ATI TEAS Exam

The ATI TEAS exam, short for the Test of Essential Academic Skills, is the standardized entrance exam most nursing and allied-health programs in the United States use to evaluate whether an applicant has the academic foundation needed for the program.¹ Unlike ATI's Content Mastery Series proctored exams, which test course-specific nursing content mid-program, the ATI TEAS exam is an admissions test taken before enrollment.

The current edition is TEAS Version 7 (often searched as "ati teas 7 exam" or "teas version 7 exam"), which replaced TEAS 6 in 2022 and remains the active edition through 2026.² You register for the ATI TEAS exam through your prospective nursing program or directly at atitesting.com.

The ATI TEAS exam contains 170 total questions, of which 150 are scored and roughly 20 are unscored pretest items ATI uses to develop future exam versions.¹ A test-taker cannot identify which items are unscored, so every question should be treated as scored.

Total allocated testing time is 209 minutes across all four sections, with an optional short break available after the Math section.¹

The ATI TEAS exam is divided into four sections, each timed separately and taken in a fixed order. The table below shows the scored question count and time allowed for each section on TEAS Version 7:

Science carries the most weight of any section, accounting for roughly 29% of the scored exam.¹ A four-function on-screen calculator is available during the Math and Science sections only; outside calculators, including phones, are not permitted.

Yes, the ATI TEAS 7 exam differs meaningfully from earlier TEAS editions. Version 7 introduced question types beyond standard multiple choice, including multiple select (select all that apply), fill-in-the-blank numeric entry, ordered response, and hot-spot diagram items.¹

ATI revises the TEAS roughly every five years, and Version 7 also rebalanced content weighting toward more biology and chemistry items in Science and additional grammar and language items in English, compared to TEAS 6.² If your program or study materials reference an older TEAS edition, confirm you are studying Version 7 content specifically, since practice materials written for TEAS 6 will not match the current question types.

There is no single passing score for the ATI TEAS exam. Each nursing or allied-health program sets its own required score, so what counts as "good" depends entirely on where you are applying.¹ ATI reports results using five proficiency tiers rather than a simple pass or fail:

A composite score of 78% or higher is competitive at many nursing programs, though highly selective programs may expect an Advanced or Exemplary result.² Many programs also review individual section scores alongside the composite, so a strong overall score paired with a weak Science or Math section can still raise concerns during admissions review.

The ATI TEAS exam costs approximately $115 per attempt as of 2026, though this can vary by testing location and whether your program adds its own proctoring fee.² Occasional discount codes for the ATI TEAS exam circulate through nursing programs or ATI promotions, though there is no standing public discount available directly from ATI.

You register for the ATI TEAS exam either through your nursing program's admissions office or directly through your ATI account at atitesting.com. Registration typically requires selecting an available exam date, choosing between an in-person testing center or a remote online-proctored session, and paying the exam fee at the time of booking.

Exam scheduling availability varies by testing center and time of year, so registering several weeks ahead of your program's application deadline is strongly recommended.

Yes, most nursing programs allow a limited number of ATI TEAS exam retakes, though ATI itself does not enforce a single universal attempt limit.¹ A common policy is up to three attempts per admissions cycle with a mandatory 30-day waiting period between attempts, though this varies by institution.

Some programs consider only your most recent TEAS score, while others take your highest score across all attempts, so confirm your specific program's retake and scoring policy before you schedule a second attempt.

Yes, the ATI TEAS exam is proctored whether you take it in person or remotely. In-person testing happens at a physical testing center under a live proctor, while the online-proctored version is monitored remotely through a webcam, similar to ATI's Content Mastery Series proctored exams.¹ Not all exam formats allow rescheduling once booked, so review your specific testing center's policy before you register.

No, a test-taker cannot reliably cheat on the ATI TEAS exam without detection, whether taken in person or through online proctoring. Remote sessions are monitored through live or recorded webcam feeds that flag unauthorized materials, secondary devices, or another person present in the room, the same monitoring approach used across ATI's proctored exam catalog.

A confirmed integrity violation can result in an invalidated score or a ban from future ATI testing, consequences that follow you into your nursing program application regardless of how the exam was administered.

To study for the ATI TEAS exam, focus your time on Science and Reading first, since Science carries the most scored questions and Reading questions often take the longest to work through under time pressure. Cognitive research on the testing effect shows recall-based practice questions produce stronger retention than passively rereading notes, particularly when spaced across multiple sessions rather than crammed into one sitting.³

1. Take a diagnostic practice test first to identify your weakest section before building a study schedule.
2. Study four to eight weeks before your exam date, spending roughly two to three hours per day during your final two weeks.²
3. Practice the newer TEAS 7 question types specifically, including select-all-that-apply and ordered-response items, since these differ from standard multiple choice.
4. Drill math without a scientific calculator, since only a basic four-function calculator is provided during the exam.
5. Review English grammar rules directly rather than relying on instinct, since ATI TEAS 7 added additional language-usage items compared to earlier versions.

To pass the ATI TEAS exam on your first attempt, treat your preparation like a full exam simulation, not a set of isolated review sessions. These steps improve first-attempt outcomes:

1. Complete at least one full-length, timed practice exam under real section time limits before test day.
2. Confirm your testing format in advance, whether in-person or online proctored, and complete any required system checks the day before.
3. Answer every question, even guesses, since the ATI TEAS exam has no penalty for incorrect answers.
4. Pace yourself against the section clock rather than the whole exam clock, since each of the four sections has its own separate time limit.
5. Review your unofficial results immediately after finishing, since ATI typically provides an unofficial score right away, with a full report within about 48 hours.²

Test-takers commonly lose points on the ATI TEAS exam through avoidable errors rather than pure content gaps. Frequent mistakes include:

1. Studying outdated TEAS 6 materials that do not reflect Version 7's question types or content weighting.
2. Running out of time in Reading, the section test-takers most often report as pacing-difficult.
3. Skipping practice with select-all-that-apply items, which offer no partial credit for a partially correct answer.
4. Underestimating the Science section, despite it carrying the largest share of scored questions.
5. Not confirming a specific program's required score before assuming a passing result, since there is no universal ATI TEAS passing score.

Getting help with the ATI TEAS exam works in four steps: request a free quote, book your exam date, confirm with a 60 percent deposit, and pay the remaining balance after the exam concludes. This structure lets you secure a specialist for a specific exam window, including last-minute requests.

Is the ATI TEAS exam hard?
Yes, most test-takers rate the ATI TEAS exam challenging, largely because it covers four distinct academic subjects under strict section-by-section time limits rather than one focused topic.

How long is the ATI TEAS exam?
The ATI TEAS exam takes 209 minutes of allocated testing time across all four sections, not including check-in or optional breaks.¹

Can you use a calculator on the ATI TEAS exam?
Yes, a four-function on-screen calculator is provided during the Math and Science sections only; outside calculators are not permitted.

Is the ATI TEAS exam all multiple choice?
No, TEAS Version 7 also includes multiple-select, fill-in-the-blank, ordered-response, and hot-spot question types alongside standard multiple choice.¹

How many times can you retake the ATI TEAS exam?
Most programs allow up to three attempts per admissions cycle, though the exact limit and any waiting period between attempts is set by your specific program rather than by ATI.

Sources: 1. ATI TEAS Exam Details, atitesting.com. 2. TEAS Version 7 program guidance aggregated from ATI-affiliated nursing education resources, 2026. 3. Roediger, H.L. & Karpicke, J.D. (2006). The Power of Testing Memory: Basic Research and Implications for Educational Practice. Purdue University.