Take the stress out of preparing for your TEAS exam with study guides and realistic practice tests.
The Test of Essential Academic Skills, commonly referred to as the TEAS, is administered by the Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI). The TEAS is commonly used as part of the basic admissions requirements for nursing or allied health school. Prior to registration you will want to find out if you need to register for the TEAS through your institution, via ATI, or at a PSI testing center.
The TEAS test is comprised of four primary sections: Reading, Mathematics, Science, and English. All 170 questions are given in a 209-minute timeframe. All questions are in multiple-choice format with four answer options. Take a look at the table below to learn more about each section.
| Section | Number of Questions | Testing Time | Content Covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 53 | 64 minutes | Key ideas and details/Craft and structure/Pretest questions/Integration of knowledge and ideas |
| Mathematics | 36 | 54 minutes | Measurement and data/Pretest questions/Numbers and algebra |
| Science | 53 | 63 minutes | Human anatomy & physiology/Life and physical sciences/Pretest questions/Scientific reasoning |
| English & Language Usage | 28 | 28 minutes | Conventions of standard English/Knowledge of language/Pretest questions/Vocabulary acquisition |
There are three subsections of the TEAS reading section:
There are a total of 47 scored questions and 6 unscored questions within the 64-minute time limit.
The TEAS Mathematics section consists of two subsections:
There are 32 scored and 4 unscored questions within the 54-minute time limit.
There are three subsections for the TEAS Science section:
There are a total of 47 scored questions and 6 unscored questions within the 63-minute time limit.
The TEAS English & Language Usage section of the test is comprised of three subsections:
There are a total of 34 scored questions and 4 unscored questions within the 28-minute time limit.
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Now that we know what to expect on the TEAS Test we can begin to prepare for it. First things first, you will need to get registered. You can register for the TEAS test in four ways:
The school(s) requiring your TEAS test should communicate with you which testing methods they accept. You should also receive deadline information and the number of attempts permitted.
Once you know your exam date, you can establish a preparation strategy. It could assist with developing your study strategy to start with a practice test. This will let you know which areas you might struggle with most. Targeting those problem areas should become a high priority in your strategy. Study guides, practice tests, and reviewing class notes will all be important in preparing for the test day. Make sure to build in time to visit your testing location (if you have selected in-person) to gain familiarity with it. Schedule in proper rest days, too. Two days prior to your registration date should be spent resting your brain for the big day. Maintain a regular sleep schedule and proper nutrition while preparing for the exam.
Your school will communicate with you which testing methods are available to you, along with deadline information and the number of attempts allowed. Once you have this, choose your proctor method. Some people find they test better in the familiar environment of their home, others prefer the dedicated testing location. When given the option, choose whichever one you think will best suit your test-taking style. It is very important to get registered as soon as you have the information from your school. You will select your test date, time, and location in accordance with your school's admissions requirements and what works best for your schedule.
Registration can be done for both in-person and online options through the ATI Website. If you are planning to register for the online proctored exam, make sure your technology meets the system requirements before committing. For example, the exam is proctored via webcam, so having a working webcam is one of the system requirements.
Studying for the TEAS Nursing Test is critical for success. One key tip is to review the material and find the areas where you struggle the most. For example, you might feel more comfortable with the topic of anatomy and physiology than with numbers and algebra. The areas you find to be more of a challenge should be the areas you focus the bulk of your studying in. A review of key fundamentals is necessary but should not consume the majority of your studying time. Schedule your exam far enough out to give yourself time to prepare.
The test administrator will provide further detailed information prior to the test that will also help in your preparation. These details might include using the testing platform, the technology requirements, exam details, and other relevant information.
Here are a few key tips for studying for the TEAS exam:
There are numerous study guides available online. Study guides are an easily accessible tool that you should be using to help you prepare for your test day. Study guides should be paired with practice tests in your studying toolkit to prepare for test day. Your course administrator may provide you with study guides ahead of the exam.
Study guides will help you become more comfortable with the content of the TEAS exam, but practice tests will help you become more comfortable with the time constraints. Practice tests should be part of your studying strategy to help improve your time management skills and gain familiarity with the format of the exam.
To make all of your great preparation work effective, we have a few strategies to keep in mind for test day:
Make sure you bring the following items with you to the test:
Easy-to-follow study guides, practice tests and resources.
Create AccountChristina Flores, BSN has 4 years of experience in nursing. She has worked as both an RN and as a Prenatal Care Coordinator. To earn her certification, Christina passed the NCLEX and TEAS exams. Christina obtained her BSN from Valparaiso University.
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The ATI TEAS is considered a challenging exam by many who have taken it. Robust preparation is necessary for a successful testing day.
