College Readiness Testing

• PSAT School Day (10^th & 11^th) and SAT School Day (11^th) FREE to McCallum HS students.
• Fee Waivers available for eligible students (SAT & ACT) – see Ms. Jill Spencer
• Test Optional: Many colleges no longer require SAT/ACT, but scores may help with college acceptances, scholarships & placement.
• TSI Exemptions: Certain SAT or ACT scores can meet the exemption. Students who do not meet the exemption via SAT or ACT are required to take the TSIA2 test prior to graduation.

Test Prep & Practice Resources

PSAT & SAT collegeboard.org

Understanding Your Scores: satsuite.collegeboard.org/understanding-scores

Resources: Preparing for the SAT via Bluebook, Schoolhouse.World, and IXL

ACT act.org 

Free ACT practice tests & prep: act.org/prep

Understanding Your ACT Scores: act.org/scores

Practice in IXL: Search IXL in AISD Student Portal>Learning>Test Prep>Scroll to ACT

TSIA-2 

Free Accuplacer Practice Resources: https://studentportal.accuplacer.org/ (use personal email to create account)

Practice in IXL: Search IXL in AISD Student Portal>Learning>Test Prep>Scroll down to TSIA2

Choose which area to practice in Math or Language Arts.

• CRC (College Readiness Classification): Helps with Part 1 of the TSIA2.

• DT (Diagnostic Test): Helps with Part 2 of the TSIA2.

Student Info Brochure: TSIA-2 Guide

College Testing Timeline

• 10th grade – Take PSAT (practice), explore Khan Academy SAT prep.
  • PSAT for sophomores and juniors October 2025. Students will be automatically registered by McCallum High School.
• 11th grade – Take PSAT in October (National Merit eligible), SAT/ACT in spring.
  • SAT School Day for juniors in March 2026. Students will be automatically registered by McCallum High School.
• 12th grade – Retake SAT/ACT early if needed; Take TSIA2 if needed for TSI Exemptions.
  • What is test optional, test flexible and test blind?
  • Colleges requiring SAT/ACT for Fall 2027 Admission Applications
  • Send your test scores via College Board or ACT by the college application deadlines! McCallum does not send your test scores!

McCallum HS is a testing location for most SAT tests.

PSAT/ NMSQT

The PSAT, Preliminary SAT, helps prepare students for the SAT and ACT. All sophomores and juniors are automatically registered for the test that takes place at McCallum in October. This exam does not count towards your college applications but it is the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship.

Scope

Duration: 2 hours 14 minutes
Sections: Math, Evidence-Based Reading, and Writing
Cost: Fee is covered by the school
Max Score: 1520

https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt

SAT

The SAT is used as an entrance exam used by many colleges and universities. This test can be used as one factor in the admission decision process. Juniors will be registered by McCallum HS to take the Free SAT School Day Exam in March of 2027. 

Scope

Duration: 2 Hours 14 Minutes
Sections: Math, Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
Cost: SAT School Day in March is free for Juniors, $68 via https://mysat.collegeboard.org/login
Max Score: 800 each section, 1600 total

To register for the SAT, visit www.collegeboard.org.

*Students who are eligible can receive a fee waiver. Check with Ms. Jill Spencer for requirements

ACT

Similar to the SAT, the ACT is used as an entrance exam by many colleges and universities. 

Read about the new ACT (Including the optional Science and Writing Sections) here.

Scope

Sections: Eng., Math, Reading, Writing (Optional), Science (Optional)

Duration:

• Core ACT (English, Math, Reading): 125 minutes
• Core ACT + Optional Science: 165 minutes
• Core ACT + Optional Science + Optional Writing: 205 minutes 

Cost: $68 Standard Test, $25 Writing Section, $4 for Science
Max Score: 36

To register for the ACT, visit www.act.org.

*Students who are eligible can receive a fee waiver. Check with Ms. Jill Spencer

Texas Success Initiative (TSIA2) Exam

The TSI Assessment is designed to help institutions of higher education determine if students are ready for entry level courses in English and Math. All students are encouraged to complete and meet the TSI Exemption scores before they graduate. The test is typically administered to 11th graders during their spring semesters if they do not meet the TSI score exemptions via SAT (see chart below). Seniors will have the opportunity to re-test throughout their senior year. For more information, please visit TEA's site

Need to TSI TEST?  Sign up in SchooLinks>Click the Engage Icon and sign up for the TSI test you wish to take.

Scope

Duration: About 3 hours but it's self-paced and not timed
Sections: English, Writing (Essay), and Math
Cost: Free on campus

Scores Needed to meet TSI requirements for exemption:

TSIA2 Score Retrieval

Students will immediately receive an email from Accuplacer following their test with a link to retrieve their scores. 

If you don't have access to that email but need your scores, please follow these steps: 

• Go to the Accuplacer Student Portal 
• Enter in your Information (Where it asks for student ID you'll need to enter your State ID. You will need to email jill.spencer@austinisd.org
• Once you enter your information, scroll to the bottom of the page and select Send my scores
• You'll receive an email to the account listed with your score report
• If you need to send it to an institution, from your score report, select Share my Score Report and select the school that needs your scores

Questions?

College & Career Center – McCallum HS- room 130
Jill Spencer – jill.spencer@austinisd.org

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