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How can I prepare for the TEAS test? 4 Exam Tips

Miss Ai
14 Jun, 2024

How can I prepare for the TEAS test? 4 exam tips

If you are serious about going into healthcare or nursing, you’ll want to not only study for the TEAS but practice test questions to get used to the format. Give yourself time to prepare and follow general exam-taking advice about getting enough sleep and taking care of yourself before the test day. This is especially important if you get test anxiety.

How do you study for the TEAS test more specifically? Consider this advice.

Take the TEAS test early

Even if you’re not quite ready to apply for nursing school or your healthcare program, try to take the TEAS test at the very beginning of your undergraduate studies or during your first year of college. This will give you plenty of time to get familiar with the exam content and provide a cushion to retake the TEAS exam if you need it.

ATI writes that test-takers can typically take the TEAS exam three times per year—but your school might have restrictions on that, so check their policy to make sure you know how many retakes you are allowed (if needed).

2. Register at least two weeks ahead of time

Another smart TEAS test tip is to register for the exam early. While you can do plenty of independent preparation beforehand, ATI may send you a study guide and other important materials once you do officially register for the test.

Those two weeks can give you plenty of time to figure out where you will take the test, review TEAS study guide materials and maybe take a few free practice exams. You don’t want to have to scramble on test day, so get everything arranged ahead of time.

3. Utilize TEAS test prep resources

No matter how confident you feel going into the exam, test prep resources can help. The Rasmussen University Library and Learning Services team has compiled several excellent TEAS test resources that can be incredibly useful when preparing.

While it may cost a little extra to access test prep materials from ATI, it’s not a bad idea to take a few TEAS practice tests at the very beginning of your studying. This will give you a better idea of which areas you’ll need to focus on most in the weeks to come. Note any practice questions you have a hard time with and hit the books! The more you review the material, the better you’ll feel on the day of the exam.

Other resources students have found helpful.

Reading
Science
English
Mometrix® TEAS preparation
TEAS flashcards

4. Review the fundamentals

The TEAS exam questions cover concepts you are probably a little familiar with already. That means you can cover a lot of ground by reviewing the fundamentals.

For math, can you translate fractions to decimals? Do you have your order of operations memorized? For science, have you reviewed basic biology concepts? Can you balance an equation in chemistry? Do you know your basic anatomy and physiology?

For the English and reading sections, take time to review punctuation and grammar rules and practice filtering out what is or isn’t relevant in a selected reading. These are all things you’ve done at some point in your life—just be sure to brush up on these fundamental concepts, especially if you’ve been out of practice for a while.

What should I do on the day of the TEAS exam?

Before you know it, test day will arrive! This is where all of your extra studying will pay off. But there are still a few final things you can do on that day to set you up for success.

If you’re unfamiliar with the testing location, take the time to scout out the area ahead of time—you don’t want to find out at the last second if parking space is limited and you now need an extra ten minutes to get settled. You’ve got enough on your mind. You don't need minor worries adding stress.

Follow your institution’s guidance for what to bring on exam day and where to take it. If you are taking the ATI TEAS online, you’ll need to download Proctorio® (the remote exam proctor) ahead of time.

Then, get a good night’s sleep!

Preparing on exam day

Give yourself time to eat a well-balanced breakfast on the morning of your TEAS test. Some of the best foods for your brain include eggs, salmon, green tea and antioxidant-rich foods like acai berries. Stay hydrated.

Finally, if you take nothing else from these day-of preparations, remember this one: Do not be late! ATI will not let you begin the test after the designated start time. There are also a few things ATI requires that you bring along with you on exam day: a No. 2 pencil, your registration receipt with the ATI testing ID number and a valid photo ID.