The TEAS Test: Your Guide to the Nursing School Entrance Exam

A plain-English walkthrough of what the ATI TEAS 7 covers, how it's scored, and how to prepare with confidence.

Reviewed by the Pop Nursing editorial team · Updated June 2026

What the TEAS Is and Why Schools Use It

The TEAS — the Test of Essential Academic Skills — is a standardized entrance exam that many U.S. nursing and allied-health programs use as part of their admissions process. The current edition is the ATI TEAS 7 (the seventh version), published by ATI (Assessment Technologies Institute). A large share of nursing programs use it, though not every school does, and some accept other entrance exams instead.

The basic idea is straightforward: programs want a sense of whether an applicant has the core academic foundation to handle a demanding nursing curriculum. The TEAS measures general academic readiness in reading, math, science, and English usage rather than testing nursing knowledge directly. It is one piece of an application that typically also includes prerequisite grades, a GPA, and sometimes interviews or essays. How heavily the TEAS counts varies by school and program.

One important note up front: a strong TEAS score can strengthen an application, but it does not guarantee admission. Admissions decisions depend on many factors and on how competitive a given applicant pool is in a given year.

The Four Sections and How the Test Is Structured

The ATI TEAS 7 contains 170 total questions across four content areas, with an overall testing time of about 209 minutes (roughly three and a half hours). Of those 170 questions, only about 150 count toward your score — the rest are unscored pretest items that ATI uses to evaluate future questions. You won't know which is which, so it's best to treat every question seriously.

According to ATI's published exam details, the sections break down approximately as follows:

• Reading — about 45 questions, 55 minutes. Covers key ideas and details, craft and structure, and integrating information across texts.
• Mathematics — about 38 questions, 57 minutes. Covers numbers and operations, algebraic thinking, measurement, and data interpretation.
• Science — about 50 questions, 60 minutes. Emphasizes anatomy and physiology, along with biology, chemistry, and scientific reasoning.
• English and Language Usage — about 37 questions, 37 minutes. Covers grammar conventions, language knowledge, and vocabulary.

The exam mixes standard multiple-choice questions with newer item types, such as ordered-response and hot-spot questions. The TEAS can be taken at a testing center or, in many cases, online with remote proctoring. Exact formats, fees, and on-site rules vary by school and testing location, so check the specifics where you plan to test.

How the TEAS Is Scored

TEAS scores are reported as percentages, both as an overall composite score and as separate scores for each of the four sections. ATI also groups results into academic-preparedness levels — commonly labeled something like Basic, Proficient, Advanced, and Exemplary — to give a general sense of where a score falls.

Here is the part that surprises many applicants: there is no single national passing score. Each nursing program sets its own expectations. Some programs treat a score in the proficient range (often cited around the low-to-mid 60s percent) as competitive, while more selective programs may look for scores in the 80s or higher. Because cutoffs and how scores are weighted differ so much, the only reliable number is the one published by your specific target programs. Always confirm the requirement directly with each school rather than relying on a general benchmark.

Scores are usually available fairly quickly — often within a couple of days, though timing can vary. When you register through ATI, you can typically choose where your results are sent.

Retakes and Planning Your Timeline

If your first attempt doesn't reach your goal, retaking the TEAS is common and usually allowed — but the rules vary by school and testing site. Some programs cap how many times you can test within a given period; others are more flexible. There is also typically a mandatory wait period between attempts, which may range from about two weeks to a month or more depending on where you test.

A few practical points to plan around:

• Each attempt generally requires paying the exam fee again.
• Your official ATI transcript may show how many times you've tested, so it's worth preparing well rather than treating early attempts as throwaways.
• Some programs consider your most recent score, others your highest — confirm which applies to you.

Because deadlines, score requirements, and retake policies differ, build your timeline backward from your application deadlines and leave room for a possible retake. Always verify the current rules with your program and testing site before scheduling.

How to Prepare

The good news: the TEAS covers general academic skills, so steady, structured preparation tends to help. ATI typically recommends allowing several weeks of study time, and many students find a runway of around six weeks or more comfortable, though the right amount depends on your starting point and schedule.

Some approaches that many test-takers find useful:

• Take a diagnostic practice test first. This shows which of the four sections needs the most attention so you can focus your time.
• Study the content, not just the questions. The Science section, especially anatomy and physiology, often rewards genuine review over guessing strategies.
• Practice with timing. Each section is timed, so working under realistic time limits builds pacing and reduces test-day surprises.
• Use reputable materials. ATI offers official study packages and practice assessments; many free and paid third-party resources exist as well. Choose what fits your budget and learning style.
• Refresh fundamentals. Reviewing basic math operations, reading comprehension strategies, and grammar conventions can lift scores across multiple sections.

Finally, take care of the basics around test day — rest, knowing your testing-site rules, and bringing required identification. Preparation can't guarantee any particular outcome, but a consistent study plan is one of the most reliable ways to walk in feeling ready.

This article is for general educational purposes only and is not admissions, career, financial, or medical advice. Program length, cost, accreditation, and licensing requirements vary by school and by state — always confirm details with the school and your state board of nursing.