• Tarrant County College has on-site testing. No registration is required to take the  (Accuplacer) at the TCC Northeast campus. The cost is $29 and is nonrefundable. 

    There are other testing centers. You can either pick up a booklet in the school counseling center or go to . You must register in advance for the written THEA Test. There are practice tests available on the THEA web site.

    Some students may be exempt from taking the test. Please contact either the testing office or the advising office at the Texas college or university you currently attend or plan to attend.
     
    Program Overview
     

    Since 1989, the Texas Higher Education Assessment® (THEA®) has provided Texas students and institutions of higher education with a flexible, fair, and accurate testing and score-reporting system. Its purpose is to assess the reading, mathematics, and writing skills that entering freshman-level students should have if they are to perform effectively in an undergraduate certificate or degree programs in Texas public colleges or universities.

    The THEA Test was approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, under Senate Bill 286, Texas Education Code, Section 51.3062: Texas Success Initiative, for use by Texas institutions of higher education as an assessment instrument to evaluate incoming students. It provides the diagnostic data required by this legislation; its content is the same as that of the former TASP Test.
     
    The THEA Test is the only assessment developed specifically to evaluate the readiness of students for college-level coursework in Texas. It was developed by the Evaluation Systems group of Pearson through a rigorous review and approval process supported by skilled and experienced Texas educators. All THEA Test questions have been reviewed by committees of Texas educators to ensure content accuracy and to prevent potential bias.
     
    The THEA Test is offered in the following testing formats:
     
    • The THEA Quick Test is offered by many colleges, universities, and high schools on a schedule determined by the institution. Consult with your advisor to determine whether the THEA Quick Test is an option for you. For a list of available test sites and their contact information, select "Test Sites" under the "Registering for Quick Test" tab on the THEA Web site. An official score report for all sections will be mailed to you within one week after your answer document is received. Once you have taken the THEA Quick Test, you must wait 30 days before retaking it. See "Ovtaining Your Test Results" under the THEA Quick Test tab for more information.
    • The THEA Internet-Based Test (IBT) assesses the same reading, mathematics, and writing skills as the THEA Quick Test, but it is taken on computer instead of on paper. It is offered at several designated institutions. If you are a student at one of these institutions, you may be eligible to take the THEA IBT. Clarify your eligibility prior to registering for the IBT. See "" on the THEA Web site for more information.

    Test Description

    The THEA Test consists of three sections: Reading, Mathematics, and Writing. Refer to the table below for descriptions of these sections. Each section of the THEA Test is designed to measure a student's academic skill against an established standard of competence. A student's score on each section of the test is based on his or her performance in relation to the skills being tested. Scores are not related to how well other students have performed on the same section.

       

    Reading

    Consists of approximately 40 multiple-choice questions matched to about seven reading selections of 300 to 750 words each.
    The reading selections represent a variety of subject areas and are similar to reading materials (e.g., textbooks, manuals) that students are likely to encounter during their first year of college. Students will be asked to answer several multiple-choice questions about each reading selection.

     

    Mathematics

    Consists of approximately 50 multiple-choice questions covering four general areas: fundamental mathematics, algebra, geometry, and problem-solving.
    The test questions focus on a student's ability to perform mathematical operations and solve problems. Appropriate formulas will be provided to help students perform some of the calculations required by the test questions. Note that for the THEA Quick Test you may use a four-function (+, –, ×, ÷) nonprogrammable calculator (with square root [√ ] and percent [%] keys). If you take the THEA Internet-Based Test, an on-screen calculator will be available for your use during the Mathematics Section.

     

    Writing

    		 Contains two subsections: a writing sample subsection requiring students to demonstrate their ability to communicate effectively in writing on a given topic and a multiple-choice subsection including approximately 40 questions assessing students' ability to recognize various elements of effective writing.
    Students are asked to prepare a multiple-paragraph writing sample of about 300–600 words on an assigned topic. Students' writing samples are scored on the basis of how effectively they communicate a whole message to a specified audience for a stated purpose. Students will be assessed on their ability to express, organize, and support opinions and ideas, rather than on the position they express.

    Revised 7/24/2018