Before one ventures into the technicalities of the TEAS exam, its science, math, language, and reading—one must face an even more formidable challenge: the internal battlefield of mindset, discipline, and self-awareness. The uncelebrated truth is this: passing the TEAS is not just a test of your academic ability; it is a subtle measurement of your emotional endurance, adaptability, and personal integrity.
This first part of the series unveils the psychological and strategic architecture necessary for long-term exam success. It dissects not the subject content, but the thinking patterns, study habits, and self-constructs that define whether a student drowns under pressure or evolves into a quiet storm of precision.
The Psychology of Purpose: Rewiring Your ‘Why’
When preparing for the TEAS, many begin with flashcards and practice tests. Fewer begin with introspection. Yet, the trajectory of your preparation hinges on a clearly defined reason—a purpose so distilled and potent that it carries you through burnout, distraction, and uncertainty.
Ask yourself: Why are you truly pursuing a nursing career? Is it survival, passion, purpose, or perhaps redemption? The clearer this answer, the more aligned your actions become. A purpose-centered approach reframes studying from a chore to a calling. It is this shift that turns fatigue into focus.
A study schedule built without purpose is just a calendar. But a study plan forged through clarity of purpose becomes a compass. It realigns you when motivation wanes.
Crafting a Study Ritual: The Power of Sacred Repetition
Students often focus on study hours but ignore study energy. It’s not about how long you study but how intentionally you enter that cognitive space. Create a ritual—a repeated, symbolic entry into the mental zone of learning. Perhaps you always light a candle, wear a specific hoodie, or listen to instrumental music. These seemingly trivial cues trigger psychological focus. They train your subconscious mind to prepare for cognitive intensity.
High-achieving TEAS scorers often cultivate a dedicated study aura. They don’t just open a book at random; they engineer a sensory and spatial environment conducive to deep retention. The brain, after all, associates memory with emotional and physical context.
Also, leverage a technique known as temporal anchoring—study the hardest subjects at your peak mental hours. For most, that’s early morning or early evening. Avoid passive review during these windows. Instead, dig into the intimidating chapters: cell biology, algebra, or reading inferences.
Study Resources: Precision Over Plenitude
Many aspiring nurses fall into the trap of information overload. They hoard resources: books, apps, PDFs, question banks, YouTube channels. This is not productivity. This is academic gluttony. It scatters your focus and fractures your memory consolidation.
Instead, become a minimalist strategist. Choose one or two high-quality resources for each TEAS section and commit to mastering them fully. Repetition and internalization win over novelty and surface-level exposure.
For instance, one recommended resource combines diagnostic questions, adaptive quizzes, and concept tutorials. Use its analytics features to spot your blind spots. Don’t study what feels familiar—study what feels uncomfortable. The discomfort zone is the growth zone.
Supplement digital tools with physical writing. Yes, write by hand. The kinesthetic act of notetaking enhances long-term retention and cognitive filtering. Use the Feynman Technique—explain complex topics in simple words on paper. If you cannot simplify, you do not truly understand.
Time as a Tool: The Sacred Geometry of Scheduling
Scheduling is not just about managing time; it’s about managing mental capital. Break your preparation into cognitive cycles: review, practice, analyze, and reflect. Allocate each week to a strategic balance. For example:
- Monday to Wednesday: Core content review (with emphasis on weak areas)
- Thursday: Mixed practice tests
- Friday: Error analysis and notebook review
- Saturday: Simulated exam session under timed conditions
- Sunday: Rest or light revision (audio lessons, flashcards)
This structured rhythm builds mental endurance, not just short-term memory. And remember: consistency eclipses intensity. A steady 2 hours daily beats a chaotic 6-hour cramming binge. The brain consolidates knowledge best through spaced repetition and active recall, not passive rereading.
Create a study ledger where you log daily accomplishments—not just hours studied, but concepts mastered and errors corrected. This cultivates progress awareness and keeps procrastination in check.
Emotional Mastery: Discipline Over Motivation
Let’s destroy a myth—motivation is not the foundation of success. It is unreliable, fluctuating, and easily manipulated by mood. What you need is discipline—a commitment rooted in habit, not emotion.
