urses bring a wide range of professional skills, education levels and life experience to the table. Some people are intimately familiar with

the healthcare world through previous jobs or volunteer work, while others are experiencing it for the rst time. You can study nursing as a traditional undergraduate or leave a reputable career to go back to school. That�’s one of the great things about nursing �– it�’s always the right time to get started!

But how can you tell if someone is truly ready for the demands of a nursing curriculum? Colleges and universities across the country need an objective way to evaluate an applicant�’s readiness for nursing school.

Enter the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS). The TEAS is an entrance exam for nursing school designed to measure competencies in reading, math, science and language use. The goal of the test is to predict your likelihood of success in nursing school.

This quick guide was created to walk you through TEAS preparation and answer frequently asked questions, including:

« What is the TEAS?« How does the TEAS work?« How is the TEAS scored?« How do I register for the TEAS?« How long do I study?« Where can I nd study materials?« What happens if I fail?

We also offer test-taking tips for exam day and a printable checklist to help you keep track of preparation milestones.

Please note that this guide isn�’t intended to replace updates or information from the test developer or your nursing school/s of interest. But it�’s de nitely a great place to start!

What is the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS)?

Developed by ATI (Assessment Technologies Institute, Inc. �– sometimes referred to as ATI Nursing Education), the TEAS is an entrance exam that can help to predict a nursing candidate�’s success in school. ATI research indicates that nursing students who performed well on an ATI nursing fundamentals test scored about nine points higher on the TEAS V than those with lower scores.1

In addition, nursing programs requiring the TEAS V have a 4% lower attrition rate than programs that don�’t.2 That means students who take and pass the TEAS are less likely to drop out of a nursing program than those who never take the test.

While it should never be the primary factor in deciding a person�’s readiness for nursing school, the TEAS exam is very useful in helping nursing schools assess their applicant pool.

The test can be administered online or with paper and pencil.

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TEAS Explained: Your quick guide for the Test of Essential Academic Skills

Courtesy of Find Nursing Schools

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How is the TEAS scored?

Test results for the TEAS are available immediately for electronic exams and within 48 hours for paper and pencil ones. You�’ll receive several different scores, including but not limited to:

« Academic Preparedness �– Qualitative evaluation of your overall performance on the exam; categories include Exemplary, Advanced, Pro cient, Basic and Developmental

« Adjusted Individual Score �– Number of correct questions divided by the total number of questions

« National Mean �– Average adjusted composite scores for all candidates who took the same version of the test

« Program Mean �– Average of the adjusted composite scores for all candidates who took the same test version and are in a similar program

« Individual Reading Score« Individual English Score« Individual Math Score« Individual Science Score

The TEAS is not an exam that you pass or fail; each nursing school has its own scoring requirements.

For example, school A may require a 75% adjusted individual score and an 85% individual reading score, while school B�’s requirement may be a score of Pro cient in the Academic Preparedness section.

To get a sense of how well you need to do, research the TEAS requirements for each school you�’re interested in. Overall, though, the higher your scores, the stronger your application for nursing school. High scores are especially important if you�’re looking at competitive programs with a wait list.

How do I register?

You can register for the TEAS through your nursing school of interest or online at atitesting.com. ATI�’s process typically involves selecting an exam, creating an account and paying a registration fee. This fee varies from site to site and can range anywhere between $40 and $110. Payment is due at the time you schedule your exam.

Registrations are nal and fees are non-refundable, so it�’s best to discuss your options with a nursing school admissions advisor before signing up. Each school will have its own registration process for you to follow.

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TEAS Breakdown

Section Scored/Total Time Limit Content AreasReading 42/48 58 minutes Paragraph, passage comprehension

Math 30/34 51 minutes Numbers and operations, algebra,

data interpretation, measurement

Science 48/54 66 minutes Anatomy, life science, earth/ physical

science, scienti c reasoning

English/ 30/34 34 minutes Grammar, word meanings in context,

Language Use spelling and punctuation, sentence

structure

How does the TEAS work?

Like many nursing entrance exams, the TEAS is a multiple-choice test covering 170 questions in reading, math, science and language use. The questions are divided among the four sections, and each section is timed separately. The entire test has a time limit of 3 hours and 29 minutes (209 minutes total). Twenty of the 170 questions are pretest questions that aren�’t factored into your overall score.

How long should I study?

The answer to this question is different for everyone. For advice that takes your personal situation into account, reach out to an admissions advisor at your nursing school of interest. They can assess your academic background and help you determine an appropriate study window before you register. You may want to build in enough time to take the exam again, in the event your rst scores don�’t meet the minimum requirements for your rst-choice nursing program.

Where can I fi nd study materials?

