Your FREE TSI Flashcards 2026 – 250+ Cards

The central point a passage conveys — what the whole text is mostly about.

A fact, example, statistic, or reason that explains or develops the main idea.

The deeper message or insight a literary work conveys about life or human nature.

The reason a text was written — to inform, persuade, entertain, or explain.

The author's attitude toward the subject, shown through word choice.

The feeling or atmosphere a text creates in the reader.

A logical conclusion drawn from text evidence plus prior knowledge — not stated outright.

Imaginative writing — fiction, poetry, and drama — read for theme, character, and language.

Nonfiction — essays, articles, and reports — that presents facts and arguments.

Combining ideas from two or more texts to draw a broader conclusion.

Determining a word's meaning from the surrounding sentences, not its common definition.

A hint in the surrounding text — a definition, example, or contrast — that reveals a word's meaning.

The emotional or implied meaning of a word, beyond its literal definition.

The literal, dictionary definition of a word.

Language that means more than the literal, such as metaphor, simile, and personification.

A comparison that says one thing IS another (e.g., 'time is money'), without 'like' or 'as'.

A comparison using 'like' or 'as' (e.g., 'brave as a lion').

Giving human traits to a non-human thing (e.g., 'the wind whispered').

Descriptive language that appeals to the senses to create a vivid picture.

How a text is organized — cause/effect, compare/contrast, sequence, or problem/solution.

A text structure showing how one event leads to another.

A text structure that shows how two things are alike and different.

A text structure that presents events or steps in order.

The sentence that states the main point of a paragraph.

A brief restatement of a text's main idea and key points in your own words.

The perspective from which a text is told — first person (I) or third person (he/she/they).

An author's claim plus the reasons and evidence that support it.

A debatable position an author argues for.

The facts, examples, or data an author uses to support a claim.

A point that opposes the author's claim, often addressed to strengthen the argument.

A fact can be proven; an opinion is a personal belief or judgment.

A one-sided slant that favors a particular view, sometimes hiding other perspectives.

Combining stated details with reasoning to decide what the text means overall.

Explicit information is stated directly; implicit information must be inferred.

A category of text, such as fiction, poetry, drama, essay, or article.

The voice that tells a story; may or may not be a character in it.

The main character in a literary work.

The character or force opposing the protagonist.

The time and place in which a story occurs.

The sequence of events that make up a story.

The central struggle a character faces, internal or external.

How an author reveals a character through actions, words, and description.

Restating a passage in your own words while keeping the meaning.

A firsthand account or original document from the time studied.

The base part of a word that carries its core meaning.

A word part added to the front of a root that changes its meaning (e.g., un-, re-).

A word part added to the end of a root, often changing its part of speech (e.g., -ly, -tion).

A comparison between two pairs of related words or ideas.

The art of using language effectively to persuade or inform an audience.

The main point of an informational text, supported by details throughout.

A brief reference to a well-known person, event, or work to add meaning.

Using an object or image to represent a larger idea (a dove for peace).

A contrast between what is expected and what actually happens or is meant.

Deliberate exaggeration for effect (e.g., 'I've told you a million times').

Hints early in a text about events that will happen later.

A scene that interrupts the present to show an earlier event.

The spoken words between characters in a text.

A grouped set of lines in a poem, like a paragraph in prose.

The pattern of end rhymes in a poem (e.g., ABAB).

The author's stance or attitude toward the subject of a text.

A method used to convince readers — appeal to emotion, logic, or authority.

A flaw in reasoning that weakens an argument.

A broad statement drawn from specific examples; valid only if well supported.

Arranging events in the order they happened in time.

A text structure that presents an issue and then ways to resolve it.

A title for a section that signals what it covers; useful for locating information.

Text explaining a photo, chart, or illustration in a passage.

Charts, graphs, maps, and diagrams that present information visually.

Evaluating an author's purpose, evidence, and reasoning rather than just absorbing facts.

A strategy of answering by addressing exactly what the question asks of the passage.

A title that captures the whole passage's main idea, not just one detail.

