Published Mar 25, 2015
EllePNto2b
12 Posts
Hello I'm a little new to this hope someone can reply fast!
I've decided to take on the career of practical nursing. Academically in high school/college I never was a great student C/D type of student. So I'm scared of this upcoming test I have a month to study which is great im hoping i do well.
The school I applied to said I need to score Atleast 50th percentile.. Anyone have an idea what that means ? What percentage overall would be in that percentile? Thanks
KathyVandy
66 Posts
In California the average TEAS score needed to get into a Registered Nurse program is about 85% (higher for bachelor programs). I would say that a 3.5-3.6 GPA student would get this score. The TEAS test has English comprehension, English grammar, Math (intermediate algebra level), anatomy and physiology, microbiology, and some earth/life science questions. If you haven't taken these courses lately, it will be a very hard challenge to score in the 50th percentile. You would have to study full time for the next month. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news... But it's a difficult test.
Any study tips? I feel so stuck on where to begin. Hate not knowing exactly what's on the test.
SunriseDay
70 Posts
50th percentile means you score higher than 50% of the people who take the TEAS test.
I.e, you need to score higher than the average (mean) score of TEAS test-takers.
From what I've read: The National mean is 64.3%, so that would be the 50th percentile. For reading the national mean is 70.5%, math 69%, science 53.6% and english 63.8%.
They'll also tell you what percentile you rank in after you get your TEAS test. However, I'd aim for the highest you can get to maximize the amount of programs you can apply to. The McGraw hill book is okay for prep IMO.
You must be applying to an ADN program? In Cali, BSN programs want usually 90% above scores, so my 83% wasn't high enough, but it's good enough for ADN programs here.
Good luck!
**I think I only studied like 4 hrs on the McGraw Hill and got the 83%.. it's good for prepping for the math, which is basic. You don't use a calculator on the test (I think HESI lets you use it for theirs?). I didn't really study, which was stupid... and the cost was my entrance inabily to many BSN programs... here anyways.. it's easier in some regions, like south and prob the midwest.. even nearby states towards the west.
Thank you ^ it's an entrance exam for a practical nursing program (in pa.) Really hope I pass, I know I can do great in nursing school. *fingers crossed*
ANYMORE TIPS PLEASE ADD ON TO THIS POST 😊 thanks!!
mirandaaa
588 Posts
First thing is first, go online and buy the ATI study manual. It's seriously a lifesaver and tells you everything. One thing though, the TEAS asks some very specific questions and the study manual is more broad, so if you find you don't know something, look it up online for more detailed information. Khan Academy is a great resource, but they can get really in-depth.
You can buy the manual on the ATI site, but it's like $70. I found a brand new one on Amazon for $26 (also, Amazon offers a free 6 month trial of AmazonPrime for students and you can get free 2-day shipping with that).
Secondly, read this article. A wonderful person posted this "cheat sheet" of what's on the TEAS and what you need to know/tips.
sammyjoe11
149 Posts
Hello I would also like to add to the great tips listed above. Take as many practice tests as you can. It will help you get a feel for what to expect on the day of your test. If you can afford it, I would suggest you buy the computerized practice tests sold on the ATI website. There is also a book of practice tests "5 Teas Practice Tests" sold by McGraw Hill. I'm studying to take my test in May. There is a lot of material to cover!! I'm in Cali. My instructor told me I need a 78 or better to have a good shot at getting into the program. Needless to say, I'm studying day and night!!!Good luck to us both
thanks good luck to you too!! I took an online practice test didnt do so well but I heard its normal if you haven't studied yet. So I'm making flash cards of all my weaknesses and learning the basic Math and Science. When do you take your test ?
JMR89
3 Posts
Hello I just took my Teas V test today. And let me just say some parts were easy and some were brutal. Brutal but doable if you prepare as best as you can.
First thing you need to do is get the ATI Teas V study manual. You will definitely need this manual if you expect to do half as decent as you hope. This book is literally gold in terms of the Reading, Algebra and English Section. Absolutely everything you need to know for those sections are in the book. (the only thing i would suggest for the math section is to know the work rate formula) Now the science section of the study guide compared to that of the actual TEAS V... that is on a completely different level. Although the science section in the book gives you a general or brief idea of the topics you need to review.... you definitely need to do a little more research on the more difficult topics such as chemistry and life sciences. Make sure you comfortably know at least the basics of each topic. I found it helpful when taking the test to read each question carefully and try to apply the question asked to the specific science study section within the manual (ex. if they are talking about autotrophs... automatically know that photosynthesis is involved). By relating the question to the section, you can narrow down your answers. Unless you have recently taken all the science sections in the form of prerequisites... make sure u spend a great portion of study time for the science.
Anther thing I would recommend is buying BOTH of the online practice exams. I know that it may be a little pricey, but trust me they are worth every single penny. Yes, there are two practice tests in the back of the study guide, and yes those practice tests are great for the information presented in the book for the Reading, Math, and English portions. But keep in mind that the actual science section of the TEAS V is more in depth. This is where the online practices tests become useful. The questions on the online practice test are much more comparable in difficulty level to the TEAS V than the questions on the practice exams in the book.
I am not giving all this information to freak anyone out, but just so that you can determine which sections you personally feel you need to focus on. Anther thing I want to note is that I literally spent hours for the past two months researching whether the actual TEAS V was more like the practice exams in the study guide book, or more difficult like the online practice exams. I found so many conflicting answers... some said it was just like the book... others said it was more like the online practice test. In my personal experience, it was much more like the online practice tests. But keep in mind that you are may not be taking the exact same test as many of the people voicing their opinion. I'm pretty sure that there are several different formats of the test to ensure there is no cheating or that someone who already has taken the test cannot provide useable answers to someone who has to take it still. So in short, i believe everyone's experience is different. I found the test difficult and more like the online practice test. Someone else may have found it easy and more like the back of the book test. My opinion: do not waste time trying to find out which practice test the actual TEAS V is more likely to resemble. Focus on studying and do not freak out. Have confidence in yourself and your dedication to succeeding. My proctor gave me a great piece of advice: "Yes, if you have extra time left over in a section, you can go back and review it. But i advise you to avoid doing that. Often when you second guess an answer, and go back and change it... the original answer was correct and you end up getting it wrong." My last piece of advice is to take as many practice tests as you can and definitely time them so you can get a feel of working under a certain amount of time just like the test. Also, when taking the TEAS V, CAREFULLY read the question to determine what answer they want. EX. If they ask you to list something greatest to least, and you list it least to greatest... boom automatically wrong.
I studied for 2 months using the ATI Teas V study book, my anatomy and physiology text book, and youtube videos (sometime we need things explained in a different, visual way to be able to understand the concepts presented).
My Adjusted Individual total score was a 92.7%
Breakdown of sections:
Reading: 92.9% (studied alot- topic, main idea, supporting details, themes, and types of passages)
Math: 96.7
Science: 91.7%
English: 90.0% ( ABSOLUTELY STUDY: simple, complex, compound sentences, subject verb agreement, and grammar/sentence structure for clarity)
Make sure to sleep well the day before, eat a good breakfast, and take a moment right before you start to clear your mind and take a deep breath. And always tell yourself " I can do this."
Hope I helped! Im also going to post this in an individual post to help others looking for advice.
Scored proficient 😊😆🎉