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What Is The TEAS Test
The TEAS test is an entrance exam designed to measure the basic academic skills and preparedness of pre-nursing and health science students before entering nursing and other health science programs.
The test is administered by Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI). The TEAS exam is a 209 minute, standardized, timed computer-based exam.
Consisting of 170 multiple-choice questions with four-option answers, in four separate timed sections in reading, English and language usage, math and science. The TEAS exam is administered in a standardized environment and is overseen by a proctor.
The ATI TEAS test is required in order to apply for a nursing or allied health professional program. The test has been proven to be a statistically significant predictor of early nursing program success.
Programs utilize the test and scores to recognize which students need extra attention and which ones are not a good fit for the program.
All schools and programs vary on test result requirements. It is important to recognize what your school/program is looking for prior to preparing and taking the test.
Tip: Although every program has a different requirement for minimum test scores, it’s still best to aim for the highest score you could get.
Many schools turn away applicants even if they have above-average scores because they prioritize the best candidates. Instances like this are especially true for competitive nursing schools.
What Is On The TEAS Test?
The TEAS test covers a range of topics in four subject test sections which include reading, mathematics, science, and English language usage. The TEAS test is 209 minutes long and includes 170 multiple choice questions.
If your wondering what is the TEAS test then chances are you’ll also want to know what is on the TEAS test and for that you need to understand what is in each section of the TEAS test.
Here is a breakdown of each TEAS test section and links to more detailed reviews for each subject:
Reading:
The reading section of the ATI TEAS test consists of topics like key ideas and details, craft and structure, integration of knowledge and ideas, and types of passages, text structure, genre and theme. For a deep dive and to explore more resources read the full TEAS test reading review guide.
Math:
The math section of the ATI TEAS test is one of the more challenging sections for a lot of students. Luckily we put together this in-depth TEAS test math review guide that covers every topic you will see on the test as well as free resources like recordings of our group tutoring sessions and a free math practice test.
Science:
The ATI TEAS science question by far has the most material that you will need to study and covers a very broad area of A&P, life sciences and chemistry. Our TEAS Test science review goes super in depth for every topic you will see on this section, this will be your best place to start in preparing for this section of the test.
English and Language Usage:
The English section of the TEAS test is the shortest section with the least amount of questions and time, but don’t let that fool you, all that means is that if you miss questions on this section it will bring your score down faster so you need to really be on top of your English and grammar, our detailed TEAS English review guide will help get you pointed in the right direction.
Download the guide below showing what is on the TEAS test.
What Should I Focus On for the TEAS?
Becoming familiar with the TEAS test subjects and sub topics should be your main focus as you study for the test. You should focus on understanding the time allowed for each test section and the question types by taking TEAS practice tests.
Taking TEAS practice tests will be the key to guiding what you focus your study time on.
The Smart Edition Nursing TEAS practice tests provide a score report that breaks your scores giving you an individual score for each subtopic within a section which helps you easily identify your weakest topics.
Once you know your weakest topics you can plan to focus your studying on those topics until you feel more comfortable. When you take the next practice test you will see your scores start to improve on those topics.
Another way to determine what your focus should be on the TEAS test is considering things like any prerequisite courses you have taken.
For example if you have take A&P courses you may not need to focus your studying as much on A&P.
If English is your second language then you might consider spending more time focusing on the reading and English sections of the TEAS 7.
How To Register For The TEAS Test
First, contact the school which you are applying to. Some schools may handle administering the test, and others will utilize a PSI testing center.
Since the test is provided by ATI, you will need to access the ATI website prior to the exam and Make a Student Account.
Click on the Secure Sign On link on the right of the page. Under the login field you should click on the create an account link to get started.
Once you have created an account, locate the Online Store on the ATI website and enter your login information.
In the Online Store, choose Register for the TEAS. You will have the option to choose either “Register through a school” or “Register through a PSI (testing center)”.
Register and pay the testing fee. A confirmation email will be sent.
TEAS Test Dates
The TEAS Test is offered throughout the year and can be taken both in person at a testing center or you can take the TEAS test online at home. Learn more in our complete guide to taking the TEAS test at home.
The exact time and dates available will depend on the testing centers which are usually located at the school you are applying to, so check with your school to see what days and times they offer.
There are a few things to consider when scheduling your test. You’ll want to give yourself plenty of time to schedule the test date.
If you need to take your exam by a certain date you don’t want to wait until the last minute to schedule because you might find that there are not any dates available within the next week.