Using clues to anticipate what a passage will say or where an argument is headed.

The intended readers a text is written for, which shapes its tone and content.

A summary that states the text's ideas without adding your own opinion.

How words connect — synonyms, antonyms, or part-to-whole relationships.

The TSIA2 ELAR essay, scored 1–8, in which you take and develop a clear position on a prompt.

The sentence that states an essay's central position or claim.

A word or phrase (however, therefore, for example) that links ideas logically.

A singular subject takes a singular verb; a plural subject takes a plural verb.

Using the same grammatical form for items in a list, pair, or comparison.

A descriptive word or phrase placed next to the wrong word, creating an unintended meaning.

A modifier with no clear word in the sentence to describe, so it 'dangles.'

Joining two independent clauses with only a comma — an error.

Two or more independent clauses joined with no proper punctuation or conjunction.

An incomplete sentence missing a subject, a verb, or a complete thought.

A group of words with a subject and verb that can stand alone as a sentence.

A clause with a subject and verb that cannot stand alone (e.g., 'because it rained').

A pronoun must match the noun it replaces in number and gender.

Using the correct form: subjective (I, he), objective (me, him), or possessive (my, his).

Keeping verb tenses consistent unless the time frame actually changes.

The subject performs the action (e.g., 'the dog chased the ball').

The subject receives the action (e.g., 'the ball was chased by the dog').

A joining word — for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (FANBOYS).

A word like 'because,' 'although,' or 'while' that begins a dependent clause.

An adverb like 'however' or 'therefore' that links clauses, often after a semicolon.

Joins two closely related independent clauses, or separates items in a complex list.

Introduces a list, explanation, or quotation after a complete sentence.

Shows possession (the dog's bone) or forms contractions (it's = it is).

'Its' shows possession; 'it's' is the contraction of 'it is' or 'it has.'

Their = possessive; there = place; they're = they are.

'Your' shows possession; 'you're' is the contraction of 'you are.'

Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction joining two independent clauses.

Use a comma after an introductory word, phrase, or clause.

Essential information that needs no commas (the book that I borrowed).

Extra information set off by commas (my brother, who lives in Dallas).

Capitalize proper nouns, the first word of a sentence, and titles.

Using more words than needed; the TSIA2 rewards concise, clear writing.

Repeating the same idea unnecessarily (e.g., 'free gift').

Choosing precise, appropriate words for the meaning and tone.

A common expression whose meaning isn't literal (e.g., 'interested in,' not 'interested on').

Mixing sentence lengths and structures to make writing clear and engaging.

Whether each sentence actually supports the paragraph's point; cut what doesn't.

A logical flow: introduction, developed body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Backing each point with specific reasons, examples, and details.

The final paragraph that restates the position and ties the essay together.

The opening paragraph that presents the topic and states the thesis.

A paragraph that develops one main point with supporting evidence.

Correct spelling, capitalization, and punctuation.

Following standard rules for how words and grammar are used.

The attitude your word choice conveys; the essay should keep an appropriate, consistent tone.

A word or phrase that describes another word (an adjective or adverb).

Indefinite pronouns like 'each,' 'every,' and 'one' are singular and take singular verbs.

Joining short, choppy sentences clearly using the right conjunction or structure.

Choosing the shortest option that keeps the full meaning and is grammatically correct.

The clear stance you take on the prompt — the backbone of a high WritePlacer score.

A word naming a person, place, thing, or idea.

A word expressing an action or state of being.

A word that describes a noun (e.g., 'bright,' 'careful').

A word that describes a verb, adjective, or other adverb, often ending in -ly.

A word that replaces a noun (he, she, it, they).

A word showing relationship in time or space (in, on, before, between).

The noun a pronoun refers back to.

The noun or pronoun that performs the action or is described in a sentence.

The part of a sentence containing the verb and what's said about the subject.

The noun that receives the action of the verb.

Two independent clauses joined by a comma + conjunction or a semicolon.

An independent clause plus at least one dependent clause.

Use commas to separate three or more items in a list.

