What to Expect on the TEAS 7
The ATI TEAS 7 is a 170-question, four-section exam used by nursing and allied health programs to evaluate academic readiness. The four sections — Science, Mathematics, Reading, and English & Language Usage — are each timed separately. You have 209 minutes total across all sections, not including any optional breaks.
Here is the section breakdown you'll see on test day:
- Science (50 questions, 63 minutes): Anatomy & Physiology, Biology, Chemistry, and Earth & Physical Science. This is the section that makes or breaks most students' composite scores.
- Mathematics (34 questions, 54 minutes): Numbers and algebra, measurement and data, and basic statistics. A calculator is provided for the entire Math section.
- Reading (39 questions, 55 minutes): Key ideas and details, craft and structure, and integration of knowledge and ideas. You'll read passages and answer comprehension questions — no outside knowledge needed.
- English & Language Usage (37 questions, 37 minutes): Conventions of standard English, knowledge of language, and using language and vocabulary to express ideas clearly.
Of the 170 questions, 150 are scored and 20 are unscored pretest items distributed throughout. You won't know which is which — treat every question as if it counts.
Free TEAS 7 Practice Questions by Section
The questions below are written to match the style, difficulty, and format of real TEAS 7 items. Work through each section, then check your answers at the bottom. For a full diagnostic with detailed score analysis, create a free StudyBuddy account — no credit card required.
Science (10 Questions)
-
Which of the following best describes the function of the mitral valve?
- A) It prevents backflow of blood from the aorta into the left ventricle
- B) It prevents backflow of blood from the left ventricle into the left atrium
- C) It prevents backflow of blood from the pulmonary artery into the right ventricle
- D) It prevents backflow of blood from the right ventricle into the right atrium
-
A student dissolves 45 grams of NaCl into 500 mL of water. What is the approximate concentration of the solution in g/mL?
- A) 0.045 g/mL
- B) 0.09 g/mL
- C) 0.9 g/mL
- D) 9 g/mL
-
Which type of muscle tissue is found in the walls of blood vessels?
- A) Skeletal muscle
- B) Cardiac muscle
- C) Smooth muscle
- D) Striated muscle
-
In Mendel's experiments, when a true-breeding tall plant (TT) is crossed with a true-breeding short plant (tt), what proportion of the F2 generation will be phenotypically tall?
- A) 25%
- B) 50%
- C) 75%
- D) 100%
-
Which of the following correctly describes the role of ribosomes?
- A) They package proteins for secretion from the cell
- B) They synthesize proteins from mRNA templates
- C) They transcribe DNA into mRNA
- D) They replicate DNA before cell division
-
The hormone responsible for stimulating the release of cortisol from the adrenal cortex is:
- A) TSH
- B) ACTH
- C) FSH
- D) GH
-
Which of the following represents a chemical change rather than a physical change?
- A) Dissolving sugar in water
- B) Melting ice into liquid water
- C) Burning wood to produce ash and smoke
- D) Cutting a piece of aluminum foil into smaller pieces
-
In the nephron, which structure is primarily responsible for the reabsorption of glucose and amino acids?
- A) Loop of Henle
- B) Collecting duct
- C) Proximal convoluted tubule
- D) Distal convoluted tubule
-
Which of the following elements has the highest electronegativity?
- A) Oxygen
- B) Chlorine
- C) Nitrogen
- D) Fluorine
-
The diaphragm contracts and flattens during inhalation. This action:
- A) Decreases lung volume and increases air pressure in the lungs
- B) Increases lung volume and decreases air pressure in the lungs
- C) Decreases lung volume and decreases air pressure in the lungs
- D) Increases lung volume and increases air pressure in the lungs
Mathematics (8 Questions)
-
A nurse needs to administer 750 mL of IV fluid over 6 hours. What is the flow rate in mL per hour?
- A) 100 mL/hr
- B) 115 mL/hr
- C) 125 mL/hr
- D) 150 mL/hr
-
Solve for x: 3x − 7 = 2x + 9
- A) x = 2
- B) x = 8
- C) x = 16
- D) x = −2
-
A medication order calls for 0.5 mg/kg for a patient weighing 154 lbs. How many milligrams should be administered? (1 kg = 2.2 lbs)
- A) 30 mg
- B) 35 mg
- C) 40 mg
- D) 77 mg
-
What is 35% of 280?
