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Is the TEAS Test Hard? Expert Analysis of Key Factors
A test that significantly impacts your nursing school admission can be intimidating—but how hard is the ATI TEAS test, really? Despite its daunting reputation, the TEAS isn't as extremely difficult as it seems.
Overcoming the challenges of the TEAS involves dedicating sufficient time to studying difficult areas and practicing confusing questions. Whether or not you initially find the TEAS hard, this guide will provide you with the tools to conquer the test's challenges and succeed.
Is the TEAS test hard? An overview
The ATI TEAS test can be daunting if you're unfamiliar with it, but it's far from unbeatable with proper preparation and understanding of the test format.
Seventy five percent of the questions on the TEAS are over concepts you likely saw in high school such as questions pertaining to reading comprehension, english grammar, basic algebra, geometry, and so on.. The remaining 25% of the TEAS questions are over more advanced topics that would be seen in a college course such as human anatomy and physiology. We list out a comprehensive list of topics asked on the TEAS here.
The main challenge lies in understanding the specific way questions are posed and recognizing that it's different from typical classroom tests. To overcome these challenges, practice the types of questions asked and become familiar with the test structure.
According to the writers of the actual TEAS test, 40% of test takers failed the TEAS the first time they took it and 30% of applicants to nursing school were rejected due to their TEAS scores or a combination of other reasons. You can technically retake the TEAS as many times as you want, but most nursing schools limit the number of times you can retake the TEAS if you wanna be accepted to their programs. Each school has different rules on how many times they’re ok with you retaking the TEAS so check with them to know the actual number. We normally hear around 2-3 times being the maximum number of times a nursing school is ok with you taking the TEAS.
We encourage you to take the test seriously during your first attempt as you don’t want to waste one of your chances of getting into nursing school with a careless low score.
Compared to exams like the ACT/SAT, the TEAS focuses on science-related content you'll need for nursing school. Regardless of your past experience with standardized tests, effective studying can dramatically boost your chances of success.
By taking the TEAS seriously from the beginning and implementing strategic preparation techniques, you can significantly improve your score. Remember, even if you don't reach your dream score on the first try, focus on the learning experience and the chance to improve on your retake. With dedication and effort, you can turn your dream of becoming a nurse into a reality!
Don’t fear the TEAS. Its content is within your grasp; success comes from practicing questions and correcting mistakes on practice tests.
In the following sections, we'll explore factors that might affect the TEAS difficulty and provide tips to make it more manageable.
Four factors that make the TEAS test difficult
Here are the factors that contribute to the ATI TEAS test being challenging for many students. These include time constraints, complex scientific and mathematical concepts, difficult reading passages, and a high-stress environment.
1. Time Pressure
The ATI TEAS is a timed test, just like the SAT and ACT were. Even if you're familiar with the material, feeling rushed can lead to careless errors and anxiety. For example in the Reading section of the TEAS, you will have 55 minutes to answer 45 questions. A great portion of the Reading questions involve reading passages before you are prepared to answer the question. So on average, you will have 1 minute and 13 seconds to answer each question. Again, practice makes perfect. We recommend you get your mind used to the feeling of reading passages over and answering questions over and over again. Above, we list out how many questions are in each section and how much time you have to answer each question if you don’t want to run out of time. Go here if you want to see all the topics asked on the test.
Tip: While studying for the test, get your mind used to doing practice questions under the pressure of the allotted time for each section of the test.
2. Too many topics to study
While the ATI TEAS is roughly 75% topics you likely encountered in high school courses, some concepts might be fuzzy after some time even if you had seen them before. The test may also delve into slightly more advanced areas like advanced algebra or specific lab procedures. If you're unsure about any of the scientific topics covered on the TEAS, brushing up on those areas before test day is crucial. The science section of the TEAS, for example, covers SO many topics that sometimes it feels impossible to be familiar with all of them. To make you feel better, everybody else that has taken this test has thought the same thing. There are just too many topics covered on the test. We recommend you put in a lot of effort and see what you can get. You don’t need to become an expert on every topic at all. You just need a basic understanding of all the topics, emphasis on the words “basic” and “all topics.” Don't try to become an expert. It’s an overkill and time you spend trying to become an expert in one topic, it is studying time you are taking away from another topic.
