TEAS Math Test Guide

What is the TEAS Math Test?

When a student is interested in a nursing or allied health education program, most schools will require the applicant to take one or more standardized exams. Depending on a student's desired institution, one of these exams may be the Assessments Technologies Institute's (ATI) Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS). This exam is composed of four main content areas: Reading, Science, English and Language Usage, and Mathematics. The following guide will focus on the TEAS Math Test and will give test-takers information on the format of the exam, the content that will be tested, and how to begin preparing for the exam.

How to Register for the TEAS Math Test

There are multiple ways the ATI TEAS Math Test can be administered; either in-person, with a proctor watching the candidate virtually or online, with the proctor present during the exam. Therefore, test-takers should communicate with their desired school to determine which option it accepts and which, best meet each test-taker's needs. For online options, the proctor may be from ATI or a specific institution, while in-person exams can be taken at an institution or a testing center.

Regardless of which testing method a test-taker chooses, they can register online via the ATI website. Tests are available year-round. When registering, examinees must be careful to choose the correct testing mode and proctor type, if registering for an online exam. After doing so, they will be shown a list of open test locations (for in-person exams), dates, and times. If a test-taker chooses an online test, they should be sure that their computer meets all the requirements needed to take the exam. A list of these requirements can be found on the ATI TEAS website.

What is the Format of the TEAS Math Test?

Examinees will be evaluated on two main content areas for the TEAS Math Test: Numbers and Algebra, and Measurements and Data. These content sections will not be labeled and the questions may move back and forth between the different subjects. All questions will be multiple-choice with four answer options. A four-function calculator will be provided to each test-taker regardless of their chosen test format. If taking a paper exam, a physical calculator will be provided. But, if taking the exam online, a drop-down calculator will be provided on the testing screen.

How Many Questions Are on the TEAS Math Test?

The TEAS Math Test consists of 36 questions. Test-takers should note that the two content areas are not represented equally. The Numbers and Algebra section will have 23 questions and the Measurements and Data section will have nine questions. There will also be four additional questions that are being tested for future exams, but these questions will not count toward a test-taker's overall score.

How Long is the TEAS Math Test?

Test-takers will be allotted 54 minutes to complete the TEAS Math Test. This means that examinees will have one and a half minutes to answer each question. Given that this is not a lot of time, it is important that test-takers remain focused. If they are confused or having difficulty with a particular question, they should skip it and come back to it only if there is time after answering all other test questions.

What is the Cost of the TEAS Math Test?

Test-takers are required to take the entire TEAS exam at one time, which includes all the four sections. The cost of taking the exam will depend on how the exam is administered. The exam fee is $115.00 if taken at a testing center or with an ATI remote proctor. The cost may vary if a test-taker chooses to take their test at an institution, regardless if the exam is administered on-site or online. Some institutions may have registration fees that are more or less expensive than the ATI administered tests' registration fees, so take this into account when deciding on how to take the TEAS exam.

What Subjects are on the TEAS Math Exam?

Now that test-takers are familiar with TEAS exam logistics, this section will take an in-depth examination of math testing content. TEAS Math questions will cover two main topic areas: Numbers and Algebra, and Measurements and Data.

Numbers and Algebra

This section of the TEAS Math Test contains the most questions, so test-takers should focus much of their study time on the topics that follow. Exam questions may involve solving word problems with whole numbers, fractions, or rates and ratios. The test will ask examinees to answer questions involving the manipulation of fractions (e.g., adding or multiplying them). Test-takers will need to convert between fractions, decimals, and percentages, and should be able to accurately estimate and round the answers to the problems. They will also need to solve algebraic equations that contain single variables. Examinees will need to accurately multiply and divide decimal numbers, as well as convert between decimals and irrational numbers. They will need to turn sentences into appropriate mathematical forms, such as inequalities. Finally, test-takers will need to show their expertise in several other topics, such as order of operations and finding the slope of a line.

Measurement and Data

While this section may be significantly smaller than the Numbers and Algebra section, studying its content is still integral to the test-taker's TEAS Math preparation. In fact, ATI has stated that this section is typically where more test-takers struggle compared to the Numbers and Algebra section. As far as the content is concerned, this section will assess a test-taker's knowledge of basic geometric principles, such as finding the perimeter and area of different shapes. Examinees should understand basic units of measurement for both U.S. and metric systems, including length, volume, weight, and time units. Test-takers may be asked to convert between different units. They will also have to look at data via graphs, tables, and charts, and conclude the main ideas and results from them. Some of these latter questions may probe an examinee's knowledge of statistics. Finally, test-takers may have to identify both independent and dependent variables when looking at data.

How to Prepare for the TEAS Math Test

Here are some tips that will help test-takers excel on their TEAS Math Test:

• 1. Start your study preparation early: ATI recommends spending at least six weeks preparing for the TEAS exam. It would be prudent for examinees to take a quick look at the topics covered on the exam and see how familiar they are with each of them. In doing this, test-takers will be able to make or use a TEAS Test Math study guide that focuses on their problem areas. This study guide should include all the content that will be on the exam and should be a resource test-takers can read and refer to frequently.
• 2. Practice often: Every study plan should incorporate sample questions and practice tests. The more questions test-takers complete and study, the better they will perform on similar questions on the actual exam.
• 3. Be familiar with the testing rules and regulations: Regardless of the testing method (i.e. online or in-person), each test-taker should be familiar with the policies surrounding the TEAS Math Test and should know what to bring on test day. These items include a form of valid photo ID (or ATI assessment ID for online exams), ATI log-in information, #2 pencils (if taking the exam in-person), and any items that examinees may be required to bring according to their testing center or institution.

What to Study for the TEAS Math Test

Test-takers should study all potential concepts that may be on the TEAS Math Test since there is no way of knowing which topics will be used on the actual exam. Test-takers should use online resources to thoroughly review each content point in both exam topic areas. They can then create or modify a study guide to meet their needs, focusing on areas they may find more difficult.

When making a study plan, examinees should consider the fact that the TEAS Math Test is only one section of the TEAS exam. Science, Reading, and English and Language Usage tests will also be on the exam. Comprehensive study guides would be beneficial for all four exams.

If a test-taker is retaking their exam, they should look at the score report from their initial test. It will contain a "focused review" section that indicates content areas where they did not score well on their first exam attempt. Putting an emphasis on studying those areas during subsequent exam attempts would be especially helpful.

ATI TEAS Math Practice Test

Yes. There are many opportunities for test-takers to take a TEAS Math practice test. Several free Math practice TEAS tests are available online from various websites. These tests will contain basic questions, answers, and brief explanations of why certain answers are correct. An ATI TEAS Math practice test with answers is available on the ATI website for purchase, along with several comprehensive study guides. These guides will explain all of the content knowledge that will be on the exam, and the practice test will be identical in format to the true exam. It would be worthwhile for examinees to take multiple practice exams before taking the actual test. By doing this, test-takers will become familiar with exam question wording, the content that will be tested, and the length of the exam.

What is a Passing TEAS Math Score?

The score needed to pass the TEAS Math Test will depend on the test taker's desired school. Scores are determined by first calculating the number of questions answered correctly in each content area. These scores are then weighed to create an overall Math score, which is then adjusted based on exam difficulty. The method with which a test-taker receives their exam will determine when they receive their score. This varies and can be given immediately, or up to 72 hours after the exam. If an examinee does not receive the score they need to pass on their first attempt, they should check with their hopeful school to see how many retakes the school allows and how long they must wait between exam attempts. Many schools will require a 30-day waiting period between test tries.