The ATI TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) is the entrance test many nursing and allied health programs ask applicants to take. It checks the reading, math, science and English skills a health program expects on day one. Knowing exactly how the test is put together tells you where your study hours will count the most.
The four sections at a glance
The current version, the TEAS 7, has 170 questions and a total time limit of 209 minutes. Each section has its own clock:
| Section | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | 45 | 55 minutes |
| Mathematics | 38 | 57 minutes |
| Science | 50 | 60 minutes |
| English and Language Usage | 37 | 37 minutes |
Of the 170 questions, 150 are scored. The other 20 are unscored pretest questions, spread across the four sections in proportion to their size. They look exactly like the scored ones, so treat every question as if it counts.
The 12 sub-areas behind the score
ATI's content outline splits the 150 scored questions into 12 sub-areas. This is where the weight really sits:
| Section | Sub-area | Scored questions |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | Key Ideas and Details | 15 |
| Reading | Craft and Structure | 9 |
| Reading | Integration of Knowledge and Ideas | 15 |
| Math | Number and Algebra | 18 |
| Math | Measurement and Data | 16 |
| Science | Human Anatomy and Physiology | 18 |
| Science | Biology | 9 |
| Science | Chemistry | 8 |
| Science | Scientific Reasoning | 9 |
| English | Conventions of Standard English | 12 |
| English | Knowledge of Language | 11 |
| English | Vocabulary Acquisition | 10 |
Two things stand out. Science is the largest section, with 44 scored questions, and anatomy and physiology alone is 18 of them, as many as any sub-area on the test. Math is almost an even split between number skills (fractions, percentages, ratios, equations) and measurement and data (tables, graphs, statistics, geometry and unit conversions).
Question formats
Most questions are multiple choice with one correct answer. The outline also lists multiple-select (choose every answer that applies), fill-in-the-blank numeric answers, hot spot (click a point on an image) and ordered response (put steps in order). The skills tested are the same whatever the format; the newer formats simply leave less room for guessing.
How the score is used
There is no single passing score for the TEAS. Each nursing or allied health program decides what score it requires, and some look at section scores as well as the total. Before you set a study target, look up the minimum score for every program you plan to apply to, and aim above the highest one.
Planning your study time
- Start with the big blocks. Anatomy and physiology, number and algebra, and the two larger reading sub-areas together make up 66 of the 150 scored questions.
- Practice under the section clocks. English allows about one minute a question; Reading allows a little over one. Timed practice shows you whether speed or accuracy is the problem.
- Learn from every miss. Read the explanation, find the rule you missed, and come back to that sub-area a few days later.
- Finish with full mock exams. A full-length run builds the stamina a 209-minute test needs.
Common mistakes
- Spending most of your time on the subjects you already like instead of the largest sub-areas.
- Skipping the English section in your study plan because it is the shortest; it is still 33 scored questions.
- Studying anatomy as a list of names rather than how each body system works.
- Assuming one target score fits every program.
Practice TEAS questions by section and sub-area, with an explanation for every answer.
Source: the ATI TEAS Version 7 Content Outline (ATI). passvana is independent and is not affiliated with ATI.