Your ATI TEAS prep might be your last step before you apply to nursing school. So congratulations! You’ve done well in your pre-reqs, made it this far, and now you are ready to ace your TEAS prep.
The TEAS covers four areas: Reading, Math, Science, and English. The exam has 170 total questions, and it takes a little more than 3 and half hours to complete. The average score is around 65 percent, but many nursing programs require a minimum score for admission.
Your TEAS exam score will likely determine where (and if!) you get into nursing school, so it’s important to do well. Typically, the most successful students spend about 100 hours studying for the exam. This includes doing practice tests, reviewing notes, making flashcards, and brushing up on your weak areas.
Let’s explore what you should consider for your ATI TEAS prep.
TEAS Study Prep Options
| Good for you if… | Not for you if… | Price | |
| Going it alone | ➞ You have all As in your pre-reqs ➞ You are an excellent test taker | ➞ You have trouble staying motivated for at least 100 hours of studying ➞ You’ve been out of school for a few years ➞ You are a nervous test taker ➞ You feel overwhelmed by the material | Free |
| TEAS study guide | ➞ You are self motivated and can manage your time ➞ You just need a quick refresher on the material ➞ You are a great student and excellent test taker | ➞ You’ve already tried them and you can stay motivated ➞ You need more details and explanation so the information sticks ➞ You’ve already taken the TEAS and didn’t score high enough | Under $50 |
| Group classes (online TEAS prep class / in person) | ➞ You learn best through interaction ➞ You need group accountability ➞ You have the money (these are expensive)You have perfect attendance | ➞ You have a full schedule ➞ You worry about missing even one class (easy to fall behind) ➞ You need an affordable option ➞ You need time for quiet study | $200+ Depends on region and program |
| TEAS practice question apps | ➞ You feel comfortable with the material and just need practice | ➞ You need lessons on important TEAS concepts so that you actually understand them ➞ You’ve already taken the TEAS and didn’t score high enough | $20-30/month Be sure to check auto-renewal policies |
| In-person tutoring | ➞ You have the money (these are expensive) ➞ You find someone experienced in all sections of the exam | ➞ You have a full schedule ➞ You need an affordable option | $50+/hour Can get expensive quickly |
| Online TEAS prep program (individualized / self-paced) | ➞ You need more structure than a manual ➞ You have a busy schedule and want to attend lessons on your schedule ➞ You want more support to boost your score | ➞ You don’t like learning online ➞ You want to work one-on-one with a tutor or teacher | $100-200+/month varies by program |
Online TEAS Test Prep
Prenursing Smarter’s test prep curriculum is built by an experienced college educator and CRLA certified tutor. I built the program to work for busy students like you. In fact, the average student increases their assessment scores by 15 points.
The program goes beyond typical ATI TEAS study manuals to give you the best TEAS study guides that are full of multimedia content so you can learn the material inside and out. You can work through our 1000+ of ATI TEAS practice questions and get instant feedback.
You can use downloadable TEAS study guides to work through practice questions when you are offline. The ATI TEAS test prep program will keep you on track every step of the way so you can stop feeling overwhelmed about passing the TEAS.
Here’s a preview of what my online TEAS prep class looks like when you are taking a math quiz:
What ISN’T the Best TEAS Study Guide?
The best TEAS test prep will work with your unique learning style and your time commitments. That said, there are some things to watch out for when you select your TEAS test study materials.
First, watch out for outdated TEAS test study material. Any TEAS study manual published in 2021 or later will not cover the current ATI TEAS exam. In particular, the math and science sections are completely different. The only exception to this is studying Reading passages and modes. If your library has a free copy of the McGraw Hill TEAS TEAS study manual (it has an orange cover), it’s a great resource for TEAS Reading passages.
Second, do your research on TEAS test books on Amazon. Some companies offer gifts in exchange for a 5-star review (hey, maybe that sounds good to you–but just know it happens). In addition, some ATI TEAS test study guides have the same content, just a different cover.
Speaking of online reviews… Did you know that my Quizlet star rating is completely unbiased? I have no control of it. No cherry picking. They are all unbiased reviews from students like you. In fact, Prenursing Smarter has a higher rating than other names in test prep like Mometrix and Kaplan. More than 1,000 students purchased my TEAS Prep Pack with an average 4.5 star rating.
If you are using online products, check to see if they have limitations on retaking practice questions. Some products only allow you to take TEAS practice tests twice.
Also, if you can, find out who is making the content and who will answer your questions. Some test questions are written by content writers, not educators.
And finally, watch out for expensive products with big promises. This is advice for anything online. If you have to call someone to find out the price or you only have a limited time to enroll, you might be working with a company that uses higher-pressure marketing techniques. It’s not necessarily bad, but it’s something to keep in mind, especially when Prenursing Smarter offers free TEAS study materials.
