What is the TEAS?
The Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) examination is a straightforward multiple-choice exam used by nursing schools to assess potential students. The exam includes reading, mathematics, science, and English and language usage at a high school level. The TEAS exam is also referred to as the TEAS V since it is in its fifth edition.
The TEAS exam is a countrywide entry-level examination taken by potential nursing students seeking entrance into nursing schools. A TEAS exam score is typically required as part of the admission submission for all kinds of nursing schools, including those for nurses already in the trade who wish to progress their authorizations. The percentage weight given to the TEAS score as a part of the overall submission differs from school to school, but is considered one of the most significant factors in shaping admission.
Many students find that using test preparations books help to improve their scores.
See our list of the best TEAS prep books here.
TEAS Format
| Reading | 48 Questions | 58 Minutes | Critical and Analytical Skills |
| Mathematics | 34 Questions | 51 Minutes | Arithmetic, Algebra and Data Interpretation |
| Science | 54 Questions | 66 Minutes | Chemistry, Physics, Earth Science and Biology |
| English and Language Usage | 34 Questions | 34 Minutes | Grammatical Skills, Knowledge of Punctuations and Spellings |
TEAS Scoring Structure
The TEAS exam is separated into four units covering reading, mathematics, science, and English and language usage. The exam has 170 total problems, of which 150 are scored and 20 are unscored. The scored and unscored problems are mixed together and are indistinguishable. Pupils are given a total of 209 minutes to complete the exam.
Different nursing programs will have differing minimum TEAS scores they necessitate and even different programs within the same school may have dissimilar constraints. Some schools will require a minimum score in each of the four tested units, while others will only require a minimum compound score from all four units combined.
This minimum required score may be specified in terms of an absolute percentage or a percentile of the test takers over a given period. Most schools list their minimum requirements for consideration on their websites. Depending on the status of the school and the level of the program, minimum marks may range from the 30s to the 70s. Additionally, different schools have different rules on how they assess the score of an applicant who has taken the TEAS more than once.
TEAS Availability
The TEAS exam is accessible by ATI Testing and managed either at a PSI exam center or on school campuses. The TEAS exam is presented at least once a week year-round in most large US cities, with individual schools usually offering it 5 to 10 times a year. The exact dates vary widely contingent on each school’s application deadlines and schedule.
Find your nearest testing location here.
Applicants may retake the exam, but each program has different guidelines concerning how many times a pupil many retake the exam in a given period and still remain qualified. ATI Testing charges a $115 fee each time an applicant registers to take the TEAS exam at a PSI testing center. Registering to take the exam at a school instead will have contrasting cost, and the TEAS score will automatically be directed to that school only. There is also a $27 fee for each extra program that the applicant designates to receive a score report.
The TEAS exam is offered in both electronic and paper formats. Calculators, study materials, food, and related items are not permitted inside the exam center. Scratch paper will be provided for the exam takers. A photo ID is required for testing, along with the unique ATI registration number given to each applicant after registration.