How Hard Is the Actual TEAS?

CAmores · Dec 14, 2014

I took the TEAS for the first time during the summer. I didn't do THAT great though. Be sure to get rest and take care of yourself before the test. I think that was a big problem for me. I barely ate or slept at all during that time since I had a lot going on back then. The math section was pretty difficult because of how much time you have. So be sure to practice your math and conversions a lot because you have little time to do the problems over and over again. I am going to try to take it again next month.

augurey · Dec 14, 2014

I never did the test in the book, but I did form A and B online.

What I think was great about the online tests is that it gives you an idea what to expect on the actual test as far as format.

I would say, at this point, is to go back to your online tests and take a look at what areas you missed. They will give you general topics that you should review. Review those areas.

If you have a hard time with math, practice practice practice. The more familiar you are with the formulas, the better. I spent 10 hours the Saturday before taking my TEAS (which was on a Tuesday) practicing math problems. If you know which types of math problems you are having trouble with, there are some websites that will quiz you.

If you're having anxiety during the test, you need to find a way to relax. One of the reasons I did so poorly on my online practice tests were because, even though they were just practice, I was still anxious. I was making stupid mistakes, not reading, and rushing. Yes, the time does count down, but you can't rush. Just breathe. Relax. If you find yourself getting frustrated, anxious, rushing... stop, take a couple deep breaths and continue on. I feel like keeping calm during the test is the one thing that truly helped me through.

If there is something you don't know, don't panic. Try to think it through. Don't spend forever on it, but you can try to think it through.

I was horrible at science. On form A I scored, I think a 33% (somewhere in the 30's), and on form B I scored a 43% (I had to get at least a 45% for the real one). I kept calm, based on what I knew, I tried to logically eliminate answers when I didn't know. That usually narrowed it down to 1 or 2. I ended up with a 70%.

Go back to your practice tests and see what you need to review. Find supplemental information on the web if you need (youtube, khan academy, etc).

Good luck!

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Dec 14, 2014

The TEAS is certainly not an easy exam... that being said, I thought the TEAS was fairly easy but that's only because I have a pretty solid background in general sciences, math, and reading/writing. One of the good things about the TEAS is that it's not computer adaptive like the NCLEX is. I also took the online practice exams A and B and I thought they were pretty decent representations of what the actual TEAS was like.

My recollection of this is from something like 4 years ago now, but it was the TEAS V version (new back then) and generally, focus on each question as it is presented to you and if you get diagrams, drawings, or passages, you should be able to refer to those exhibits and still just take each question as it is presented to you. Don't go back to change an answer (if that's even possible) unless you're extremely convinced you selected the wrong answer... because most of the time, your first answer is correct and changing the answer is the wrong thing to do.