- A) 84
- B) 90
- C) 98
- D) 105
-
A student scored 68, 74, 81, 79, and 88 on five exams. What is the mean score?
- A) 76
- B) 78
- C) 79
- D) 80
-
Simplify: (2³ × 2⁴) ÷ 2⁵
- A) 2
- B) 4
- C) 8
- D) 16
-
A recipe calls for ¾ cup of sugar per batch. If you need to make 2½ batches, how much sugar do you need?
- A) 1½ cups
- B) 1¾ cups
- C) 1⅞ cups
- D) 2 cups
-
A hospital has 240 nurses. If 15% are working the night shift, how many nurses are on night shift?
- A) 24
- B) 30
- C) 36
- D) 42
Reading (7 Questions)
Read the following passage, then answer the questions.
The circadian rhythm is an internal biological clock that regulates the sleep-wake cycle over a roughly 24-hour period. Located in the hypothalamus, specifically in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), this system responds primarily to light and darkness in the environment. When light enters the eye, photoreceptors called intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) send signals to the SCN, which in turn suppresses melatonin production from the pineal gland. In the absence of light, melatonin release increases, promoting sleep onset.
Disruption of the circadian rhythm — through night-shift work, jet lag, or excessive exposure to blue light in the evening — has been associated with increased risk of metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, and immune dysfunction. These effects are thought to occur because circadian misalignment disrupts the timing of hormone release, cell repair processes, and immune surveillance that normally occur during sleep.
-
According to the passage, what triggers the suppression of melatonin production?
- A) Darkness signals sent from the SCN to the pineal gland
- B) Light signals sent from the eye to the SCN
- C) Melatonin released by the hypothalamus
- D) Blue light detected directly by the pineal gland
-
Which of the following best states the main idea of the second paragraph?
- A) Night-shift workers are at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease
- B) Disrupting the circadian rhythm has measurable health consequences
- C) Blue light is the most dangerous disruptor of sleep
- D) Jet lag causes permanent changes to the circadian rhythm
-
As used in the passage, "misalignment" most nearly means:
- A) A physical injury to the spine
- B) A disruption in the normal timing of biological processes
- C) An absence of light during daytime hours
- D) A genetic defect in the SCN
-
The author's purpose in writing this passage is most likely to:
- A) Argue that night-shift work should be eliminated
- B) Explain how the circadian rhythm works and why disrupting it matters
- C) Persuade readers to avoid blue light entirely
- D) Describe the history of circadian rhythm research
-
Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?
- A) People who sleep in complete darkness produce no melatonin
- B) The pineal gland controls the body's response to light
- C) Hormone release during sleep follows a predictable pattern that circadian disruption interrupts
- D) Cardiovascular disease is caused primarily by melatonin deficiency
-
According to the passage, where is the suprachiasmatic nucleus located?
- A) The pineal gland
- B) The retina
- C) The hypothalamus
- D) The prefrontal cortex
-
Which of the following is NOT listed in the passage as a cause of circadian rhythm disruption?
- A) Night-shift work
- B) Jet lag
- C) Excessive caffeine consumption
- D) Blue light exposure in the evening
English & Language Usage (5 Questions)
-
Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct?
- A) The patient, along with her family members, were present at the consultation.
- B) The patient, along with her family members, was present at the consultation.
- C) The patient, along with her family members, are present at the consultation.
- D) The patient, along with her family members, have been present at the consultation.
-
Which word correctly completes the sentence? "The physician ______ the patient's chart before entering the room."
- A) reviewed
- B) reviews
- C) reviewing
- D) had reviewed
-
Select the correctly punctuated sentence:
- A) The medication was effective however, the patient reported significant side effects.
- B) The medication was effective; however, the patient reported significant side effects.
- C) The medication was effective however the patient reported significant side effects.
- D) The medication was effective, however the patient reported significant side effects.
-
Which of the following uses the underlined word correctly? "The nurse showed great empathy toward the anxious patient."