Enclose direct speech or a quoted phrase.

Watch homophones like 'affect/effect' and 'than/then.'

'Affect' is usually a verb (to influence); 'effect' is usually a noun (a result).

'Than' compares; 'then' refers to time or sequence.

'Who' is a subject; 'whom' is an object.

'Fewer' counts items; 'less' measures amount.

Two negatives in one clause, which is nonstandard (e.g., 'don't have no').

Comparing things that aren't logically comparable; keep comparisons parallel.

An unintended change between 'you,' 'one,' and 'they' — keep it consistent.

A specific fact or example that makes writing vivid and convincing.

An opening sentence that grabs the reader's attention.

Revising improves ideas and organization; editing fixes grammar and mechanics.

Logical, smooth connection of ideas so writing flows clearly.

An equation stating two ratios are equal; solve by cross-multiplying.

For a/b = c/d, multiply a×d and b×c and set them equal.

A comparison of two quantities, written a:b or a/b.

A rate per one unit (e.g., miles per hour); divide to find it.

A part per hundred; convert to a decimal by dividing by 100 (25% = 0.25).

Convert the percent to a decimal and multiply: 20% of 80 = 0.20 × 80 = 16.

(new − old) ÷ old × 100.

Add the percent of the original to the original (a 10% raise on 50 = 55).

Subtract the percent of the original from the original (20% off 80 = 64).

Rise over run: the change in y divided by the change in x; the m in y = mx + b.

m = (y₂ − y₁) / (x₂ − x₁) for two points on a line.

Where a line crosses the y-axis (x = 0); the b in y = mx + b.

y = mx + b, where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept.

An equation whose graph is a straight line; variables are to the first power.

Use inverse operations on both sides to isolate the variable.

An equation of the form ax² + bx + c = 0; its graph is a parabola.

Rewriting an expression as a product, e.g., x² − 5x + 6 = (x − 2)(x − 3).

x = (−b ± √(b² − 4ac)) / (2a), used to solve ax² + bx + c = 0.

A rule that assigns exactly one output to each input; written f(x).

Substitute the input value for x and simplify, e.g., f(3) for f(x) = 2x + 1 is 7.

A statement comparing values with <, >, ≤, or ≥.

Solve like an equation, but flip the sign when multiplying or dividing by a negative.

Two or more equations solved together by substitution or elimination.

Shows repeated multiplication: 2³ = 2 × 2 × 2 = 8.

When multiplying like bases, add exponents: xᵃ · xᵇ = xᵃ⁺ᵇ.

When dividing like bases, subtract exponents: xᵃ ÷ xᵇ = xᵃ⁻ᵇ.

A value that, multiplied by itself, gives the number; √25 = 5.

PEMDAS: Parentheses, Exponents, Multiply/Divide, Add/Subtract (left to right).

a(b + c) = ab + ac.

A number that can be written as a fraction of two integers.

A number that cannot be written as a fraction, like √2 or π.

Writing a number as a digit times a power of 10 (e.g., 3.2 × 10⁴).

A number's distance from zero, always non-negative; |−4| = 4.

The distance around a figure; add all side lengths.

Area = length × width.

Area = ½ × base × height.

Area = π × r² (r is the radius).

The distance around a circle: C = 2πr or πd.

Volume = length × width × height (rectangular prism).

Volume = π × r² × h.

In a right triangle, a² + b² = c², where c is the hypotenuse.

The longest side of a right triangle, opposite the right angle.

Same shape, proportional sides; corresponding angles are equal.

Identical in shape and size.

Two angles that add to 180°.

Two angles that add to 90°.

Opposite angles formed by two intersecting lines; they are equal.

The radius is half the diameter; the diameter passes through the center.

The average: add all values and divide by how many there are.

The middle value when data are ordered (average the two middle values if even count).

The value that appears most often in a data set.

The highest value minus the lowest value.

A measure of how spread out data are; tighter clustering means a smaller value.

Favorable outcomes ÷ total outcomes, a number from 0 (impossible) to 1 (certain).

