Counseling and Guidance

Testing Center

General Information

Testing Centers are located at Western Texas College. Testing is by appointment only.  For information about tests offered at Western Texas College or to schedule an Accuplacer, Compass, CLEP, or GED test, Contact the Counseling Center at 325-574-7620.

Instructor Information

The Western Texas College Counseling office will proctor instructional tests for WTC instructors when necessary. It is the instructor’s responsibility to notify the Testing Center in advance of the need for proctoring services. A “Request for Proctoring Services” form must be filled out completely and returned to the Counseling office before an appointment will be scheduled. The instructor should notify the student to contact the Testing Center for an appointment after arrangements have been made.

Correspondence Testing

The Western Texas College Counseling Center will proctor correspondence exams from other colleges or universities. A $15 fee per examination (not per course) is charged and a picture ID is required to test. Virtual College of Texas students will not be charged if the student is taking a Vernon College course and will be receiving credit on a WTC transcript.

Students should make arrangements with their college or university to have the test(s) sent or emailed directly to the Counseling Center. Students may contact the Counseling Center to determine if the exam has arrived and to schedule an appointment to take the exam. Exams are proctored by appointment during regular testing center hours. Mail exams to the Counseling office or email counseling@wtc.edu.

The Testing Center also offers the LVN COMPASS.

Texas Success Initiative

General Information

The 78th Texas State Legislature repealed TASP (Texas Academic Skills Program) as of September 1, 2003. The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) is the state-mandated replacement for TASP laws.

The program is intended to asses a student’s COLLEGE READINESS for first year college-level academic courses. It requires an assessment of the student’s basic academic skills in math, reading, and writing. Approved placement tests include these three sections as well as an essay in the writing section.

As part of the TSI, all students are required to take an approval placement test unless exempt by the criteria listed below. Western Texas College will note if a student is COLLEGE READINESS CLEAR (meaning student has passed all three academic areas of reading, writing, and math, or student is exempt from taking test) or NOT CLEAR (meaning student has not passed all three academic skill areas).

Western Texas College offers the Accuplacer and Compass Test and the regularly scheduled THEA test. Accuplacer and Compass are state approved computerized placement tests. They are offered in the WTC Counseling office by appointment only.

Western Texas College will accept scores of other state-approved placement tests, including Quick THEA, ASSET, ACCUPLACER and COMPASS. When a student has taken two or more different placement test, WTC will accept test results that best benefit the individual student.

Accuplacer, Compass and THEA Exams

The Accuplacer and Compass exams are approved college entrance placement test. They are designed to test your level of skills in reading, writing (includes an essay), and math. Accuplacer and Compass are completely computerized and results are immediate. The test is untimed, but usually takes 2-2 ½ hours to test all sections. Please allow at least 3 hours for test completion.

The fee is $30 for all 3 sections. Re-test fee is $10 per individual section. Pay by check, money order or cash (bring exact amount).

If you do not pass all sections, you may retest every 2 weeks.

A picture ID is mandatory to test. It can be in the form of a driver’s license, student ID, military ID, or passport.

If you take a state approved placement test and do not pass all 3 sections you can still attend WTC. Students who have not passed all 3 sections of a placement test are required to be enrolled in a developmental course for the area that they have not passed. A counselor will complete a Developmental Plan with the student outlining what developmental courses the student will be required to take.

Please contact the Western Texas College Student Services Office if you have any questions regarding the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) and your College Readiness status. 

To request a score report:
If you took the Accuplacer or Compass at WTC and you need a score report sent to your college/university, download the Request for Score Report form, print it, and mail along with $5 fee to the address on the form.