institution of interest. In the era of COVID-19, testing cancelations and barriers to entry called for change. Since the onset of the pandemic in 2020, thousands of colleges and universities nationwide have become “test-optional,” affirming that they will not penalize students for the absence of a standardized test score. Some of those schools are in Texas. Some will remain test-optional even once the pandemic passes.

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Topics: Applying to College, College Planning, Educators, High School, Entrance Exams

Khan Academy SAT Prep for Students

Posted by Texas OnCourse on Jan 22, 2021 12:45:28 PM

When bluebonnets carpet Texas roadsides, it's time for many juniors to make plans to take the SAT. Given the impact an SAT score can have on admission decisions and scholarships, we want to ensure that students are as ready as possible when test day comes. That's where Khan Academy SAT prep comes in.

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Topics: Applying to College, Students and Families, High School, Entrance Exams

ACT Score Ranges

Posted by Texas OnCourse on Jan 22, 2021 12:08:29 PM

For many students and families, especially first-generation college students, interpreting ACT test results may seem like interpreting a foreign language. It is important to help students and families understand what their scores mean and how they can use the scores during the college application process.

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Topics: Applying to College, Educators, High School, Entrance Exams

SAT Score Ranges

Posted by Texas OnCourse on Jan 22, 2021 12:00:25 PM

College entrance exams such as the SAT represent a significant milestone in the college admission process. To make an informed postsecondary decision, students need to understand how they performed in comparison to their college or university's average admission scores.

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Topics: Applying to College, Educators, High School, Entrance Exams

COVID-19 Update: What to Expect from the TSIA2

Posted by Rose Frezza, Texas OnCourse on Oct 20, 2020 3:29:03 PM

Earlier this week, we hosted a webinar in partnership with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board on the TSIA2. We know this is a topic that y’all have a lot of questions about. Nearly 1,000 people registered for the webinar and 500 joined live! We’ll quickly summarize some key differences with the new assessment here. 

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Topics: Applying to College, College Planning, High School, Entrance Exams

Webinar: Understanding the TSIA2

Posted by Rose Frezza, Texas OnCourse on Oct 19, 2020 4:34:14 PM

The release of the Texas Success Initiative Assessment 2.0 will change college readiness benchmarks across the state. In our October 2020 webinar, we provided updates on the TSIA2 from experts at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. 

During this webinar, we were joined by Keylan Morgan, college readiness and success specialist at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. We also moderated a lively question and answer session with our guest speakers and heard best practices from Texas OnCourse educators. Below, we summarize key highlights from the webinar.

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Topics: Webinar, Applying to College, High School, Entrance Exams

Seven Steps to Requesting SAT Accomodations

Posted by Rose Frezza, Texas OnCourse on Oct 9, 2020 3:34:52 PM

Students with disabilities may face more obstacles than their peers during the college application process. The College Board offers test accommodations to help students with disabilities obtain the same opportunities for higher education as other students.

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Topics: Applying to College, College Planning, Educators, High School, Entrance Exams

Best Practices for Remote Teaching during COVID-19

Posted by Texas OnCourse on Apr 14, 2020 4:31:47 PM

Unless you’ve been a remote teacher at some point in the past, it’s likely that the last few weeks have been a serious adjustment period. Almost all educators across the nation have been faced with making their lesson plans and counseling services virtual in addition to keeping up with the rigors of everyday life during a pandemic. Some educators are faced with teaching their students AND their own children, all day long!

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Topics: Entrance Exams

Webinar: Assessments and Test Taking Strategies

Posted by Texas OnCourse on Mar 8, 2019 5:51:00 PM

In this webinar on assessments and test-taking strategies, we explore college entrance exams like the SAT, ACT and TSIA – from student preparation to administration. For even more info on exams like these, visit our Admissions Tests guide. We welcome Martha Morris and Aya Takemoto from the College Board and Sauda Callahan from the ACT, who bring us exam and resource updates.

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Topics: Webinar, College Planning, Educators, High School, Entrance Exams

When and Why to Take the TSI Assessment 2.0

Posted by Texas OnCourse on Oct 19, 2017 4:37:00 PM

[UPDATED JANUARY 2021] The TSI Assessment 2.0 (TSIA2) was created by the state of Texas to help determine whether students are ready for freshman-level college courses in mathematics and English language arts and reading (ELAR).

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Topics: Applying to College, Educators, High School, Entrance Exams