- A) She approached the problem with empathy rather than emotion
- B) The empathy of the situation required immediate attention
- C) Her empathy allowed her to understand the patient's feelings
- D) The doctor displayed empathy by ordering additional tests
-
Which sentence uses a modifier correctly?
- A) Running down the hallway, the patient's chart fell from the nurse's hands.
- B) Running down the hallway, the nurse dropped the patient's chart.
- C) The nurse dropped the chart running down the hallway of the patient.
- D) The patient's chart was dropped by the nurse, running down the hallway.
Answer Key
Check your answers below. For each incorrect answer, note the topic — that's a priority study area.
Science: 1-B, 2-B, 3-C, 4-C, 5-B, 6-B, 7-C, 8-C, 9-D, 10-B
Mathematics: 1-C, 2-C, 3-B, 4-C, 5-B, 6-B, 7-C, 8-C
Reading: 1-B, 2-B, 3-B, 4-B, 5-C, 6-C, 7-C
English & Language Usage: 1-B, 2-A, 3-B, 4-C, 5-B
Not sure where your weak areas are?
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How to Interpret Your Results
This practice set is 30 questions — a shortened version designed to surface your weakest areas quickly. Here's how to read your score:
- 27–30 correct: Strong across all sections. Focus your remaining prep on full-length timed exams and any individual Science sub-areas where you lost points.
- 22–26 correct: Solid foundation. Identify which sections cost you the most points and allocate more study time there. Science and Math are the highest-yield improvement areas.
- 17–21 correct: Targeted preparation needed. Prioritize Science A&P content and Mathematics ratio/proportion problems — these two areas account for the most TEAS score variance.
- Below 17: You likely need 6–8 weeks of structured preparation before test day. Start with a full diagnostic to build a personalized study plan.
What the Real TEAS 7 Tests That This Sample Doesn't
This 30-question set covers the primary content areas but can't replicate the full exam experience. The real TEAS 7 includes:
- 170 questions across four separately timed sections
- A Science section that spans A&P, Biology, Chemistry, and Earth Science at full depth
- Mathematics problems involving statistical reasoning, data interpretation, and unit conversions at increasing complexity
- Reading passages across multiple genres and text types
- Five full-length practice exams that mirror actual ATI scoring and adaptive difficulty
A full diagnostic exam — available free when you create a StudyBuddy account — gives you a section-by-section score breakdown, identifies your specific weak sub-areas within each section, and generates a personalized study schedule based on your target exam date.
How to Study for the TEAS 7 Efficiently
Most students who struggle on the TEAS don't fail because they didn't study enough — they fail because they studied the wrong things. Here's what actually works:
- Start with a diagnostic, not content review. Most students over-study their strongest subjects and under-study their weak ones. A diagnostic identifies exactly where your points are being lost before you spend 40 hours reviewing material you already know.
- Science A&P is non-negotiable. With 50 questions in the Science section, Anatomy & Physiology content accounts for the single largest chunk of your composite score. If you're short on time, disproportionately weight A&P in your study plan.
- Math is the fastest section to improve. The content is finite and rule-based. Most TEAS Math errors come from unit conversions, ratio and proportion problems, and percentage calculations — all of which are highly trainable in a short window.
- Reading requires no outside knowledge. Every answer is in the passage. Practice finding evidence quickly — most Reading errors come from students choosing answers based on outside knowledge rather than what the passage actually says.
- Simulate the real exam at least twice before test day. Timing and pacing matter. Students who complete at least two timed full-length practice exams before their real test date consistently score higher than those who do not.
When Should You Take the TEAS 7?
The TEAS 7 is offered year-round at ATI testing centers and select nursing school campuses. Most programs accept scores from any test date — but your score is valid for two to three years depending on the program, so don't test too far in advance of your application.
The optimal timeline: begin structured preparation 6–8 weeks before your intended test date, take two or three full-length practice exams in the final two weeks, and schedule your real exam when your practice scores consistently exceed your target by 5–7 points.
Check your specific program's score requirements before you register — requirements vary widely even within the same state, and some programs set section-specific minimums in addition to the composite score cutoff.