Train your mind to study not when you feel like it, but because it’s embedded in your identity. Say to yourself, “I am a future nurse. I show up.” Identity-based habits are far stronger than goal-based behaviors.
Adopt micro-accountability. Text a friend every night with a two-line update: what you studied, and one concept you learned. This tiny ritual keeps your mind tethered to responsibility.
Combat burnout with strategic withdrawal, not complete shutdown. When you feel overwhelmed, don’t stop entirely—just switch gears. Read a nursing memoir, watch a relevant TED talk, or review anatomy flashcards through gamified apps. This sustains momentum without draining reserves.
Environment Engineering: Where You Study Matters
Your study environment speaks to your subconscious. A cluttered desk, background noise, or even the wrong lighting can subtly sabotage your retention.
Design a clean, minimalistic, and sensory-controlled space. Ideally, natural light, ergonomic seating, and zero digital distractions. Use ambient blockers—white noise apps or classical music—to insulate yourself from auditory interference.
Declutter not just physically but digitally. Close unnecessary tabs, mute notifications, and isolate your learning applications. A distraction-free zone signals the brain to engage in deep work—the rare state where real learning occurs.
Practice Tests: Simulate to Succeed
Nothing prepares you for the TEAS like a controlled simulation. Take full-length timed practice exams at least every two weeks. Treat them like the real deal—no breaks, no phone, no snacks. Mimic exam-day conditions meticulously.
After each test, don’t just review the answers—analyze the questions. Ask: Why did I choose the wrong option? What misled me? Which topics caused hesitation? This transforms failure into feedback and nurtures test-day intuition.
Build an error log. Write down every mistake, why it happened, and how you corrected it. Categorize errors: careless, conceptual, or misread. Over time, you’ll see patterns and can recalibrate accordingly.
The Inner Dialogue: Shaping Thought Patterns
Before, during, and after each study session, monitor your self-talk. Replace passive defeatist language (“I can’t remember anything”) with intentional affirmations (“Every review sharpens my memory”). Your mind listens. Speak power into it.
On tough days, visualize success. See yourself in nursing scrubs. Picture the “Congratulations” screen. Envision telling your family that you passed. These micro-visions rewire the brain toward hope and perseverance.
Mastering the TEAS is as much about rewriting your internal narrative as it is about reviewing material. The ones who succeed are not always the smartest, they are the most mentally rehearsed.
Identity over Score
Understand this: The TEAS exam is not a verdict on your intelligence. It is a mirror reflecting your preparation, resilience, and growth. Let it shape your identity, not wound your ego.
In this journey, be kind to yourself. Praise effort, not perfection. Measure progress in concepts understood, not just scores achieved. When the pressure mounts, return to your reason. Let it carry you.
Let this be your mantra: “I am not preparing to pass a test. I am preparing to change lives.”
TEAS Content Demystified – Breaking Down the Anatomy of Strategy
Where Part 1 focused on the cognitive and emotional infrastructure necessary to master the TEAS, this segment enters the arena of content itself—but not in the rudimentary, mechanical manner so often found in traditional study guides. Instead, we delve into how to strategically engage with each section of the TEAS through insight-driven segmentation, pattern recognition, and anticipatory learning. The goal here isn’t to “memorize” the test but to outmaneuver it with precision and poise.
The TEAS exam is divided into four sections: Reading, Mathematics, Science, and English & Language Usage. However, to treat them as isolated blocks is a novice approach. Each section has a subtle thematic undercurrent that reveals how the test-makers think—and once you tap into that rhythm, you no longer study harder, but smarter.
The Reading Section: The Art of Interpretive Intelligence
At first glance, the reading section appears to be a test of comprehension. But beneath that lies something more intricate: the ability to discern nuance, isolate intent, and distinguish the author’s voice from factual statement.
Rather than scanning for answers, approach reading as a structural decoding exercise. Passages are built with symmetry—main idea up top, expansion in the middle, implication or persuasion at the end. Recognizing this architecture speeds up your interpretation.
