My two cents on the TEAS test (loooong post)

[KristinaT]

I took the TEAS test yesterday after two extremely intense weeks of studying and I got a 90.7%. Hurray! I was super excited and I felt that my hard work had paid off, so I thought I would share a few tips and some general thoughts on the test and hopefully they will help someone else who is about to take the test.....

I bought and studied the ATI Study Guide, but I also bought the McGraw study guide but barely cracked it open. I am also fresh off of taking Microbiology and Organic Chemistry so science is super fresh on my brain. That said, I still struggled with the science portion the most (as most of you have/will). I studied that section backwards and forwards but with every practice test I still missed about 8 of the questions, especially in the chemistry and life science portion so that is where I focused my time.

How I studied:

About two weeks out from the test I started going through the study guide, doing the math and science questions first because those are my weakest areas. Twice that week I got together with some girls to study and that was really helpful with math/science. I would not say that the math sections were hard but it had been so long since I had done any math. If math is your weak area then I think that the study guide really gives you everything you need for the test and there won't be anything crazy thrown in, but really know and understand the concepts because there are many two step questions where you will have to do a first step to get one answer and then use that answer in a second step.

About one week out I started doing the practice tests in the book. I did one or two sections of each practice test and when I was taking the test I starred questions I felt that I needed to brush up on, even if I got the answer right. Starting this early made it easier to really understand the concept and make sure I didn't feel weak in any areas. I did the practice tests over the course of a few days and just generally took my time doing them. Anything I felt weak on or that I thought I needed to go over I put down on a "cheat sheet". I would carry that paper with me in my purse and to work and when I had 10mins I would look it over or ask someone to quiz me on what I had written down. I think this was really important in how I retained the info because I didn't try to cram it in at the last minute.

My thoughts on the online practice test:

Now here's where I got really stressed: I paid for and took the online practice test the night before my actual test. When I started the test and I completed question one the ATI site locked up and I couldn't click on anything! It was so frustrating! I eventually had to switch to my husbands laptop and finish the test that way but it took over an hour of trying to get it to work before I started it again.

And I read it here before I took the test and I will say it again.....THE ONLINE PRACTICE TEST WAS EXPONENTIALLY HARDER THAN THE ACTUAL TEST. I mean, crazy harder. I knowt that's just my opinion but I got a 76% on the practice test and I was so upset! I felt that all of the work that I had been doing for the prior two weeks wasn't paying off. I was really discouraged and went to bed early, feeling like crap. I even woke up and thought about rescheduling the test because I felt like maybe I needed time to study. But you know what? I knew I had studied hard and I was tired of studying, honestly. So I took it, sweaty palms and all, and got a score I'm happy with (even though I keep going over all of the questions I know I got wrong and thinking, "What if?!?").

So my advice would be to buy and take an online practice test so you can get a feel for what it will be like but do not psyche yourself out over it. There were some questions on there that helped me in the long run on the actual test so I think it's worth it.

Here are the main subjects I would suggest studying:

Reading

Math

Science

Grammar

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Ok--that was a novel for you, but I hope that this helps someone else because I would have loved to know all of this info before I went into it. Good luck and if you have questions then you can message me--happy studying!

[hope1202]

What Mcgraw book are u talking about can u give me more information on that since u say it offers more science things. And any advice on how to study for the test?

[KristinaT]

@hope1202 I used the Nursing School Entrance Exam McGraw book but I believe that the science section in any McGraw book , especially the TEAS specific books, will have the same information. A friend of mine has a different version and the science looked exactly the same. I bought it on Amazon.

As far as advice on how to study, I wrote three paragraphs under the bolded words How I Studied above.

[phoenixnim]

This post is amazing and thorough! Thank you so much for sharing!! And congratulations on your score!!!

[friendlyjane]

Thank you for taking the time to post this. It is very helpful!

[BooBear'sMommy]

Thank you so very much for this. I am taking my exam this Wednesday and need all the advice I can get!

[KristinaT]

No problem guys! I just wanted to pass along any and all info I could think of--I spent so much time stressing over the test and I hope that this can help others to focus their studying. Good luck!

[mnopali]

Where did your explanations of each section go?

[long2beanurse]

I am feeling like you! I have been studying my butt off and I did poorly on the practice exam! It is even causing me to rethink my test date which was supposed to be next Thursday. So frustrated. I HAVE to do good the first time, as many colleges here in San Diego only take the first try. SCARY!!!

Congrats on the great score!

[LadyLeo75, LPN]

Hello KristinaT I purchased the McGraw Hill 5 TEAS Practice test book. Would you say I need the ATI study guide? Please advise I am taking the TEAS in march

[emergenceRN17, ASN, BSN, RN]

Thank you for this post!!!!!!!

[meeep, BSN, RN]

Where did your explanations of each section go?

Probably removed for being too specific =/