Check out these resources to review key knowledge areas and test-taking strategies, nd practice tests and more. Remember, this is just a sample list to get you started; for feedback on these materials and others, you can search the web, talk to nursing students and recent graduates, visit your local bookstore or seek advice from a nursing school admissions advisor.

BooksVersion V �– ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS V) Study Manual �– Of cial TEAS V study resource from test developer ATI. Includes practice problems that mirror the style of real test questions; two comprehensive print practice tests with recommended time limits, answer keys and rationales; detailed test glossary. Purchase on ATI�’s website.

Version V �– ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS V) Online Assessments A and B �– Sold individually and as a complete set. Purchase online assessments on ATI�’s website.

McGraw-Hill�’s 5 TEAS Practice Tests �– Six full-length TEAS practice tests with answers and complete explanations for every question. Purchase on Amazon.com.

McGraw-Hill�’s Nursing School Entrance Exams (Second Edition) �– Essential skill-building techniques and strategies for taking today�’s entrance exams for nursing. Get eight practice tests, skill-building drills, test-taking strategies and all the facts about the TEAS, NLN PAX-RN, NET, PSB-RN and C-NET-RN. Purchase on Amazon.com.

Kaplan Nursing School Entrance Exams: Your Complete Guide to Getting Into Nursing School �– Lessons, review, and practice for math, reading comprehension and science along with admissions information and resources. Purchase on Amazon.com.

Apps�“TEAS Practice Test and Questions�” by T&E Solutions, LLC �– #1 TEAS app in the App Store. Featuring more 1,000 practice questions with detailed answer explanations. Learn more on iTunes.

�“Complete TEAS Study Guide�” by Complete Test Prep �– Interactive app prepared by dedicated exam experts. Learn more on iTunes.

What happens if I fail?

The TEAS is not an exam that you pass or fail; each nursing school has its own scoring requirements. If your rst scores fall below the minimum requirements for one or more of your schools, you may retake the test to improve your score. However, many schools have rules around exam retakes. Contact your admissions advisor for more information.

Test-Taking Tips for Exam Day

You�’ve done your homework (literally!); now is the moment where your studying and preparation come together. Take to heart these tips for putting your best foot forward on exam day.

« Don�’t cram the night before. Your best studying will be accomplished in the weeks and months leading up to the test; now it�’s time to prepare yourself for the physical tasks of exam day, such as lling your gas tank, visiting the ATM for parking money, etc. You also want to get a good night�’s sleep. The exam itself is three and a half hours long; you won�’t perform well if you�’re nodding off in your chair.

« Know where you�’re going. Many exam sites require you to check in well before start time and even close the doors early to discourage stragglers. Therefore, it�’s in your best interest to make transporting yourself to and from the site as stress-free as possible. Prior

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TEAS Preparation Checklist

Use this checklist to keep track of everything you need to prepare for the TEAS.

____ Confi rm TEAS requirements with your nursing school/s of interest

____ Identify a testing center

____ Complete your registration

____ Obtain/purchase study materials

____ Take at least one practice test

____ Map out route to exam site

____ Take the TEAS

____ Obtain test scores

____ Purchase a TEAS transcript if applicable (Scores are automatically sent to the location

where your test was administered at no cost.)

Best of luck to you on the exam!

to the big day, map out your route to the site. If you�’re taking public transportation, nd your stop and learn the route schedule. If you�’re driving, study the route online for construction detours and closings. But don�’t stop at the front door. If you have access to the building, nd the room where your exam is being administered as well.

« Pack light. Sites have strict rules regarding what you can and can�’t bring into the test room. It�’s likely you�’ll be required to have a valid photo ID, your ATI username and password, your registration receipt and two #2 pencils. Calculators and mobile devices are usually prohibited. Scratch paper is provided by the exam site. Check with your site for an of cial list of what to bring.

« Read the full question. This is one time you don�’t want to skim. Understand the directions for each content section and pay close attention to the wording of individual questions. Don�’t read half of the question and assume you know what�’s coming.

« Take it one question at a time. Now is not the time to analyze your performance on previous questions or anticipate what�’s coming next. Stay in the moment and concentrate on the question in front of you.

« Keep it moving. A common piece of advice for test-taking is to trust your instincts. If more than one answer seems correct, read the question again, choose the best option and move on. You don�’t want to spend so much time on one question that you run out of time for the section.

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References

1) Is the TEAS V Predictive of Early Nursing School Success? Report. Assessment Technologies Institute, Inc., Dec. 2011. Web. 15 July 2013. http://www.atitesting.com/resources/research.aspx.

2) Dunham, Michelle, Ph.D., John McKee, Ph.D., and Brooke Nash, Ph.D. Standardized Testing and Educational Outcomes: Recent Research Findings. Presentation. ATI National Nurse Educator Summit, April 9-13, 2012. Web. http://www.nursingsummit.com/presentations/StandardizedTesting.pdf.