The TEAS Test Explained: What the Exam Covers

Reviewed June 1, 2026 by the ScrubScope editorial team.

The TEAS, the Test of Essential Academic Skills, is a standardized entrance exam many nursing programs require for admission, covering four areas: reading, mathematics, science, and English and language usage. Published by ATI, it is designed to measure the academic readiness of nursing-program applicants, and programs use the score alongside GPA and prerequisites to rank a competitive applicant pool. The exam is administrative rather than clinical, it tests general academic skills, not nursing knowledge, and the required score varies by program. This guide explains what each TEAS section covers and how programs use it, sourced to the test's publisher.

The short answer

The TEAS is a nursing-admissions entrance exam published by ATI that assesses an applicant's academic readiness across four sections: reading, mathematics, science, and English and language usage^[1]. Many ADN and BSN programs require it as part of the application, using the score with GPA and prerequisites to compare applicants, which connects to the broader admissions picture in the how competitive is nursing school admission guide. The exam tests general academic skills rather than clinical nursing knowledge, and each program sets its own minimum or competitive score, so there is no single national passing bar. Because the TEAS is often required before you apply, it belongs in your application timeline alongside prerequisites.

What the four sections cover

The TEAS is organized into four content areas, each measuring a different academic skill, and knowing the breakdown frames what it assesses.

The reading section measures comprehension of written passages, the ability to identify main ideas, follow an argument, interpret information, and draw conclusions from text, which mirrors the reading load of nursing coursework. The mathematics section covers numbers and operations, basic algebra, and measurement and data, the quantitative skills used in dosage and data contexts, though the test frames them as general math rather than clinical calculation^[1].

The science section is typically the largest and covers human anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry, and scientific reasoning, which is why a strong prerequisite science foundation helps here. The English and language usage section assesses grammar, sentence structure, punctuation, and vocabulary. Together the four sections aim to gauge general academic preparedness rather than knowledge a student would only have after nursing school, since the TEAS is an entrance test, not an exit one^[1].

How programs use the score

A TEAS score is not pass-or-fail in the way a license exam is; programs use it comparatively, which shapes how much it matters.

Programs set their own required or competitive TEAS scores, and because admission is often competitive, the practical bar to be a strong applicant is usually above any stated minimum, with some programs ranking applicants partly by TEAS score^[1]. The score is reported as an overall percentage along with section breakdowns, so a program may look at both your composite and your performance in a weighted area such as science. There is no single national passing score; the bar depends on the program and its applicant pool.

This means the same TEAS result can be competitive at one program and below the bar at another, so the relevant question is not "did I pass" but "is my score competitive for my target programs." Checking each program's stated or typical admitted TEAS range tells you where you stand, and we make no determinations about your admission; the program decides.

It also helps to know which version of the test a program accepts, since the TEAS has been revised over time and programs may specify a current edition. Scores are generally reported on a scale that programs translate into their own thresholds, and some weight the science subscore more heavily than the composite because the sciences predict success in nursing coursework. If your target programs emphasize science, a strong science subscore can matter more than a high overall percentage, which is worth knowing before you prepare, so you can focus effort where it counts most for your specific applications.

Retakes and preparation, administratively

The exam can usually be retaken, and how it is administered affects planning, though the test content itself is set by the publisher.

Programs commonly allow the TEAS to be retaken, but they often limit how many times you can sit it within a period and may require a waiting interval between attempts, with these retake rules set by the program or testing site rather than nationally^[1]. The test is offered at schools and proctored testing sites and in some cases online with remote proctoring, and you register through ATI or the program. Because a retake takes time and may have a waiting period, building a buffer before your application deadline matters.

On preparation, the publisher and others offer official study materials and practice tests, and because the content areas are defined, preparation is targeted rather than open-ended. We do not coach test content; the point administratively is that the TEAS is a known, defined exam you can prepare for and usually retake, and that it must be scheduled to fit your application timeline. Confirm the specific retake and registration rules with your program and ATI.

How the TEAS fits your application

The TEAS is one piece of a larger application, and seeing where it sits keeps it in proportion.

The TEAS sits alongside your prerequisite coursework, GPA, any required essays, and other materials, and while it matters at programs that require it, it is rarely the only factor; a strong prerequisite record and GPA carry significant weight too, as the prerequisites guide explains. Because the TEAS is usually required before or at the time you apply, schedule it early enough to allow a retake if needed, fitting it into the broader application timeline. Treating it as one component to prepare for, rather than the whole admissions decision, keeps your effort balanced across the application.

Bottom line

The TEAS is a nursing-admissions entrance exam from ATI covering reading, mathematics, science, and English and language usage, designed to measure general academic readiness rather than clinical knowledge^[1]. Programs use the score with GPA and prerequisites to rank applicants, set their own competitive bars (so there is no single national passing score), and commonly allow retakes under their own limits^[1]. Because it is required before you apply at many programs, schedule it early enough to allow a retake.

ScrubScope ranks programs by fit and never by which school pays more; schools, not us, make every admissions decision.

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