Dr. Jan Olson By: Dr. Jan Olson
Is the TEAS Test Hard?

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Is the TEAS test hard? This question is highly debated among nursing students. We will shed some light on this question.

The TEAS exam itself does not have a minimum passing score - the passing score is set by individual institutions and programs. This makes the exam more difficult for some students as they will need a higher score for their program.

Some institutions may use national mean scores (around 65%-75%), while more competitive institutions will use higher score averages (around 78%-90%) to determine admission into their program.

Summary: Learn about the difficulty of the TEAS test. If you want to begin your studies, use our TEAS practice tests to prepare.

The TEAS test is about the same difficulty as the SAT and ACT. It is nothing you haven’t encountered before.

The most difficult part of the exam is the timing aspect. Students that do not prepare properly will typically end up running out of time. The number of questions and time limit for each section are:

  1. Math - 38 questions and 57 minutes
  2. Science - 50 questions and 60 minutes
  3. Reading - 45 questions and 55 minutes
  4. English - 37 questions and 37 minutes

Many students find that math and reading are the hardest parts of the TEAS exam. These sections are difficult because there are many different topics covered and students are pressed for time.

Prepare for the TEAS Exam

If you are serious about passing your exam, try our recommended TEAS Prep Course

Prepare Now

Here are some way that you can make the exam easier on yourself:

Is the TEAS Test Hard?

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Always Register Early

Once you know the deadline for studies, you’ll be able to set up a strict study schedule.

Students are advised to give themselves at least six weeks of time to study. This extra time allows you to prepare properly, thus lowering the stress related to the test.

You can register for the exam via the official site.

Start by Taking a Practice Test

Always start by taking a TEAS practice test. This will allow you to determine where you are at and what you need to focus on and will serve as the foundation for your entire study plan.

The key to creating the best study plan is to be efficient. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of your strengths and weaknesses by taking practice exams. You can take a subject specific practice exam if you want to see which subjects you struggle with. Here are our subject specific exams:

  1. TEAS math practice test
  2. TEAS science practice test
  3. TEAS reading practice test
  4. TEAS English practice test

Once you take a subject specific practice exam in each subject, see which subjects you struggled most on. You can then focus your studies on those subjects.

If you want a program to help you study more efficiently, consider our #1 recommended TEAS online prep course.

Follow this Advice When Taking the Exam

  • Do not cram just before the test.
  • Plan your route ahead of time so that you can arrive early. This ensures that you are in the right mindset.
  • Get at least 8 hours of sleep on the night before the exam.
  • Ensure that you eat a healthy breakfast and that you’re properly hydrated.
  • Read the instructions carefully.
  • Read each question at least twice. A mistake that we see a lot of students make is trying to rush through questions. There is plenty of time to carefully read every question so don’t rush.
  • If you don’t know the answer, skip the question and come back to it later. Don’t spend too much time on a single question. There will be some questions that you don’t know the answer to. A big mistake is wasting too much time on those questions.
  • Don’t try to keep a mental record of how you’re performing. Just answer each question and then move on.

First of all, it’s important to note that there is no passing or failing score on this exam. Each institution will require a different minimum score that changes from year-to-year so it’s essential that you read the application requirements of the school in which you are applying.

Your TEAS score is released to the school of choice once you’ve completed the test. Test-takers are expected to confirm their choice of school. This information will be verified by the testing center before the test.

The makers of this exam (ATI) randomize the weight of questions so students never know the weight of specific questions. Furthermore, 20 random questions are not scored at all.

Students won’t know which ones are not scored. Don’t let this confuse you though because the solution is simple. Just take the test under the assumption that all questions are scored equally.

The scoring system changes nothing in terms of how hard the TEAS test is. You still need to prepare the same way and ensure that you’re equipped with the knowledge to succeed.

Retaking the TEAS

In the event that you score lower than the established requirements for your institution, then you are usually able to retake the exam.

Every school will have its own set of rules governing retakes, but most of them allow up to three retakes per year. However, students are required to pay a fee each time, so your best bet is to score high the first time.

In addition, most programs require students to wait at least 30 days before retaking the exam.

With that said, take the steps to properly prepare so you don’t have to retake the exam. It is worth noting that many of the TEAS prep courses we reviewed include 100% pass guarantees.

Testing anxiety is a very real and powerful phenomenon that directly affects the difficulty of an exam. What makes this exam particularly stressful is the strict time limit. The only way to mitigate this anxiety is to properly prepare.

Use the tips and resources provided in this article to help properly prepare for the exam and get rid of that test anxiety. If you want additional help, consider checking out our #1 rated TEAS review course.