TEAS

[Foxgloveandsage]

So... here I am, maintaining 3.0 and higher (mostly B+ and A grades) in my prerequisite courses needed for nursing and obtained my AA-T, CNA, made Dean's list 3 quarters in a row and I have some great letters of recommendations. All while dealing with some major life stuff including death of close friends etc. I plan on starting working as a CNA this winter while finishing my last course of O Chem. Well I realized the main college I wanted to attend needs the TEAS at application. I spent 5 days studying using the online practice exams, book, quick guide and app. My first practice test I got a 77%. Well I go into and leave with a 68%- Proficient level. I am so upset. How heavily does this weigh? Any advice? I am planning to retake it. If you get declined from a college then reapply for another quarter with a stronger TEA score does that look good, or is it like once you try you are out? The college of choice is competitive but they say Proficient is their base level but prefer advanced. The other colleges don't require TEAS until right before the program or during. Anyway, any nurses make it into a BSN with a 68%?!

I know it comes down on needing longer time to study and my weakness is math. However I had so many distractions during the exam like people doing construction on the room next to the testing center, not getting my granted 10 min break and it was like 90 degrees in the room.. it just made for more anxiety. I deal with test anxiety and I am trying to get better at it.

I hope colleges look beyond this test and the study as a whole.

thanks!

[Foxgloveandsage]

Ugh sorry for the grammar and spelling errors. I can't seem to figure out how to edit my original post ( I am using a mobile device )

[EmDash]

Unfortunately, it depends entirely on the program. Some programs will only take the score on the first TEAS attempt within the last so many years, some give you 2 or 3 attempts and use the best attempt, and others let you attempt as many times as you want. How much the TEAS factor into your admission also depends on how the program is evaluating its applications. Where I applied to, the TEAS was more important than your prereq GPA, but I'm sure other programs differ in how weighted the TEAS score is.

I'd probably consult with someone in the nursing program to ask if they release their evaluation criteria and the weight of each component. You could also ask if they have stats on the range of TEAS scores of those typically admitted and what their policy is on TEAS attempts. Depending on that and how soon the application deadline is, you could possible retake the TEAS before the deadline.

And it seems like programs that accept multiple attempts would either look favorably on improving your TEAS score the next application round or not care period (since the panel evaluating for admission may only receive/look at the relevant score only).

[rnhopeful82, ASN, RN]

My school required a minimum of like 58% for the TEAS and everything was based on a point system. 2-4 points for prior degrees, up to 7 points for each class at the school, 1-4 points for GPA and then 1-10 points for the TEAS. The TEAS could make or break you for my school. They admit people 3 times a year but we have on average 400 applicants for 60 slots. They let you apply 6 times, and you can take the TEAS each time to boost your score. I believe they only take the highest score. That's my school, I am sure other schools do everything completely different. Contact your school and find out how competitive that is and what else they look at.

[imagineyou]

It depends entirely on your program. The minimum overall for my school was 70% as well as minimums in each section (can't remember exactly what they were) and they did not look at your application if you make even a point less than the minimum, even if you have a 4.0. If you made the minimum that your school requires, you should be fine, but the chances of you getting in with a lower score depend entirely on how competitive the applicant pool is.

You can always retake the teas!