7 Crucial Facts About The ACC Highland Testing Center You Must Know For 2026 Enrollment

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Planning your academic future at Austin Community College (ACC) requires navigating the essential assessment process, and the ACC Highland Testing Center is the primary hub for this critical step. As of today, December 24, 2025, the center operates with specific hours and updated policies that every prospective and current student must be aware of to ensure a smooth transition into their courses. This facility, a cornerstone of the revolutionary Highland Campus redevelopment, is where thousands of students annually take the required placement and assessment exams to determine their college readiness and course enrollment.

The information below is based on the most current 2025–2026 schedules and guidelines, highlighting key changes, such as the shift in proctoring services and the mandatory tests administered. Understanding these seven crucial facts will save you time, prevent enrollment delays, and ensure you are fully prepared before you even step foot inside the state-of-the-art facility in Central Austin.

The ACC Highland Testing Center Profile: Location, Hours, and Key Services

The ACC Highland Testing Center is more than just a room for exams; it is the central Assessment Center for the entire Austin Community College District, housed within one of the most innovative campus redevelopments in Texas. Its services are vital for college readiness, course placement, and various professional certifications.

ACC Highland Testing Center: A Quick Fact Sheet

  • Full Name: Business and Assessment Testing Center
  • Location: Highland Campus
  • Address: 6101 Highland Campus Drive, Austin, Texas 78752-4390
  • Campus Context: A key component of the former Highland Mall redevelopment project.
  • General Operating Hours (Subject to Change):
    • Monday – Tuesday: 8 am – 7 pm
    • Wednesday – Friday: 8 am – 5 pm
    • Saturday: 10 am – 4 pm
    • Sunday: Closed
  • Holiday Closure Note: All ACC campuses and centers will be closed for Winter Break from December 22, 2025, and will reopen on Friday, January 2, 2026.
  • Phone Number: 512-223-7000 (ACC Main)

The center’s mission is to provide comprehensive assessment and testing services to both ACC students and the surrounding community. It is also a participant in the National College Testing Association (NCTA), adhering to high standards for test administration.

Fact #1: The ACC Highland Testing Center is Your Primary Hub for the TSI Assessment

For nearly all incoming students, the most critical exam administered at the Highland Testing Center is the TSI Assessment (Texas Success Initiative). This is a state-mandated exam that determines your readiness for college-level coursework in reading, writing, and mathematics. The results are used for placement exams to ensure you are enrolled in the correct level of classes.

You must complete the mandatory TSI Pre-Assessment Activity (PAA) before you can take the actual TSI exam at the center. The center provides the necessary environment for this comprehensive test, which is crucial for full admission and enrollment in most degree-seeking programs at Austin Community College.

Fact #2: Crucial Assessments Go Beyond the TSI

While the TSI is the most well-known, the Highland Testing Center administers several other essential required college and course readiness assessments that students may need, depending on their program of study.

These specialized exams include:

  • Biology Assessment: Necessary for placement into certain science courses.
  • ESOL Assessment: Used to place students into the appropriate English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses.
  • Advanced Math Placement: For students who wish to test out of or place into higher-level mathematics courses.

Checking the specific Assessment Center Testing Schedules is mandatory to confirm the required exam for your program and to find available testing times.

Fact #3: Academic Course Proctoring Has Shifted to Remote Services

This is a vital, recent update: ACC Testing Centers no longer offer test proctoring for academic exams in ACC courses. This means if you are a current student needing a proctored exam for your ACC course, you must now use the Distance Education system for remote proctored testing.

This policy change emphasizes the college's reliance on online and remote solutions for course-specific testing. Students should consult their course syllabus and the Distance Education office for the proper procedure and technology requirements, such as a functioning webcam and microphone.

Fact #4: Appointments are Mandatory for External Proctored Exams

Even with the shift in academic proctoring, the Highland Testing Center still functions as a Business and Assessment Testing Center, offering proctored exams for external entities and businesses. These services are provided strictly by appointment.

If you are taking an exam for a non-ACC course, a professional certification, or an outside university, you must schedule your test today and confirm the specific details with the center. Note that proctored exams for external services are typically offered Monday through Thursday only.

Fact #5: You Need Valid ID and Course Details to Test

To be admitted to any test, you must present an acceptable form of identification. The center is very strict about security and verification. Acceptable forms of ID typically include:

  • A valid ACC student ID
  • A government-issued Driver's License
  • A Passport

All forms of ID must contain a photograph and be verifiable. Furthermore, you will need to know the specific Course Details Needed to Test, including the course name, number, and instructor, even for placement exams. Personal belongings, including electronic devices, are not allowed in the testing area and must be stored in provided lockers.

Fact #6: The Highland Campus is a Revolutionary Redevelopment of the Highland Mall

To appreciate the topical authority of the center, it helps to understand its unique location. The ACC Highland Campus is not a traditional college site; it is the result of a revolutionary adaptive reuse and urban infill project.

Starting in 2010, Austin Community College transformed the aging, shuttered Highland Mall—a cavernous, 700,000-square-foot commercial center—into a state-of-the-art educational and regional hub. This massive undertaking involved a unique public-private partnership with RedLeaf Properties and is intended to serve as an anchor for the larger redevelopment of the entire Highland area in Central Austin. The modern facility where you take your exams is a testament to urban renewal and community investment.

Fact #7: The Center's Location is Ideal for Central Austin Students

The strategic location of the Highland Campus makes its Testing Center highly accessible for students in Central Austin and surrounding areas. The campus is well-served by public transportation and is designed to be an energetic, walkable, mixed-use corridor, complete with surrounding apartment buildings and commercial spaces built on former parking lots.

This accessibility, combined with the comprehensive testing services offered—from the mandatory TSI Assessment to Advanced math placement—solidifies the ACC Highland Testing Center as the single most important physical location for new and continuing students seeking to move forward with their academic careers at Austin Community College.

7 Crucial Facts About the ACC Highland Testing Center You Must Know for 2026 Enrollment
acc highland testing center
acc highland testing center

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