Tip: Try to get a basic understanding of all topics, as opposed to an expert understanding of only a handful of all topics.
3. Math questions and formulas
The ATI TEAS covers a range of math topics, some of which may pose challenges for test-takers. Unlike some other exams, the TEAS doesn't always provide formulas within the Math section. So not only do you have to understand how to do the math, but some sometimes you also need to memorize the formula to solve the math problem e.g. the formula for the area of a circle, formula for perimeter of a triangle, etc
Keep in mind that unlike many other topics in science, memorization isn’t good enough in math. In math, you have to UNDERSTAND how to solve problems. You can’t just memorize the procedures.
The math section of the test is one section where truly practice makes perfect. You can’t just “wing it” or improvise in the math section. You need to know what you are supposed to do immediately after you read the question.
Tip: Do as many math questions as you can as practice makes perfect.
4. Test anxiety
The ATI TEAS, like many standardized tests, can be stressful. The time constraints of answering numerous questions in a limited timeframe can trigger test anxiety. Not to mention the stress that comes before the test knowing all you have to study and the importance of this test on your future.
The good news is, you can manage test anxiety for the TEAS. Taking practice tests under simulated testing conditions (including timing) can help you get comfortable with the pressure. Additionally, incorporating relaxation techniques like deep breathing, effective time management strategies, and positive self-talk during the exam can significantly reduce anxiety.
Tip: Use the Pomodoro timing technique to help you study more efficiently and less painfully. Also, running and walking for 30 minutes are a great way to clear your mind and get you ready to study again.
Tips to make the TEAS test easier for you
Feeling overwhelmed by the ATI TEAS? Fear not! With the right approach, you can walk into test day feeling confident and prepared.
1. Take plenty of practice tests
The number one tip we can give you is to practice, practice, practice. At the end of the day, only practice tests simulate the real test experience. The real test experience is not reinstating lectures. The real test experience is answering as many practice questions right as possible.
There are many TEAS prep resources available. Many are free, many are paid. We invite you to check out TestBeach. In TestBeach, you get access to hundreds of practice questions with detailed solutions but more uniquely, you get access to a sophisticated analytics dashboard that looks at your answered questions and tells you where you’re struggling and where you are strong.
2. Schedule Study Time
You obviously need to study for the TEAS if you want to do well and get into nursing school. But how much should you study? The simple answer is as much as possible over a 1.5 month span. Anything longer than a month and a half, you start forgetting the stuff you learned in the beginning. It’s better to study very aggressively over a 1.5 month span than it is to study less intensely over a 3 month span. However, this is not to be confused with cramming. Cramming the week before the exam will lead to a poor performance. We mean that you space out your study material and continuously test yourself as opposed to waiting until the last minute to study all in a few sittings.
Look at your calendar and allocate five, 2-hour blocks every week. Every time you sit down to study, you should study for two hours or more. We think studying for at least two hours as opposed to just studying for five minutes is important because in a two-hour span, your mind will be fully engaged with the topic you are studying. You might have other obligations such as work, family, etc. Well, you are gonna have to make some sacrifices for 1.5 months for this test if you really wanna get into nursing school. It’s only 1.5 months out of your entire life. Figure out how you can cut out other obligations in order to make time for TEAS studying.
If you want to study for longer than 2 hours in one sitting, that is fine. Consider that time as bonus time. It doesn’t hurt. However, allow your mind to rest a bit as well by performing activities away from the screen or away from music such as running, walking, or hiking.
3. Develop a study plan
Have an idea of how to tackle your studying with a study plan. You don’t need to go crazy with the planning but you should have a list of topics you need to study that you will cross out as you study for the test. We wrote an article where we outline a study plan strategy you can follow to help you study for the TEAS.
4. Use TEAS prep audio books to squeeze in extra studying
It’s a bit of a cheat code but you can get a lot of studying done while you’re busy by using TEAS audio lessons. Get some studying done while on your commute to school or work, while waiting, while anything. It’s sort of kill two birds with one stone. It can’t hurt.
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