TEAS Test

What Is the TEAS Test of Essential Academic Skills

The TEAS, or Test of Essential Academic Skills, is a standardized admission exam developed by ATI (Assessment Technologies Institute). Nursing and allied health programs use it to check whether applicants have the reading, math, science and English skills needed to succeed in their courses.

There is no single passing score. ATI reports your results, and each program decides what score it requires and how much weight it gives the TEAS alongside grades, prerequisites and interviews.

The TEAS as a Nursing Entrance Exam

The TEAS is one of the most common nursing entrance exams in the US. Registered nursing (ADN and BSN) and practical nursing programs use it, and so do many allied health programs such as dental hygiene, radiology technology and sonography. A TEAS practice test for LPN programs is the same as one for RN programs, because the exam does not change by program.

If you are earlier in your healthcare career, the CNA exam is often the first credential people earn. Later, nursing graduates take the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN for licensure. See all our healthcare exams for the full path.

What Is the Latest Version of TEAS Test

The latest version of the TEAS test is the ATI TEAS 7, which replaced the previous version in 2022. Compared with older versions, it updated the content outline and added new question types beyond standard multiple choice, such as multiple-select, ordered response and hot-spot items.

Make sure any study guide or practice test you use is written for the ATI TEAS 7, since older materials cover a different outline.

TEAS Exam Format

The TEAS exam has 170 questions in four sections, with 209 minutes of testing time in total. Of the 170 questions, 150 are scored and 20 are unscored pretest questions mixed in, so you will not know which ones count.

Reading

The Reading section covers key ideas and details, craft and structure, and integration of knowledge and ideas. You read short passages, charts and everyday documents such as labels and directions, then answer questions on main idea, inference, the author’s purpose and evaluating arguments. A reading TEAS practice test should include both passages and real-world texts.

Math

The Math section covers numbers and algebra, plus measurement and data. Expect fractions, decimals, percentages, ratios and proportions, simple equations, unit conversions, and reading graphs and tables. Most questions are word problems, so TEAS practice test math sessions should focus on setting up problems correctly.

Science

Science is the largest section, with 50 questions covering human anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry and scientific reasoning. Anatomy and physiology carries the most weight, so an anatomy and physiology TEAS practice test is one of the most useful things you can do. A TEAS practice test for science should also include basic chemistry and questions on experimental design.

English and Language Usage

English and Language Usage covers conventions of standard English (grammar, punctuation and spelling), knowledge of language, and vocabulary. With 37 questions in 37 minutes, it is the fastest-paced section. An English and language usage TEAS practice test helps you answer grammar questions quickly and confidently.

How Many Questions Are on Each Section of the TEAS Test

There are 45 questions in Reading, 38 in Math, 50 in Science and 37 in English and Language Usage. Each section includes some unscored pretest questions, which is why the total is 170 but only 150 count toward your score.

TEAS Scoring and Program Cutoffs

ATI reports a total score, a score for each section and an academic preparedness level. ATI does not set a pass mark: each nursing program sets its own cutoff, and some also set minimums for individual sections such as Science or Reading.

There is no official TEAS practice test score calculator, because ATI does not publish how raw answers convert to the reported score. The most reliable approach is to find your target program’s required score and aim to score comfortably above it on practice tests, section by section.

What Is a Good TEAS Score?

A good TEAS score is one that meets your nursing program’s cutoff, and ATI’s own preparedness levels put Proficient at 58.7% to 79.3% and Advanced at 80.0% or higher. These are ATI’s academic preparedness categories for TEAS Version 7:

So a 78% is Proficient and an 80% reaches Advanced. ATI notes that each school decides which cut score fits its program, so always check your program’s published minimum.

TEAS Registration and Fees for Nursing Programs

You register for the TEAS through ATI, either for a remote online session or for an in-person session at a school or test center. Some nursing programs require you to test with them on campus, so check your program’s instructions before booking.

How Much Is the TEAS Test?

The TEAS costs $120 plus sales tax when you register with ATI for a remote session or with PSI for a test center or online session, according to ATI. Schools that run their own TEAS sessions set their own price. ATI charges $15 to reschedule an ATI appointment at least 48 hours ahead and $29.99 for each additional transcript, and every retake is a new registration at the full price.

Retake rules are set by programs too. Many limit how many attempts they accept or how long you must wait between attempts, and some only accept scores from the last one or two years.

Easiest Way to Pass the TEAS Test: Study Plan

The easiest way to pass the TEAS test is to study by section, starting with your weakest, and to practise under timed conditions before test day. A six-week plan works well for most applicants:

Build your own version with the study planner and count down to your test date with the exam countdown. Turn anatomy terms and grammar rules into a deck to make flashcards online.

Take a TEAS Practice Test for Nursing School

Start every study cycle with a TEAS practice test for nursing school. Our free TEAS practice test draws questions at random from all four sections and gives you a section breakdown, so you can see straight away whether Science, Math, Reading or English needs the most time.

Study for TEAS Practice Test Version 7

When you study for TEAS version 7, use materials built on the current outline. Focus your science time on body systems such as cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous and endocrine, which appear often, and practise the newer question types so they do not slow you down on test day.

Test Day Checklist: Can I Take the TEAS Test on My Own

Yes, you can take the TEAS test on your own by registering directly with ATI, as long as your program accepts scores from that session. Before test day, run through this list:

• Confirm whether your program requires an on-campus, test center or remote session.
• Have a valid government-issued photo ID that matches your ATI account.
• For remote testing, check your computer, webcam, microphone and internet connection in advance.
• Prepare a quiet private room with a clear desk for an at-home session.
• Check what you may use during the test, such as the provided calculator and scratch paper rules.
• Log in or arrive early; late arrivals may lose their session.
• Know how your scores will be sent to your program.

TEAS Practice Test vs Real Test

A TEAS practice test is shorter, flexible and designed to teach, while the real test is long, timed and high-stakes. Use the comparison below to get the most out of both.

The best preparation uses practice tests with answers for learning and full timed sets to build stamina for the real exam.

TEAS Test FAQ

Is the TEAS Test Easy?

The TEAS is not easy for most applicants, mainly because it is long and covers a lot of ground: 170 questions in 209 minutes. Science, especially anatomy and physiology, is usually the hardest section. With a few weeks of focused review and timed practice, most well-prepared applicants reach the scores their programs ask for.

Can You Take the TEAS Test at Home?

Yes, ATI offers the TEAS online with remote proctoring, so you can take it at home if your program accepts remote scores. Some schools require you to test on campus or at a test center instead. Check your program’s rules before you register, and test your computer and room setup in advance.

Is There a Practice TEAS Test?

Yes. ATI sells official online practice assessments for the ATI TEAS, and free practice tests, including ours, cover all four sections with explanations. Use free practice for regular study and an official practice assessment as a final check close to your test date.

Are TEAS Practice Tests Harder?

Some TEAS practice tests are harder than the real exam and some are easier, depending on who wrote them. Official ATI practice assessments are the closest match. Treat any practice score as a guide, focus on the sections where you miss the most questions, and do not panic over one low result.

How to Practice for the TEAS Test?

Start with a practice test to find your weakest section, then study that section first. Mix short daily drills by section with one timed practice set each week, and read every explanation. In the final week, take an official practice assessment and review anatomy and physiology, math word problems and grammar rules.