Should I take the real TEAS for practice?

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My Teas exam is scheduled for November through my school. I have to take the scheduled exam through them (max 3 attempts) but they allow unlimited attempts at other locations/schools. The thing is - once I take it at my school in November, it will be my only shot for this admission period. If I don't do well (and don't get into the program) I will have to wait another 6 months and apply to the next cohort.

So - I can take the test somewhere else before my scheduled date and the school will take my highest score. I'm considering taking one in October as a "practice" test, at a different school. Is this a bad idea? Do most people do this anyway?

I'm thinking that it might calm my nerves if I give myself two shots for a good score. If I do poorly the first time but do not submit the score, will it still look bad even though I will be submitting my higher score? Would it just be better to study hard for 2 months and take a single test? Any feedback is appreciated! Thanks!

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Specializes in Psychiatry.

I would take one of the online practice tests offered by ATI. They are exactly like the real test, and it will give you a printout of what to study just like the real exam does. I found the online tests to be harder than the real thing, which really helped when it came to studying. If anything, you will be over prepared this way.

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Don't see why you wouldn't be ready by October. You have a month to study. For reading, math, and english it's like you either know it or you don't. Just grab ATI book real quick and take the test asap.

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Don't see why you wouldn't be ready by October. You have a month to study. For reading, math, and english it's like you either know it or you don't. Just grab ATI book real quick and take the test asap.

I don't think it would be wise to just take the test "asap"...I want to ensure that I'll have a high score. Even though the test probably isn't nearly as hard as people say, reading their posts makes me nervous.

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Specializes in Med/Surg Oncology.

I plan on taking the test at an alternative site, and then if needed will take retest at my school. After working in a hospital and talking to the nurses most of them did the same thing. It's extremely stressful, so anything you can do to reduce the stress is worth it. Good Luck and let us know you do.

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Specializes in ICU.

I will be taking mine in January. If I don't do well, I have to wait 30 days in between tests before I can take it again. My app. is due in April. I ordered the ATI study guide and McGraw Hill practice tests from Amazon and they came pretty quickly. I would do that before taking it twice. One of my advisors told me today that many people have told her the practice tests are pretty close to the actual test.

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Have you completed all your schooling in the US? And how long ago was high school? I took the TEAS 6 years post high school and studied only using the study guide they sell. 94% first shot. I really don't understand the fuss over TEAS. Save the stress for your actual nursing program.

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Have you completed all your schooling in the US? And how long ago was high school? I took the TEAS 6 years post high school and studied only using the study guide they sell. 94% first shot. I really don't understand the fuss over TEAS. Save the stress for your actual nursing program.

It's been 15 years since high school and I have mostly A's in pre-req's and other college courses. So far I'm finding the ATI manual fairly easy. The english, reading and math sections seem pretty basic, but the science section touches on things I've recently learned. Some of the material is unfamiliar.

My main concern was study time...although I have a while before the test date, I haven't had much time to study. I'll probably wait and see where I am in a month. Thanks for the advice, everyone!

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