What Is The TEAS Exam?
The TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) is a standardized exam that was developed by the Assessment Technology Institute (ATI). The TEAS Exam can help determine your academic readiness for nursing school. Most nursing programs require a passing grade on the TEAS for admission, so this could be your first major step to starting a career in nursing.
What Subject Areas are Covered on the TEAS Exam?
The ATI TEAS 7, released in June 2022, is a computerized, proctored exam. It tests your knowledge in four core college subject areas: Reading, Mathematics, Science, and English and Language Usage. You will draw from and utilize these core areas of knowledge throughout any nursing program curriculum. All test items are multiple choice. Students have 209 minutes to finish the exam, which is subdivided into the following sections:
- Reading – 64 minutes to answer 39 questions covering:
- paragraph structure and craft
- identification and comprehension of key ideas and details
- inferences and conclusions
- Mathematics – 54 minutes to answer 34 questions covering:
- whole numbers, fractions, and decimals
- measurements & data
- metric conversions
- algebraic equations
- ratios, proportions, and percentages
Please note that personal calculators are not allowed. The exam administrators will provide you with a calculator to use.
- Science – 63 minutes to answer 44 questions covering:
- basic physical principles
- general science
- scientific reasoning
- biology and chemistry
- human anatomy and physiology
- English and Language Usage – 28 minutes to answer 33 questions covering:
- standard English conventions
- sentence structure and contextual words
- punctuation and grammar
- vocabulary and spelling
Students answer a total of 170 questions on the exam. However, only 150 will count towards your final grade. You will not know which test items are scored, so it’s important to treat each question as if it were.
How Difficult is the TEAS Exam?
The TEAS exam is about as difficult as the ACT or SAT. Like those tests, it covers a comprehensive range of subjects. Depending on their natural aptitudes, some students will find the Science and Mathematics sections to be the most challenging, while others will have more difficulty with the English and Reading sections. If you have been out of school and in the workforce for several years, it’s worth revisiting all subject areas for a refresher, especially in the sections you have struggled with in the past.
Remember, the TEAS has strict time limits. Once the time limit has been reached for each particular section, you will not be able to go back to change your answers for those items. The time limit is usually the factor that determines a successful completion of the TEAS exam rather than the number of questions, so keep this in mind as you practice. Knowing the amount of time allowed for each section, learn to pace yourself accordingly in order to finish them– and the entire examination– on time.
Like nursing school, the TEAS exam is intentionally designed to be challenging. It simulates the academic difficulty of nursing school, which enables programs to choose applicants who have demonstrated that they can thrive in a rigorous educational environment. Scoring well on the TEAS exam is a great positive indicator of success in a nursing school program.
How Much Does the TEAS Exam Cost?
The cost to take the TEAS exam is typically under $100, but will slightly vary depending on the specific testing location you select.
What is the Passing Score of the TEAS?
There is no predetermined passing or failing score for the TEAS exam itself. Each nursing program has established its own minimum score that changes annually, although most will require at least 70-80% for consideration. Consult the school’s application requirements for the minimum score required to pass and enroll. Please note that some programs will use a composite score while others will look at each section. Other schools admit the students who earned the best scores from each batch of applications.
How Many Times Can I Take the TEAS Exam?
You can view your exam results immediately after you have finished. If you receive a failing score according to the nursing program requirements, you may retake the TEAS exam anytime after a 30-day minimum waiting period. You cannot take the TEAS exam more than three times within a calendar year.
TEAS Exam Preparation Tips
Approximately 40% of students take the TEAS exam more than once, so dedicated and focused preparation for the exam is highly encouraged. ATI recommends at least six weeks of exam prep to allow yourself adequate time to cover all four of the core concepts and provides a corresponding study plan.
In general, familiarize yourself with time management and proper pacing to give yourself the best chance at a passing score on the TEAS. Take advantage of ATI TEAS practice materials; use these to estimate the time you need to read and answer each test item. You may access registration information and study guides on ATI’s website (www.atitesting.com). Here are some additional tips for each subject matter.
Reading Section Study Tips
- Read the questions before reading the passage to give you clues about what to focus on.
- Read all of the possible answer choices, even if you’re sure of the correct answer.
- Practice distinguishing between an opinion and a fact.
- Learn to identify different writing styles (narrative, persuasive, creative, etc.).
- Focus on specific wording in questions to give you hints.
- Read nursing care journals or health-related articles. Although the TEAS exam will not contain any specific medical questions, you’ll familiarize yourself with the general wording and get a feel for the exam.
Mathematics Section Study Tips
- Take the practice tests using a physical calculator (not one on a phone or computer). One will be given to you to use during this section in the TEAS exam.
- Familiarize yourself with the Order of Operations (“PEMDAS”).
- Review your skills with converting percentages, ratios, and proportions.
- Practice adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing fractions and decimals.
- Review common mathematical and arithmetic rules.
Science Section Study Tips
- Have a general understanding and knowledge of basic physics and chemistry, including the Periodic Table of Elements.
- Review human anatomy, physiology, and body systems.
- Focus on questions about experimentation, scientific explanation, and reasoning.
English and Language Usage Study Tips
- Focus on grammar rules, word spelling conventions, and general sentence structure.
- Know the rules of punctuation and how to use them.
- Identify the different parts of speech, including adverbs, pronouns, and possessives.
- Use any available context clues and process of elimination to help narrow down answers.
- Be able to define common prefixes and suffixes.
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