TSI Essay

Students entering UT Austin as freshmen or transfer students who do not have a qualifying score on one of the exams listed below, or who do not have transfer credit for RHE 306 may take the TSI Essay to attempt to earn credit for RHE 306 during their first two long semesters of enrollment. For information about the course RHE 306 (Rhetoric and Writing), please visit the RHE 306 FAQs page.

If a student has one of the scores listed below that qualifies them for credit for RHE 306 and has not yet sent the score to UT Austin, they should do so as soon as possible. Click here for information on how to send test scores to UT.

• ACT Writing: score of 9 or higher

• SAT Writing and Language: score of 33 or higher

• AP English Language and Composition: score of 3 or higher

The range of scores for the essay is one through eight. Students who earn a score of seven or eight will be able to claim credit for RHE 306. If you have sent your scores to UT (or think you have had your scores sent to UT) but are unable to locate them, please contact Student Testing Services for assistance.

Where and When to Take the Test

The TSI Essay must be taken on the UT Austin campus. It will be offered on various dates throughout the Summer 2024 semester and continue monthly during the 2024-2025 academic year. Visit the Test Registration System to view and register for upcoming test dates. Because this option is only available for students during their first two long semesters of enrollment, they should take the TSI Essay as soon as they are able, as the deadline will not be extended. 

• Students entering UT Austin as freshmen or transfer students for Summer 2024 or Fall 2024 have until the end of the Spring 2025 semester to complete the exam. This includes the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 long semesters.
• Students entering UT Austin as freshmen or transfer students for Spring 2025 have until the end of the Fall 2025 semester to complete the exam. This includes the Spring 2025 and Fall 2025 long semesters.

Students for Whom the Test is Recommended or Appropriate

Students who wish to attempt to earn credit for RHE 306 (Rhetoric and Writing) and do not have a qualifying score on another exam that awards credit for the course (listed below) may take the exam during their first two long semesters of enrollment. If you have one or more of the scores below, you should not take this exam, but rather send your qualifying score to UT as soon as possible:

• ACT Writing: score of 9 or higher

• SAT Writing and Language: score of 33 or higher

• AP English Language and Composition: score of 3 or higher

Once received, test scores that can be used for credit by exam can be found on the Course Petitioning Page. If you have sent your scores to UT (or think you have had your scores sent to UT) but are unable to locate them, please contact Student Testing Services for assistance. If you have taken a course equivalent to RHE 306 at another institution, such as ENGL 1301, you should have your transcript showing the course sent to UT Admissions to ensure you receive credit for the course if you have not already done so.

Registration Fee: 

The total of the fees for the test is $45. When you register for a test, you will immediately be billed for the non-refundable test registration fee of $25. After you take the test, you will be billed for the test fee of $20. Payments are due within 14 days of the billing date. All fees are subject to change.

Study Aids: 

There are no multiple-choice questions on this exam. It is a single essay, and the prompt will be provided. You can learn more about the format of the test and review sample essays and scoring here (PDF Download).

Test Results and Retakes: 

Results are typically available within 24 hours after completing the test.

You may take the TSI Essay to attempt to earn credit for RHE 306 twice.