What to expect on TEAS exam day, start to finish

Nerves on exam day usually come from uncertainty, not from the questions. When you know the shape of the day in advance, a whole layer of that falls away. Here is what actually happens, whether you sit the TEAS at a testing centre or online with remote proctoring.

Before you start

Arrive early, or log in early for a remote sitting. You will check in, show valid photo identification, and store your belongings. For a proctored online exam you will show your room and desk to the camera. Give yourself margin here so a slow check-in does not eat into your composure.

• Bring acceptable photo ID. Confirm the exact requirement with your testing site beforehand.
• You do not need to bring a calculator, and you cannot use your own. A four-function calculator is provided on screen; our guide to the TEAS calculator rule covers what it can and cannot do.
• Scratch paper or a whiteboard is usually supplied. Confirm the rules for your site.

The four sections and the clock

The TEAS 7 has 170 questions across four sections, and the whole exam runs 209 minutes. Each section is timed on its own, so time left in one section does not roll over into the next. The sections are presented in a fixed order.

Section timing is separate. Finishing Reading early does not add minutes to Math. Use the full time in each section to check your work.

• Reading: 45 questions, 55 minutes.
• Mathematics: 38 questions, 57 minutes, with the on-screen calculator.
• Science: 50 questions, 60 minutes.
• English and Language Usage: 37 questions, 37 minutes.

Twenty of the 170 questions are unscored pilot items, mixed in and unmarked. You cannot tell them apart, so answer every question as if it counts, because for all you know it does. For what each of these sections actually covers, see what is on the TEAS.

Pacing and the break

Watch the on-screen timer, but do not let it rush you into careless errors. A simple rule works well: if a question stalls you, choose your best answer, flag it, and move on. Never leave a question blank, since there is no penalty for a wrong answer and a blank can never be right. The clock itself, and the pace it implies in each section, is broken down in our guide to how long the TEAS test is.

There is a short optional break offered between sections. Take it. Sixty seconds to breathe and reset does more for your Science score than staring at the screen.

After you finish

For a computer-based TEAS, your results are typically available very soon after you submit, often the same day, through your ATI account. You will see your Total Score and a breakdown by section and proficiency band.