Who needs ATI TEAS Test Prep?
ATI TEAS test prep can be incredibly overwhelming. First, you have a lot of material to cover. And you are likely busy! Plus studying for a standardized test is about as fun as going to the dentist (no offense to dentists). And many students feel a lot of pressure with this test.
Take the guesswork out of your studying. One of the best advantages of ATI TEAS test prep is that you don’t have to do it all yourself.
You get many different ways to study, including visuals, audio, note cards, and online practice questions. The TEAS prep program helps you concentrate and focus on the most important material so that you aren’t just passively reviewing.
You need to increase your score by 5-10+ points.
It’s hard to get a significant score increase when you are studying by yourself or using typical study tools. Study manuals and practice questions are great, but they often don’t provide enough support for students who need a significant score increase.
We publish our student assessment data to stay transparent. The average Prenursing Smarter student increases their assessment scores by 15 points, which is an average increase of 25%!
Emily, a Prenursing Smarter student, says she wished she had found my TEAS Prep Program sooner. With Prenursing Smarter, she moved into the advanced level with her TEAS score. “Today I woke up to take my TEAS test exam for the 7th time this past year. I finally got into the 80’s and moved from proficient level to advanced! I cried my eyes out.
I couldn’t have made it in the 80’s without your help and your tips. I’m so happy to be eligible and I’m so grateful for your help and your program.”
Before joining Prenursing Smarter, she was completely burnt out. Now, her score qualifies her for her competitive nursing program.
You’ve been out of school for a while.
Do you remember the different rules for dividing fractions and subtracting fractions? What about the difference between complex sentences and compound sentences? If you’ve been out of school for a while, Prenursing Smarter can help you brush up and feel confident.
Here’s what Prenursing Smarter student Jenny said: “I haven’t taken Anatomy or Physio yet, and Math/Bio/Chem haven’t been used in like 10 years lol. But I just got home from my first test attempt and managed an 82.3%. I’ll be submitting my application to a Nursing program this fall 🙂 The structure and information provided in your course was honestly so helpful. Thank you so much!”
You are busy!
I work with lots of students who are worried about burnout while working a full-time job and trying to fit in the time to study–or students who are anxious about not having a structure like a class.
My TEAS prep program holds your hand each step of the way, giving you bite-sized lessons and a step-by-step system to keep you on track. Here’s what one Prenursing Smarter student had to say:
“Without your program, I know I wouldn’t have been so well prepared for the TEAS. I really enjoyed your audios and videos. I listened in the car everywhere I went; my two and three year old actually learned to speak some medical jargon just by being a passenger.”
TEAS Test Prep Tips
The test is about 4 hours long, so practice timing yourself. If you are taking the TEAS nursing entrance exam remotely, study in the same spot you will take the test.
Here’s how to prepare for you TEAS exam:
📚 Reading – 45 total questions with 55 minutes to answer them
➗ Math – 38 total questions with 57 minutes to answer them
🧪 Science – 50 questions with 60 minutes to answer them
📝 English – 37 total question with 37 minutes to answer them
You’ll take the TEAS 7 in this order, and you can’t skip around among the sections.
If you are stuck on a TEAS question, no matter which section, always try to rule out an answer option. Even if you don’t know the answer, you can increase your chances of guessing the right answer by ruling out one or two answer options.
Guess if you need to. It won’t make your score worse, and it could increase your score. If you are tight on time, guess. It’s better to make an educated guess, move on, and give yourself more time for the other questions.
When you take your TEAS exam, you’ll likely need to bring a government-issued ID, but always check the guidelines of your testing center.
Before you take your ATI TEAS nursing exam, do some stretches, breath deeply and tell yourself that you will do great. If you get test anxiety, it will likely be most pronounced right as you start the test, so plan ahead. If you can, do a quick set of jumping jacks right before you start to help your body release tension.
You likely won’t be allowed to bring water or food, an extra jacket, or your phone.
Best TEAS Test Prep FAQ
Yes, during the math section you’ll get a calculator that’s built into the testing program. You can’t bring your own.
You’ll spend just under 4 hours taking the TEAS, including a short break. Each section is timed. Here is the timing for the TEAS 7:
Reading = 55 minutes
Math = 57 minutes
Science = 60 minutes
English = 37 minutes
This really depends on your target program. Generally speaking, a TEAS score between 59% – 79% is considered “proficient.” A score in this range often qualifies a student for a nursing program, particularly for ADN/ASN programs. This varies by state and program, however! A score of 80% or above is considered “advanced.” Advanced scores are often required for competitive programs. A score above 92% is considered “exemplary.”
