Preparing for the ATI TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) exam can feel challenging. The exam is divided into four main sections: Reading, Math, Science, and English and Language Usage. With a total of 170 questions, it is designed to measure the essential skills required for success in nursing and allied health programs.
By understanding the exam structure and knowing what to expect, students can create an effective study plan that reduces stress and increases confidence on test day.
One of the most common preparation strategies is to complete practice tests. They not only measure your progress but also simulate the real exam experience. But hereās the question many students ask: How many TEAS practice tests should you take?
The short answer: usually 3 to 5 full-length practice exams is enough for most students. But the ideal number depends on your current skill level, study timeline, and how effectively you analyze your mistakes. Letās break it down.
Why Practice Tests Matter
Before deciding how many to take, itās important to understand why practice tests are a crucial part of your TEAS prep:
Familiarity with format
Youāll learn how questions are worded, how sections are timed, and how topics are distributed.
Time management
TEAS is a 209-minute test – about 3.5 hours. Practicing under timed conditions helps you avoid running out of time.
Identifying weak areas
Your first practice test shows which topics need the most review.
Reducing anxiety
The more familiar you are with the test format, the less nervous youāll be on exam day.
Building endurance
Sitting through a long exam takes mental stamina, and practice builds that endurance.
Simply put, practice tests are more than a score predictor. They serve as training tools for your brain and help you build an effective test-taking strategy.
Understanding the TEAS Exam Structure
The newest edition of the exam, TEAS 7, is structured into four key sections that every student should be ready for:
- Reading: 45 questions to complete in 55 minutes
- Math: 38 questions with 57 minutes allowed
- Science: 50 questions to answer in 60 minutes
- English & Language Usage: 37 questions with 37 minutes to finish
Knowing the number of questions and the time limits for each part helps you manage your study schedule and practice under real exam conditions. This way, you can improve both accuracy and time management before test day.
Out of the 170 questions, 150 count toward your score and 20 are unscored pretest questions. This breakdown highlights the importance of practicing with full-length exams because it helps you understand what it feels like to move through each timed section.
How Many Practice Tests Should You Take?
The General Rule: 3ā5 Full Exams
Most experts recommend between three and five complete TEAS practice exams before the real test. This number is enough to:
1. Establish a baseline (your starting score).
2. Measure progress after a few weeks of study.
3. Simulate test-day conditions once or twice.
If you have more time, you can take extra tests, but quality matters more than quantity. Doing 10 practice tests without reviewing your mistakes wonāt help as much as doing 3 and analyzing every error.
When to Take Each Test
A 6-week TEAS study plan works best when you combine focused studying with timed practice tests. Hereās a suggested timeline:
- Week 1: Take an initial practice test to establish your baseline. Identify strong areas and topics that need more work.
- Week 2: Focus on reviewing Reading and Math. Revisit mistakes from Week 1 and practice question types that challenged you.
- Week 3: Take a second practice test to measure progress. Adjust your study plan to close remaining gaps.
- Week 4: Concentrate on Science and English & Language Usage. Use shorter quizzes or section-specific practice.
- Week 5: Sit for a full practice exam under real conditionsātimed and without breaksāto build test-day stamina.
- Week 6: Optionally take one more practice test for confidence and use the last few days for light review and rest.
This schedule balances testing with active review, so youāre not just practicing but also learning strategically between exams.
Advanced Students vs. Beginners
If your first practice test score is already strong: You may only need two or three full practice exams. Use the extra time to review content and strengthen weaker topics instead of retaking too many tests.
If you are starting from the basics or struggling with certain sections: Plan to take five or six practice exams. Spacing them out allows you to track steady progress while also building test-day endurance and confidence.
The Danger of Too Many Practice Tests
Some TEAS prep platforms, advertise access to more than 20 practice tests. While that might sound appealing, more is not always better when it comes to exam preparation.
Taking too many practice exams can actually slow down your progress:
- It can cause burnout before you even reach test day.
- It takes away valuable time that should be spent reviewing and strengthening weak areas.
- It may give you a false sense of progress, since you get used to the style of the questions instead of truly learning the concepts.
The real purpose of TEAS practice tests is not to memorize answers, but to develop the reading, math, science, and language skills that will help you succeed on the actual exam.
How to Get the Most Out of Each Practice Test
To get the most out of your TEAS practice tests, itās important to focus on quality over quantity. Here are five proven ways to maximize their value:
Simulate real conditions
Sit in a quiet place, use a timer, and donāt take extra breaks.
Analyze your mistakes immediately
Write down every missed question and why you got it wrong.
Target your weak areas
If you consistently miss chemistry questions in Science, dedicate extra study sessions there.
Track your scores
Keep a log of your results by section. Improvement over time is more important than one score. The Prepia app helps you do exactly that ā it tracks section-by-section performance, stores past scores, and highlights trends over time so you can focus on steady improvement. Available on the App Store and Google Play.
Repeat select tests
Some official ATI practice exams allow two attempts. Retake them after a few weeks to see if you improved.
Final Thoughts
So, how many TEAS practice tests should you take?
For most students the ideal range is three to five full-length exams. Take one at the beginning to see your starting point. Take one or two in the middle to measure progress. Take one or two at the end to practice under real exam conditions.
The exact number of tests is less important than the way you use them. Review every mistake carefully. Adjust your study plan as you go. Treat each exam as a chance to improve your skills and strategy.
With this balanced approach you can enter the TEAS exam feeling prepared, confident, and ready to succeed.