When faced with inference questions, don’t just look for what’s stated. Ask: What would the author never say? Sometimes, eliminating the impossible reveals the truth faster than chasing it directly.
Use a technique called mental mapping: as you read, create a skeleton outline in your mind—what’s the thesis, what supports it, what contrasts it. This builds clarity without rereading, which is critical under time pressure.
Avoid the temptation of prior knowledge. The TEAS rewards your ability to stay within the passage’s boundary, not to argue with it or “correct” it. Even if you disagree, your job is not to critique but to maintain cognitive neutrality.
Mathematics: Precision, Not Panic
For many, the math section triggers silent dread. Not because of complexity, but because of years of educational trauma wrapped in numbers. The TEAS math section, however, is not calculus or theoretical algebra. It is practical math applied with clarity under time constraints.
Conceptually, you must own five domains:
- Fractions, decimals, and percentages
- Ratios and proportions
- Algebraic operations
- Measurement and data interpretation
- Word problems and conversions
Master each domain in context. Don’t just memorize how to convert fractions—understand when and why you’d do it. Apply conversions within real-world nursing scenarios (medication dosage, IV rates, etc.). This not only deepens comprehension but anchors it in career relevance.
Use vertical simplification in multi-step problems. Break complex problems into tiered mini-steps. Write each transformation on its line. This trains your eye to scan logic, not just numbers.
Time management here is vital. The goal is not perfection but efficiency. If a question takes over two minutes, mark it and move. Return only if you have surplus time. Obsessing over a single item sacrifices others.
In your prep, go beyond rote practice. Build a “mistake diary.” For every error, dissect not just the correct solution, but the origin of confusion. Was it a misread number? A skipped unit? A conceptual misunderstanding? This metacognitive approach prevents repeated stumbles.
Science: Synthesis Over Memorization
The science section is where most candidates falter—not due to difficulty, but due to fragmented study. Human anatomy, biology, chemistry, and scientific reasoning are broad areas. The key to conquering them lies in thematic synthesis.
Instead of treating topics as isolated facts, interlace them. For example, don’t study the respiratory system in isolation. Study it alongside the circulatory system, tracing oxygen’s path from inhalation to cellular respiration. This layered thinking improves recall and conceptual fluidity.
Prioritize foundational domains:
- Human body systems
- DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis
- Cellular structures and functions
- Basic chemistry and atomic interactions
- The scientific method and experimental logic
Use analogies. If mitochondria are the “powerhouse,” what’s the “security system” or “control center”? Creating your metaphors may sound childish, but it cements concepts into long-term memory.
Utilize visual recall. Sketch systems, processes, and diagrams. Even if you never see them again, the act of drawing etches neural pathways far stronger than passive reading.
Simulate the “why” behind facts. Why do enzymes denature at high temperatures? Why does osmosis matter in IV administration? Nursing is applied biology—your TEAS prep should mirror that complexity in simplified form.
English & Language Usage: Grammar as Logic
This section is often underestimated. But grammar is not just about rules—it’s about structure, intent, and precision. The exam measures your command over clarity and linguistic reasoning more than memorized definitions.
Study:
- Parts of speech and their contextual usage
- Sentence structure and punctuation
- Subject-verb agreement
- Word meaning through context
- Spelling and homophones
- Sentence revisions and improvements
Use sentence surgery. Take flawed examples and surgically correct them in three ways: simplest fix, grammatically correct yet awkward, and optimal clarity. This trains a multidimensional awareness of sentence construction.
Practice verbal compression. Take long sentences and rewrite them in fewer words without changing meaning. This builds syntactic discipline and hones your eye for redundant phrasing.
Repetition isn’t enough. Conduct contrast drills: compare two similar sentences and identify subtle differences in tone, structure, or clarity. This cultivates grammatical intuition, not just mechanical recall.
Strategic Timing: The Discipline of Pacing
Time is your invisible opponent during the TEAS. Each section has its limit, and panic often arises when the clock becomes a mental tyrant. The antidote is conscious pacing.
Before test day, establish a rhythm for each section. Use a stopwatch. Know how long you can realistically spend per question. Reading? No more than 90 seconds. Math? Two minutes max. Science? Prioritize fast recall and save time for reasoning-based items.
