Texas Higher Education Assessment (THEA)

As an undergraduate attending a state supported university, the Texas Success Initiative requires you to take an assessment test prior to enrolling in college level courses. You may submit scores from the THEA (Texas Higher Education Assessment), COMPASS, ACCUPLACER or ASSET. You may be exempt from taking an assessment if you meet any of the following criteria. However, you must provide proof of exemption and will be considered assessment required until you provide documentation of exemption. Any one of the following is acceptable for exemption:

• ACT scores - Composite 23; English 19, Math 19 - no older than 5 years
• SAT scores - Composite 1070; Verbal 500, Math 500 - no older than 5 years
• TAAS scores - Writing 1770; Math 86; Reading 89 (good for 2003-2004 only)
• TAKS scores - standard to be determined (Spring 2004)
• Student has an associate degree or baccalaureate degree
• Out-of-State/private institution transfer who has satisfactorily completed college level work with a C or better in areas of reading, math, writing
• Meets readiness standard at another Texas public higher education institution- C or better in developmental course work
• Serving in active military
• Serving as a member of a reserve component of the armed forces for at least three year preceding enrollment
• Honorably discharged, retired, or released from active duty in military on or after August 1, 1990.

Transfer students from other Texas public institutions who have not passed all sections of an assessment or have not met the TSI readiness standard will be required to take appropriate developmental courses. Out-of-state or private college transfer students will be required to pass all parts of an assessment unless they are transferring approved courses in the three skill areas with a grade of "C" or better.Students with a documented learning disability may apply for assistance with the disability Resources and Services Office. The documentation may be no more than two years old.

COMPASS: COMPASS is a computer-based placement test in the areas of mathematics, reading, and writing. Although COMPASS is un-timed, it generally takes approximately 1-2 hours to complete all three sections. COMPASS satisfies the assessment portion of the Texas Success Initiative. COMPASS scores are available immediately upon completion of the test allowing students to register immediately. The COMPASS exam can only be repeated after a 30 day waiting period.

Requirements: COMPASS exams are scheduled by appointment. Call 903-886-5122 to schedule. Valid photo ID is required.

Fees: The fee for COMPASS is $50 for all three sections (reading, writing, and math) or $20 for each individual section.

Requirements: If you do not pass a section of an assessment, you must enroll in some form of developmental education until you have completed the coursework with the grade of " C " or better. After you have completed the developmental sequence, you will enroll in and complete a related college-level course the next semester of enrollment. The approved lists for the areas of reading, math and writing courses are as follows: Approved Reading courses are: History 121, 122, English 201, 202, 203, 204, Political Science 220, 221, Psychology 131, Sociology 111. Approved Writing courses are: English 101, English 102. Approved Math courses: Math 141, Math175, Math 179, Higher-level math courses

Examinees will not be allowed to take the THEA test without a government issued photo ID or a notarized letter describing the examinee's gender, height, weight, hair & eye color, ethnicity/race). Call 903-886-5122 for testing locations. Four function calculators ARE allowed (no graphing or advanced function calculators are allowed). Dictionaries, scratch paper, or other aids are NOT allowed. Examinees will be allowed five hours to complete the THEA test. THEA tests will be scored by National Evaluation Systems in Austin, Texas. Scores should be available in about ten to fourteen working days after the test date.

How to Register: If registering in person, submit registration form and payment to the Student Assessment & Evaluation Office, Room 315, Business Administration Building between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM , Monday through Friday.(In the summer: Office hours are from 7:30 until 5:30 ; the University is closed on Fridays).If registering by mail, send payment and bottom of registration form to: Texas A&M University-Commerce, Student Assessment & Evaluation, Commerce , Texas 75429-3011 (Please do NOT send cash through mail). If registering by phone, have credit card information ready, call 903-886-5122 between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM , Monday through Friday. (In the summer: Office hours are 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM ; the University is closed on Fridays). Click here for a printable Quick THEA Registration Form. (Registration Form is in PDF format. Click here to download Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Reader.

Registration Fees: Examinees are required to pre-register and pay the $35 testing fee no later than three working days prior to the scheduled test date. Registration fee paid later than 3 days prior to scheduled test day is $49. If students do not take the Quick THEA test on the scheduled date, they may apply the $35 test fee to a different local THEA test date in the current academic year by paying an additional $10 "change of test date" fee. Otherwise they will forfeit the registration fee. There is a 30-day waiting period between Quick THEA test dates. Methods of payment include: Money order, Visa, MC, Discover, or Cash (if paid in person), No Personal Checks are acceptable forms of payment.