For many students, getting into the 80s is the most difficult hurdle. Other students want above a 92 percent so that they can feel confident about admission into some of the most competitive nursing programs in the country.
Please note that TEAS scores do not indicate quality nursing programs. Sometimes score cutoffs reflect state population and college funding.
The one that works for you! I recommend Prenursing Smarter for multimedia learning and students who need a competitive TEAS score. My specialty is helping students who have tried typical study manuals and not gotten results.
What’s on the TEAS exam?
Reading TEAS Prep
On the TEAS 7, you’ll have 45 total questions covering key ideas and details of passages, a passage’s overall structure, and integrating ideas across different sources. Here are topics we cover in my TEAS test prep course:
- Evaluating themes and arguments
- Context clues
- Denotative meaning
- Figurative language
- Text features
- Text structures and modes
- Author’s purpose
- Finding opinion and bias
- Types of sources
- Logical conclusions, inferences, and predictions
- Passage topic, main idea, and supporting details
- Summarizing a long passage
- Following directions and sequences
- Evaluating and integrating sources
- Interpreting printed communications and graphics
Read more in my TEAS Reading study guide.
Math TEAS Prep
You’ll have 38 total questions covering arithmetic, the order of operations (PEMDAS), algebra, word problems, geometric measurement, and working with data. Your best TEAS test prep will include lots of practice problems on these topics:
- Conversions and the metric system
- Working with decimals, percentages, and fractions
- Geometric measurements
- Data, Statistics, and Variables
- Charts, Graphs, & Tables
- Solving Word Problems: Keywords to Memorize
- Order of operations with numbers and fractions
- Recognizing and ordering rational numbers
- Algebra with one variable
Check out my TEAS math study guide.
Science TEAS Prep
On the TEAS 7 science section, you’ll have 50 total questions. My best TEAS test prep advice? Focus on human anatomy and physiology first. This is the single largest topic of any TEAS section. You’ll also have questions on chemistry, biology, and the scientific method, but I recommend tackling after you’ve started your anatomy and physiology review. Here are common topics for scored TEAS science questions:
- Experimental Design & Analysis
- Scientific Measurement
- Scientific Reasoning and Relationships
- Phase Changes with States of Matter
- Chemical Bonds and Reactions
- Acids and Bases
- Catalysts and Enzymes
- Periodic Table of Elements
- Macromolecules
- DNA & Chromosomes
- Genetics & Inheritance
- Cells, Tissues, and Organs in the Human Body
- Skeletal System
- Genitourinary System
- Endocrine System
- Neuromuscular System
- Integumentary System
- Reproductive System
- Gastrointestinal System
- Cardiovascular System
- Respiratory System
- Microbiology
- Infectious and Non-Infectious Diseases
Get more information with my TEAS Science study guide.
English TEAS Prep
You’ll have 37 total English questions. You’ll need to recognize parts of speech, sentence structures, and apply punctuation rules. Here are some of the topics we cover in my TEAS test prep course:
- Parts of Speech
- Punctuation Rules
- Medical Terminology & Word Parts
- Spelling & Similar Sounding Words
- Grammar & Clarity
- Word Meaning & Context Clues
- Formal & Informal Language
- Sentence Parts & Terms
- Irregular Plural Nouns
Find out more information in my TEAS English Language and Usage study guide.
Try My TEAS Test Online Prep Program
My quest for the best TEAS test online study guide started not too long ago, when I was in your shoes. I was working a day job, becoming a Nationally Registered EMT, volunteering in a Level 1 Trauma Center, and knew that I needed a great TEAS score to have my pick of nursing schools.
I’m a CRLA Level II Certified Tutor and former college instructor and tutor trainer and have used my teaching superpowers to help create one of the best TEAS test prep programs.
You can feel confident in your ATI TEAS practice because you’ll have many different ways to prep for the TEAS, including visuals, audio, note cards, and printable ATI TEAS study guide PDFs. Plus, the quizzes and practice exams are all automatically graded, so you don’t have to flip back and forth in a study manual trying to find the right explanation to your practice questions.
In video explanations, I walk through the problem with you step-by-step so that you aren’t just passively reviewing. You’ll learn problem solving and study strategies to help you on the TEAS.
For my TEAS test prep classes online, you can log in any time, 24/7. You can watch (and re-watch!) lessons, and there are no limits on practice test questions. The program will remember your progress so that you can stay on track.
“Two days ago, I took the ATI practice exam and my score improved from a 63% to a 74.7% after working through your program tips,” said Prenursing Smarter student Yesina. “I was most worried about my English language score. After reviewing the English portion of your program like crazy, my score went from a 54% to an 83%!! Thank you so much for creating this program. It has kept me on track with my studies and made all of the concepts so easy and understandable!!”
Check out the Prenursing Smarter TEAS Prep Program!