Consider this: if you finish a section too early, you’ve likely rushed. If you run out of time, you over-analyze. The sweet spot lies in tempered urgency—moving swiftly, but not mindlessly.
Adaptive Review: The Smart Way to Reinforce
Your post-practice session is more important than the session itself. Review isn’t just about seeing what you got wrong—it’s about recalibrating your understanding.
Use a three-layered system:
- Surface Review: Correct answers and explanations.
- Deep Dive: Why did you misunderstand this concept?
- Reframe and Repeat: Rewrite the question in your own words. Then try it again after 48 hours.
Re-exposing your brain to prior mistakes after a time gap enhances long-term retrieval. Don’t simply restudy—re-challenge.
Cognitive Interleaving: Mixing Beats Mastery
Instead of studying one subject for hours, mix them. This is called interleaved learning, and it’s proven to enhance retention. Do a bit of reading, then math, then science. This mimics the actual exam flow and keeps your brain alert to topic transitions.
Create custom quizzes that mix question types. This prevents overfitting your brain to predictable patterns.
In the final 2–3 weeks before the test, lean into cumulative reviews. Revisit previously learned content in staggered intervals. This layered reinforcement forges durable memory traces.
Final Pre-Exam Week: Mindset + Maintenance
The final week isn’t for cramming, it’s for refining. Treat it like an athlete tapering before a race. Lower your study intensity, raise your recovery, and mental clarity. Focus on:
- Light, strategic reviews
- Full-length timed mock exams.
- Reviewing your error journal
- Regulating sleep and nutrition
Avoid discussions with others who express panic. Anxiety is contagious. Instead, build a mental cocoon of calm. Practice visualization techniques. See yourself confident, breathing steadily, moving from one question to the next with trust in your preparation.
As you approach exam day, shift your thinking from “I must pass” to “I am ready.” This seemingly minor semantic shift reduces pressure and increases performance.
Mastering Test Day: Mental Clarity and Strategic Execution
When it comes to test preparation, most candidates focus heavily on content mastery, revising concepts, and practicing questions. However, what often distinguishes successful candidates from the rest is not just what they know, but how they approach the actual test day. In this section, we will explore the mental strategies, logistical planning, and tactical approaches necessary to perform at your peak when the clock starts ticking on the TEAS exam.
In the journey of preparing for the TEAS, you’ve done the heavy lifting with study and practice, but now, it’s about execution under pressure. This part will break down everything from the hours leading up to the exam to how you can optimize your focus and manage test anxiety effectively.
The Night Before: Laying the Foundation for Mental Clarity
The night before the exam should not be a time for frantic cramming. Such a practice can lead to mental fatigue and increase anxiety levels, diminishing performance. Instead, the night before is about reinforcing confidence and laying the mental groundwork for success.
Begin your pre-exam routine by reframing your mindset. Do not focus on the stress of the exam, but remind yourself of the hard work you’ve already put in. Positive self-talk is a powerful tool here. Say things like, “I am ready for this,” or “I have prepared well, and I am confident in my abilities.” This helps to suppress negative thoughts and create a mental space for calmness.
Do a light review of key concepts that may still seem uncertain, but avoid trying to cram new information. Instead, sketch out the most important formulas or diagrams that might appear on the exam—this kind of revision serves as a memory trigger rather than deep learning.
Plan your logistics carefully:
- Sleep is crucial: Aim for a full 7–8 hours to allow your mind to rejuvenate.
- Prepare everything you need for test day: ID, registration confirmation, materials (pencils, erasers, etc.), and any snacks or water.
- Avoid stimulating activities like watching intense movies or reading stressful material. Opt for calming activities like light reading or relaxation exercises to ease your mind into sleep.
Morning of the Exam: Energy and Focus
On the day of the exam, it’s important to maintain your energy levels and mental focus. Start by having a nutritious breakfast, one that’s light but provides sustained energy. Avoid heavy meals that might leave you feeling sluggish or overly full. Foods like whole grains, fruits, and protein-rich snacks are ideal for maintaining focus. Hydrate, but avoid excessive caffeine, as it can increase feelings of nervousness or jitteriness.
