ATI TEAS Science Practice Test & Study Guide

What is the ATI TEAS Science test?

The TEAS test for science is a subsection of the Assessment Technologies Institute's (ATI) test. The science portion is just one of four sections in the comprehensive TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) exam. Students applying to nursing programs typically need to pass the TEAS standardized test, which measures their academic skills in the following four areas:

• Reading
• Math
• Science
• English and language usage

The science portion covers the human body, life sciences, and scientific reasoning in 53 questions.

Candidates can get ready for the science portion of the exam by using this article to gather all the information needed about the test including what to expect on test day, how the test is set up, and what content the test covers. An opportunity to use a TEAS science practice test will be presented at the end.

Breakdown of the ATI TEAS Science Test

This section covers information about the TEAS test science questions. The breakdown of each section and how much it comprises of the exam are detailed here.

How Many Questions are on the TEAS Science Test?

The TEAS test for science contains 53 total questions in the following portions:

• Human anatomy and physiology: 32 questions (60% of the exam)
• Life and physical sciences: 8 questions (15%)
• Scientific reasoning: 7 questions or (13%)

Candidates get 63 minutes to take the entire 53-question exam, averaging to about 1 minute and 10 seconds to decide each answer. This breakdown represents the TEAS 6 exam. As of June 2022, a new version, TEAS 7, will instead cover just 44 questions, with fewer on anatomy and physiology and more scored questions in biology and chemistry.

What Material is Covered on the TEAS Science Test?

The TEAS Science test questions cover three subsections:

• Human anatomy and physiology - the human body and its anatomical systems
• Life and physical sciences - the natural sciences, mostly chemistry and biology
• Scientific reasoning - the fundamentals of science with respect to the scientific method

Candidates should familiarize themselves A more detailed description of each of these subsections is detailed below.

Human Anatomy and Physiology

The largest subsection of the entire TEAS science test is the human anatomy and physiology portion. It contains questions on cell parts and their functions, tissues and their functions, anatomical planes and terminology, and various organ systems.

Candidates brush up on basic human anatomy and also understand how the human body can be discussed as separated into three planes (frontal, sagittal, and transverse). Test-takers must also understand all the parts of a cell and how each part functions. Because groups of cells working together for a particular function make up tissue, the test also covers the four main types of human tissue (epithelium, muscle, connective tissue and nervous tissue) and how they function. Similarly, understanding that groups of tissues work together to form organs, candidates can also expect to find questions covering the following organ systems:

• Skeletal
• Neuromuscular
• Cardiovascular
• Respiratory
• Gastrointestinal
• Genitourinary
• Endocrine
• Reproductive
• Immune
• Integumentary

Life and Physical Sciences

Representing a much smaller subsection of the test, the TEAS science section also questions prospective nursing students about life and physical sciences, focusing on biological and chemical science. To be prepared, examinees should know the major macromolecules and understand the biological role they play:

• Carbohydrates
• Lipids
• Proteins
• Nucleic acids

The exam also contains questions about heredity, including how DNA, chromosomes, and genes function and what part they play in developing offspring. Test-takers should be familiar with Mendel's Laws of Heredity, which address inheritance as well as dominant and recessive traits, and law of segregation, the law of independent assortment, and the law of dominance.

Chemistry questions involve the periodic table and basic atomic structure like protons, neutrons and electrons. Aspiring nursing students will need to demonstrate knowledge of chemical reactions, the changing states of matter, and the physical properties of substances, such as density, melting points, and freezing points.

Scientific Reasoning

The scientific reasoning subsection makes up the smallest section on the TEAS test in science. Questions focus on experiment design and evaluation as well as scientific measurements and tools.

This subsection covers the six steps of the scientific method and how those relate to forming a hypothesis, collecting data, and performing analysis. Candidates should review terms related to experimentations, like null hypothesis, control group, reproducibility, etc, as well as those related to lab instruments like graduated cylinder, electronic balance, and more.

Data collection and analysis requires thermometers, scales, and other common lab tools as well as a command of the metric system (including a thorough understanding of multiples of ten). So, candidates should review the different tools used in experiments, how to make inferences from data, and what qualifies as good procedure, as well as how to think critically about experiments using logic and the evidence provided. Correlation vs causation, relationships between variables, and suitable experiment design.

How Do I Register for the ATI TEAS Test?

Registration for the TEAS test in science can be found on the ATI website. Before registering, nursing students should check the admission requirements of the schools to which they plan to apply to know what methods of testing those schools accept. The ATI site prompts registrants to choose an online or in-person testing option. Ultimately, the test can be taken in the following ways:

• Online proctored by ATI
• Online proctored by an institution
• In person proctored by an institution
• In person proctored by PSI

The cost for the exam varies by institution, anywhere from $65 to $140. Because candidates register online, credit cards can be used to pay for registration. Some institutions may offer other forms of payment. Examinees that require accommodations should submit their requests to ATI Test Security at least 30 days before the exam date or when registering for the exam.

What Do I Need to Bring with Me on Test Day?

On exam day for the TEAS test in science, examinees should only bring a government-issued photo ID, a single blank sheet of paper, and at least two #2 pencils. If candidates take the exam online, they also need their ATI log-in info.

Because calculators are provided, test-takers should leave their calculators and other electronics at home. Even food, drink, or personal items, such as backpacks or purses should remain at home.

What Score Do I Need to Pass?

Because the TEAS test for science measures a student's ability to handle the level of classes encountered in nursing school, each institution sets its own cut off for scores. Like other college entrance exams, there is no exact way to pass.

Online tests get scored immediately, and examinees normally wait no longer than 24 to 48 business hours for results from in-person exams. Tests at PSI take up to 72 business hours to report scores.

What If I Fail the Test?

If a candidate fails the TEAS test in science, they should check with their institution first before retaking the exam. Prospective nursing students need to know how many retakes they can attempt as well as how long they must wait before testing again. Many schools require candidates to wait at least 30 to 45 days before retaking the exam, and the ATI test transcript records how many times examinees attempt to take it.

How Do I Prepare for the ATI TEAS Science Test?

Preparing for the TEAS test for science requires plenty of time to carefully study the content covered. The following tips can help aspiring nursing students to not only round out their preparation but also gauge how much time they need to study. Candidates should:

• Take a TEAS science practice test for a baseline to see what content they struggle with most.
• Decide how much time they should devote to studying.
• Divide their study time to ensure they cover all the content.
• Allow more study time for the topics they're weaker on.
• Focus more time on material that the test questions most, such as anatomy and physiology.
• Use a TEAS science practice test periodically to see if their recall improves.
• Avoid cramming.

The exam doesn't simply test knowledge of the topics. Candidates must make connections between different sets of facts and apply those on the exam.

Is There an ATI TEAS Science Practice Test?

Several different TEAS Science practice tests can be found by checking online, at the library, in bookstores, and with the test provider. Examinees should practice with purpose, practicing frequently while studying for the exam to continually adjust their studying to focus on topics they still struggle with.

Using TEAS science practice tests allows test takers to answer questions under the pressure of time, going for about one question a minute.

Expert Contributor

Yvonne Cook, RN

Yvonne Cook, RN is a Registered Nurse with 6 years of experience as an active-duty U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman and further experience as a School Nurse and Hospice Inpatient RN. She currently assists CNA's obtain and renew their licenses. Yvonne passed the NCLEX on the first attempt and the TEAS test with an above-average score. She holds an Associate's Degree in Nursing from Owens Community College.