Preparing for TEAS exam after 15 years out of school! Any suggestions?

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Hi there,

New to posting (but not to lurking on site! ha ha) so forgive me if it's another question about the TEAS...seem to be finding older information on the topic. I am preparing to take the TEAS on July 9th, 2010 and feel a little overwhelmed! I have been out of school for 15 years and have just recently (May 2010) started back to take a few of the basics prior to teas...med terms, math and comm. Acing medterms so I'm hopeful it may help me out on the test. Math is another story, definitely struggling. Does anyone have any pointers they can share with me? Study guides (books or sites) you found useful? I do have McGraw Hills Nursing School Enterance Exams book...has anyone used this as a guide? I'm hearing mixed things about it. Also, re. science...is this portion really just the basics of pretty much everything? See...so overwhelmed! ha ha Failure is just not an option at this point for me.

Anyone in a situation such as mine...away from school for a long period time that has already taken teas?

Any help would be appreciated! Thanks in advance for reading my thread! :)

Bryant & Stratton

Parma, Ohio

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Hi,

I was in a similar situation as you. I was out of school over 20 years, so I bought the ATI test book and studied from that. Sadly, I did not pass the math portion, but did very well in the other areas. I have been in school almost 3 years and just finished all pre and co req's with A's and B's (even chemistry!), but having NO math what so ever, really hurt me. In my honest opinion, the book does not help you out as much as you need to know on the test (with math). I would recommend to take at least 1 math class to brush up on your skills unless you did fairly well in that subject. The other thing I would highly recommend is to go to the ati website (ati.com, I believe). On this website, you can pay a fee to take a couple of their "sample" tests and see where you stand. The areas you don't do well in, study, study, study. Since I am finished with all of my classes, I enrolled in math this semester and will retake the test in August. Hope this helps some. Good luck!

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It is true the study manuals through ATI aren't exactly like the real test, but they are pretty close. For example if the TEAS study manual has a percentage problem you should know how to solve it in all directions. I noticed the real test had similar questions just in different order. I had identified my weak spots such as fraction multiplication for example and studied every possible problem that could be asked. I had to find them on the internet because no manual will give you every problem which could arise. It will take a lot of work to ace the TEAS but it is possible. I will tell you that you cannot study for the physical and chemical science portion. You either know it from previous coursework or you don't. It will take a lot of studying to learn these subjects if you have no knowledge. I have a BS in biology so it came easy to me. I have had gen chem I and II, organic chem I and II, biochem, physics I and II. I can tell you that they asked questions I learned from gen chem I and physics. I did score a 96 percent overall. Good Luck!!!

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The ati website for the manual is at the following link, just make sure you get the right version. Ask your school....

TEAS Exam

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Hi Newstudent,I understand how you feel...I've been out of school for more than 20 years myself. I have been reading posts on here for quite awhile and have taken my first TEAS test recently and did well due to the help on allnurses. I do have most of my pre and co-reqs finished. One of the first things I would suggest is to read the TEAS study skills sticky thread. It is a huge source of information. All kinds of websites for each area on TEAS test is found there with tons of useful information. It is also helpful to know which version of the test you will have. Some study guides are for different versions of the test... such as Version3/4 and Version 5. I found that recently having A&P 1 and 2, Microbiolgy, Math and English classes were very helpful due to the length of time I have been out of school. I also have ATI, Kaplan and McGraw-Hill study guides. Also suggested are GED study guides. Science is still difficult to study for though. You will see as you read the posts on the TEAS sticky. I stink at math too so I focused heavily on that while preparing to take the TEAS with the help of ATI and Mcgraw guides. Best wishes to you... and don't worry you will do fine. ~Hope

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Thanks for all the useful information guys! Really appreciate your time...and encouragement! I emailed my admissions rep this morning re. the version of the test...she doesn't know! Uhg. So, I am waiting to find out who I can contact to find out. After that, I'll be on the hunt to find ATI resources locally!

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I know that this is an older post, but I've been reading everything I can on the TEAS exam. I was wondering newstudent if you passed the TEAS or not. I'm in a similar situation having been away from school for a long period of time, and will have to face the TEAS if I'm going to go through with this nursing thing.

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Hi! I am currently in Illinois. I have to take the teas v. I am also so nervous about taking it. I have the Kaplans, McGraw Hills McGraw Hills GED book and the ATI Study guide. I just really want to get in the program at JJC. I have my sciences and soc 290 left for prerequisites left. But If anyone has any incite on the teas please help.

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Hi PossibleNurse and Determined30! I did pass the Teas entry test (1st try!!) and am now in my second semester preparing for my first round of clinicals:lol2: The best book I used to prepare me for the Teas was McGraw-Hill`s Nursing School Entrance Exams: ISBN 9780071599375. That was the BIGGEST help to me among them all. The Teas itself is just like your admissions rep probably told you...it's the basics of all the subjects you learned in jr. high and high school. Pay close attention to the science sections! You'll recognize all the lessons from years ago, it will come back to you relatively quickly. Math has never been my strongest suit so I concentrated on that for a month or so prior to testing. Again, the basics of all the math in the book; basic alegebra, metric conversions, fractions,etc. I had looked at a couple GED books, they were good but I am pretty methodical by nature and the McGraw Hill book just suited my needs better...it was definitely helpful in knowing what to expect on the Teas; format, tips and tricks, etc. I highly recommend it! As far as the ATI book, yes it's a great tool but not necessary for the Teas, but more for your future program's ATI testing and then the NCLEX. We are just now using the ATI book for Fundamentals and Lifespan...it's more for the critical thinking and rationales. I wish you both the best of luck on the Teas entry exam...I think you'll both do awesome! :yeah: I was so freaked out for the two weeks leading up to it, but realized after taking it...it really was just the basics like my admissions rep told me! ha ha Also, if the Teas is coming up soon...concentrate on your weakest area's first then brush up on your stronger area's! Hope the info helps...keep me posted!

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I'm so glad to hear that you passed the exam :cool:. And thanks for your input, I'm sure it will prove helpful when my time comes to take the TEAS.

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I don't remember much about science from science during high school or grade school. However I still have to take bio 151 250 and 240. I am also not done with chem. What can I use to brush up for my science courses, as well as for science portion of the teas. Most people say the study guides do not prepare you enough for the science portion of the teas.

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Java mamma What did you do to pass chem

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