Arrive at the test center early to avoid any unnecessary stress from unexpected delays. This extra time allows you to settle into the environment, gather your thoughts, and complete any necessary administrative requirements with ease.
Once seated, take a few moments to breathe deeply and center yourself. A quick 30-second meditation or simply closing your eyes to reset your focus can make a huge difference in lowering stress and calming nerves.
Stress Management: Harnessing Nervous Energy
Stress is inevitable on test day, but what you do with that energy is what matters. Instead of seeing anxiety as a hindrance, try to harness it as fuel for concentration. The key is not to suppress nervousness, but to accept it and turn it into productive focus.
The most effective method to manage stress during the exam is to use controlled breathing. If you begin to feel overwhelmed, stop for a moment and take three deep breaths: inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4, and exhale for 6 seconds. This simple technique helps calm the nervous system, lowers blood pressure, and resets your focus.
Another powerful stress management tactic is positive visualization. Before each section, take a moment to picture yourself completing it confidently. Imagine yourself working through the questions logically, not rushing, but thinking clearly. Visualization can transform fear into a sense of accomplishment, which sets you up for success.
It’s also helpful to recognize when your mind starts to wander or feel overwhelmed during the exam. If this happens, take a mental break—not a full pause, but an intentional moment to refocus. A simple trick is to close your eyes briefly, stretch your arms, or flex your fingers. These short breaks can reset your brain and help you keep your momentum going.
Exam Strategy: Timing, Focus, and Review
When it comes to the TEAS exam itself, strategic planning and time management are essential to ensure that you do not run out of time, but also don’t waste it. Let’s break down each section’s approach:
Reading Section
The reading section, often perceived as straightforward, requires a sharp eye for detail. Each passage is designed to test your comprehension, but more importantly, it’s crafted to see how well you analyze information. Key strategy: Don’t rush through the passage. Instead, take a moment to quickly identify the main idea of each paragraph.
- Tip: For inference questions, remember that you’re trying to find the best possible answer, not necessarily the only true one. Always look for the answer that best supports the overall theme.
- Pacing: Don’t spend more than 90 seconds on each question. If you’re unsure, mark the question, skip it, and return to it later. This prevents you from getting bogged down.
Mathematics Section
In the mathematics section, quick recall of formulas and concepts is crucial. The biggest mistake here is spending too long on complex problems. Use the strategy of “skip and return”—mark the questions that take more than a minute and move forward. Don’t get caught up in individual problems; keep the momentum going.
- Tip: Use mental math as much as possible to avoid wasting time on lengthy calculations.
- Formula sheet: Remember, you’re provided with a formula sheet during the test. Familiarize yourself with it ahead of time, so you don’t waste time searching for formulas during the exam.
Science Section
In the science section, the most important tactic is to focus on understanding basic concepts rather than memorizing minutiae. Questions here tend to test your ability to apply principles in real-world scenarios, which is why it’s important to think critically rather than simply regurgitate information.
- Tip: Understand cause and effect relationships (e.g., how changes in one system affect another). This understanding will help you approach questions that require logical reasoning, rather than just factual recall.
English and Language Usage
This section tests grammar, sentence structure, and writing mechanics. It can often be easier than the other sections because it is more straightforward, but it still requires focus.
- Tip: Always look for the simplest, clearest answer. Avoid convoluted sentence constructions or unnecessary word choices.
- Pacing: Given the number of questions, this section can be time-consuming. Avoid dwelling on individual questions for too long; if in doubt, make an educated guess and move on.
Midway Through the Exam: Staying Energized and Focused
As the exam progresses, maintaining your focus is key. Take advantage of short breaks between sections to stretch, walk around, or relax your hands and wrists. Doing this helps prevent fatigue from setting in and keeps your brain refreshed.
During longer sections, avoid mentally checking out. Every question still counts, and your focus should be unwavering. Mindfulness is essential here—staying present in the moment is the best way to avoid errors that occur from lapsing concentration.
