The Testing, Research-Support, and Evaluation Center, located in lower Commons Hall, administers national, state and local academic testing programs, including the Credit by Examination program. The TREC also maintains information and registration materials for several tests not administered at the University.

Among national tests available at SWT are: the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), required for admission to most graduate schools; the American College Test (ACT), a college entrance examination consisting of subtests in English, Mathematics, Reading and Science reasoning; the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), a college entrance examination measuring verbal and mathematical skills; and the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) required for admission to medical school.

Tests for which the TREC maintains only registration materials include: the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT), required for most business schools; the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT); the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and The PRAXIS Series Professional Assessments for Beginning Teachers which includes the NTE and PPST registration information.

TREC is also a testing site for the Texas Academic Skills Program test (TASP) which students must take before enrolling in any college coursework (see Academic Policies, Pg. 49).

Students who do not achieve an SAT math score of at least 480 or an ACT math score of at least 21 should take a math placement exam administered by the Testing, Research-Support and Evaluation Center. The examination determines which students must first enroll in Math 1300 (Pre-College Algebra) and/or Math 1311 (Basic Mathematics) before they can enroll in the required Math 1315 (College Algebra), Math 1316 (Survey of Contemporary Mathematics) or Math 1319 (Math for Business and Economics I).

Credit by Examination is a program that recognizes many students, independent of the college environment, have attained college-level proficiency in academic subjects. Students who pass the same test as those who have successfully completed the course, can earn credit for certain courses without enrolling in them. The following options are available: 1) the College Boardís Advanced Placement Examination (AP), 2) College Level Examination Program (CLEP), 3) SAT II Subject Tests, and 4) departmental examinations where available. Credit established in this manner at the TREC will be recorded as ìcredit onlyî (CR) on the transcript and will not affect the grade point average. SWT is an institutional testing center and only those students who have attended SWT or are currently enrolled are eligible to participate in the Credit by Examination Program. More detailed materials on this and other TREC programs are available in lower Commons Hall.