It’s not uncommon to take the test more than one time so leave yourself enough time to schedule the test again before your application deadline.
Some students pass the exam but choose to test again to get a more competitive score to strengthen their application to a competitive school.
Other students may not get the required score on their first attempt and find they need to retake the test. Ideally you will not be scheduling your test right before the application deadline for these reasons.
ATI does allow for TEAS test accommodations for disabilities but you will have to make a special request and have it approved which can take up to 30 days so be sure to account for this if you are planning to request a special accommodations.
Your scheduled TEAS test date can be rescheduled up to 48 hours before the test date.
How Much Is The TEAS Test
The TEAS test is $120 but it can range depending on whether you take the test at home or in person and the program you are applying to so it’s best to check with your school first to see what options they offer.
Sometimes a school or institution set’s the price and may include additional fees like:
- Registration fee
- Scheduling fee
- Protoring free
- Score deployment fee (having scores sent to School/program of choice)
- Test center fee (if applicable). This may vary with the testing center and/or program.
The fee is non-refundable so make sure you need to take the test for your program and be familiar with any other requirements your school may have.
Can You Take The TEAS Test Online At Home
Yes, The TEAS test can be taken online at home proctored by ATI. It is an alternative to taking the TEAS test in person at an institution or PSI testing center.
Check out this post to learn more about what you need to know for taking the TEAS test from home. The TEAS test can be taken at one of three options:
- PSI Testing center
- University (which you are applying)
- At home via Proctorio
Once you begin registration for the ATI TEAS exam, a list of schools that administer the TEAS exam will be provided. You will be able to choose based on city and state you live in
Can I Reschedule My TEAS Test
Yes , the TEAS test can be rescheduled up to 48 hours prior to your scheduled start day and time. There is a $15 fee to reschedule the test and you can reschedule up to 30 days past your original exam date. No refunds are provided for anytime after the 48 hours before your test day and time.
How To Prep For TEAS Test Day
It’s been a journey preparing for the TEAS test and your test day is finally here. How do you prepare for the big day so you can do your best? There’s a few things to make sure you do both the day before and the day of the test.
The most important thing is to get some rest the day before, it’s tempting to try and cram in more study time the day before but this should be avoided. You want your brain to be as fresh as possible so that means no cramming the day or night before.
Getting a good night’s sleep means going to bed early, this is one of the best things you can do for yourself to assure you are well rested the next morning, you don’t want to feel tired or groggy the morning of your test day.
Data from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology shows that better sleep habits lead to better grades. The research shows it’s not just how much sleep you get and the quality of your sleep but also when you go to sleep. Staying up past 1-2am will negatively affect your test performance.
It helps to understand how sleep works so you can ensure you are fresh and ready for your test day.
According the Sleep Foundation the sleep stages allow the brain to recuperate from the day and support multiple functions including taking a standardized test like the TEAS 7 exam.
If you’re taking the test at a testing site at your school make sure to give yourself plenty of time to arrive early, plan to be there 20-30 minutes before your test time.
Before you leave your home check for traffic or any delays that might prevent you from arriving on time.
If you’re taking the test make sure your computer is ready and you are logged in 20-30 minutes before your test time. If you have any technical problems this will leave you engout=h time to resolve them.
What To Bring On Your TEAS Test Day?
What To Bring on Test Day:
- Government Approved Photo ID, such as driver’s license or passport
- ATI Log-in Information including ATI username and password for online test takers
- Two #2 pencils
- Your Confidence!
- You got this!
What Not To Bring on Test Day:
- Personal calculator
- Non-government issued and approved identification such as a student ID or library card
- Electronic Devices including smart watches, cellphones, and tablets
- Oversized personal items such as backpacks and purses
- Study materials including flash cards or personal notes.
- Food or Drinks
Best TEAS Test Prep
We may be a bit biased, but the Smart Edition Nursing TEAS Prep Course is the best TEAS test prep online course available. Our online course offers 53 lessons adapted from our best-selling ATI TEAS book, 100+ videos, flashcards, 8 practice tests, 1,300+ detailed video answer explanations, question banks organized by each topic on the test, an AI chat tutor assistant and a money-back guarantee.
Conclusion
Now that we have answered what is the teas test, the next thing to tackle is how to study for the TEAS test. Once you have an idea how to study for the test you can dive into each topic to learn what you will be test on, our math practice test and review guide will get you started on the mathematics section of the test.