Events where one outcome does not affect the other; multiply their probabilities.

As one variable increases, the other tends to increase.

As one variable increases, the other tends to decrease.

A graph of paired data points used to spot a relationship between two variables.

A trend line through a scatter plot; its slope shows the rate of change.

A data value far from the rest; it affects the mean more than the median.

A grid of x- and y-axes used to plot points (x, y).

A point's location as (x, y) on the coordinate plane.

Use the median when an outlier would skew the mean.

A whole number and its negatives, including zero (…, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, …).

The largest number that divides two values evenly.

The smallest number that two values both divide into evenly.

Divide the numerator by the denominator (3/4 = 0.75).

Multiply by 100 and add a percent sign (0.4 = 40%).

Find a common denominator, then add the numerators.

Multiply the numerators and the denominators (2/3 × 3/5 = 6/15).

Multiply by the reciprocal (flip the second fraction).

Add or subtract terms with the same variable part (3x + 2x = 5x).

A symbol (like x) standing for an unknown number.

The number multiplied by a variable (the 4 in 4x).

A fixed number in an expression that doesn't change.

Terms with the same variable raised to the same power.

Replacing a variable with a known value to evaluate or solve.

Adding or subtracting equations to cancel a variable when solving a system.

The set of all valid input (x) values.

The set of all output (y) values a function can produce.

The U-shaped graph of a quadratic function.

A word problem using distance = rate × time or a similar relationship.

Total distance divided by total time.

Markup adds a percent to a cost; discount subtracts a percent from a price.

Interest = principal × rate × time.

Rounding to quickly check whether an answer is reasonable.

A table showing how often each value occurs in a data set.

A graph using bars to compare quantities across categories.

A bar graph of data grouped into numeric intervals.

A display showing the median, quartiles, and range of a data set.

Texas Success Initiative Assessment 2.0 — the current college-readiness placement test for Texas.

Texas Success Initiative — the state program that determines readiness for college-level courses.

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board — the agency that oversees the TSI.

The organization that delivers the TSIA2 on the Accuplacer platform.

English Language Arts and Reading — one of the two TSIA2 subjects (reading + writing/essay).

The TSIA2 math subject covering quantitative, algebraic, geometric, and statistical reasoning.

The multiple-choice test taken first in each subject; meet its cut and you skip the Diagnostic.

An extra TSIA2 test taken only if you miss the CRC cut; it pinpoints your level (1–6).

College ready with a CRC of 945+ and an essay of 5+ (or diagnostic level 5–6 with essay 5+).

College ready with a CRC of 950+ (or diagnostic level 6).

The CRC scale runs roughly 910–990, with a target mean near 950.

A 1–6 scale that pinpoints skill level when you fall below the CRC cut.

The WritePlacer essay is scored from 1 to 8.

A placement meaning you can enroll directly in entry-level, credit-bearing courses.

Non-credit coursework that builds skills before college-level courses.

Taking a credit course alongside extra support, instead of a separate prep course.

The TSIA2 classifies you as college ready or in need of support — it isn't pass/fail.

The TSIA2 has no time limit, so you can work carefully at your own pace.

The questions adjust to your performance as you answer.

A way to satisfy the TSI without the TSIA2 — qualifying SAT, ACT, STAAR, prior college, or military.

A qualifying SAT score can exempt you from part or all of the TSIA2 (college sets the threshold).

A qualifying ACT score can exempt you from the TSIA2 per your college's policy.

Qualifying STAAR End-of-Course scores (English II / Algebra I) can exempt high-school students.

A required activity students complete before taking the TSIA2.

ELAR and Mathematics are placed separately — you can be ready in one, not the other.

You may retake the TSIA2; policies and any fees are set by your college.

Most students entering Texas public colleges, unless they qualify for an exemption.

Shows your CRC score, diagnostic level if taken, essay score, and placement.

The College Board testing platform that delivers the TSIA2.

Quantitative, algebraic, geometric/spatial, and probabilistic/statistical reasoning.