Each school has specific passing requirements. Some require scores in the 60s to be considered for admission, others may require a score in the 80s. Check with your school for your specific passing requirement.
The ATI TEAS is available to be proctored online. Check with your institution to see if they permit online options. It may be proctored by ATI, or remotely by your institution.
The TEAS exam consists of 170 questions in a span of approximately 209 minutes. That equates to roughly two and half hours of testing.
Preparation for the TEAS test should include a studying strategy, study guides, and practice tests. Technical knowledge and time management skills will both be necessary.
The TEAS test has four primary areas: Reading, Mathematics, Science, and English & Language Usage. All 170 questions are set up in a multiple-choice format.
Nurse Educator
I received my BSN from Ramapo College of New Jersey, MSN with a focus in nursing education from Jacksonville University, DNP from Chamberlain University. I have experience in psychiatric, pulmonary, and neonatal intensive care nursing. My research includes interventions on reducing readmission rates for patients with suicidal ideation. I currently teach full time at my BSN alma mater
The first thing I would recommend would be to get involved in your school's student nursing organization. This will allow students to connect with other students going through the same program and share the same aspirations and challenges. I also believe finding a local nursing organization to join in the community will not only provide networking opportunities, but also allow for a community of support outside of the classroom and school environment.
As a student, I wish I did more things that scared me. I was always so afraid of making a mistake because I did not have enough knowledge or I may cause harm to a patient. I wish I realized that school was the time to try any opportunity that came my way. My mentors and teachers were so wonderful and willing to help me succeed, but I was always too scared to try new things.
Knowing that I have the ability to make a lasting impact on a person's wellbeing is extremely powerful. Patients are in their most vulnerable state when they enter our care and we have the duty to ensure they are treated with respect, dignity, and compassion. I always strive to be the nurse that I would want my family member to have. The patients and families make just as much of a lasting impact on me as I hope I do for them.
I believe if you can teach it, you understand it. The application piece of studying is so important. After students feel comfortable with the content, they should move on to application. This includes doing many practice questions to understand how questions may be worded. Also, being able to close their notes and speak about the information that they learned and explain it to another nursing student speaks volumes.
Assistant Professor
RN for 25 years, Assistant Professor for 13 years, BSN Undergraduate Director for University of St. Francis.
Network through the American Nurses Association, Sigma Theta Tau, Local Nursing Chapters.
Work in the hospital as a CNA or PCT after the first semester of nursing school.
Helping patients and their family members towards recovery and optimal level of health.
Read, study, practice NCLEX questions. Reach out to your Professors, tutors. Attend open lab & skills days.
Nurse Educator
I have been a nurse for four years. Prior to becoming a nurse educator, I was an electrophysiology RN in a very busy cardiac clinical. I was recognized by the Arthur P. Gold Foundation as a Champion in Humanistic Care in 2021 for my service providing vaccinations to underserved populations during the COvid-19 pandemic.
Study groups, but the study groups must be healthy, productive, supportive, and beneficial environments. Students cannot be afraid to walk away from a study group that does not work for them. Ask questions! Whether it is in class, in a community discussion board, or at clinical ask those questions. Chances are if you have the question so does someone else. Join SNA at you school. They have a lot of supportive actiivites for students. See if your school or local hospital has a peer mentoring program that can connect you with a nurse mentor in your area.
That is is ok to fail, becuase through failure is how we learn. The stigma around the word fail needs to be changed to a positive view. Fail = First Attempt In Learning.
I loving seeing my patients at their best often times after being at their worst. Being in the electrophysiology clinical was very rewarding to me, as I was able to make adjustments to a patient's implanted device, and it would improve their symptoms. Nursing opens both your heart and mind to many different people, and you learn something new from each one of them.
Read the question and then read it again. There are so many times I see a student select the wrong answer due to not reading the entire question. Break the question down. Look for the information that is just "fluff" and seperate it from the actual questtion. When you are taking an exam take it one question at a time. Read the question, figure out what it is asking, read the question again, read the first answer to see if that is what the question is looking for. Then read the question again, read the second answer, and repeat the process until you have gone through all possible answers. Using this method will help to answer questions that you may think you do not know.
Clinical Educator
23 years nursing experience; NICU, ECMO, L&D, OB/GYN Clinic, Clinical educator; Nursing education 13 years; INACSL/CAE Simulation Fellow; CHSE; CNE
Study groups that focus on learning the material to be able to teach it back to each other.
How pathophysiology is directly related to prioritization of nursing interventions.
Helping others meet their healthiest potential and the relationships that come from it.
Always ask Why? Critical thinking requires more than memorization.