After the Exam: Reflection and Rest
Once you’ve completed the TEAS exam, give yourself a mental break. Take some time to relax and reflect on the process, but avoid obsessing over small mistakes or imagining alternative answers. The stress is over now, and it’s time for recovery.
In the days following the exam, take time to recharge. Celebrate your effort, not just the result. Rest assured that you have already put in the work necessary to succeed.
Preparing for Success: Exam Day Strategy and Focus
The preparation leading up to the TEAS exam is important, but how you manage the exam day itself can truly determine your success. A well-prepared mind is just as critical as a well-prepared body, and managing stress, focusing your energy, and maintaining clarity will help you execute everything you’ve worked for. It’s time to take a closer look at mental strategies, test-taking tactics, and stress management techniques that will enable you to perform at your best on exam day.
In this section, we will guide you through the exam day routine, from morning preparations to the strategies for staying calm under pressure and managing the most challenging parts of the test. Having a clear plan for the day of the exam ensures that you enter the exam room with the confidence and focus needed to succeed.
The Importance of Restful Sleep Before the Exam
The night before the TEAS exam plays a pivotal role in shaping your mental and physical readiness. No amount of last-minute cramming or excessive studying can replace the benefits of a restful night’s sleep. Research consistently shows that adequate sleep enhances memory, problem-solving skills, and cognitive performance, all of which are essential during your TEAS exam. Sleep helps consolidate the material you’ve studied, allowing you to retain and recall information more efficiently.
If you find yourself feeling anxious or nervous about the exam, remember that stress is a natural part of the process. Instead of trying to control it, focus on reducing it with relaxation techniques like deep breathing, light stretching, or even listening to soothing music. Set a sleep schedule and aim to rest at least 7–8 hours before the exam. A good night’s sleep ensures that you wake up refreshed, with a clear and calm mind, ready to take on the challenges of the test.
Start Your Morning Right: Fueling Your Body and Mind
How you start the morning of the exam can set the tone for your entire day. A balanced breakfast provides the nutrients and energy your brain needs to stay sharp and focused. Choose a breakfast that includes complex carbohydrates, lean proteins, and fruits or vegetables. Whole grains, eggs, and oatmeal are excellent choices as they provide sustained energy throughout the exam.
It’s also important to hydrate well before the exam, but avoid consuming too much caffeine or sugar. While caffeine can provide an initial energy boost, too much of it can lead to a crash in energy levels and can increase feelings of anxiety. Instead, try drinking water or herbal tea to maintain focus without overstimulation.
Another key aspect of the morning is your timing. Aim to arrive at the exam location early. This provides you with enough time to settle in, complete any necessary paperwork, and calm any last-minute jitters. Arriving early also allows you to mentally prepare for the exam without the added pressure of rushing.
Managing Exam Anxiety: Staying Calm Under Pressure
One of the greatest obstacles that candidates face on exam day is test anxiety. The fear of failing or not performing well can often lead to negative thoughts that hinder cognitive abilities. Recognizing that anxiety is a natural response is crucial. The goal isn’t to eliminate anxiety, but rather to manage it effectively.
Here are some practical strategies for keeping anxiety at bay and ensuring that it doesn’t interfere with your performance:
Controlled Breathing
Deep breathing is one of the most effective ways to calm your nervous system. It helps reduce heart rate, clear your mind, and re-focus your attention. When you feel your anxiety levels rising, take a moment to pause and practice a simple breathing technique:
- Inhale for four seconds.
- Hold your breath for four seconds.
- Exhale slowly for six seconds.
- Repeat this process for two to three minutes.
This technique will help calm your nerves and return your focus to the task at hand.
Positive Visualization
Before the exam begins, take a few moments to visualize success. Picture yourself answering questions confidently, remaining calm and collected, and performing at your best. This kind of mental rehearsal primes your brain for success and boosts self-assurance. Visualization creates a sense of familiarity and control, allowing you to perform at a higher level under pressure.
Mindfulness and Focus
It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the magnitude of the TEAS exam. Instead of focusing on the entire test, break it down into manageable sections and commit to staying in the present moment. If you find your mind wandering, gently redirect your thoughts back to the task at hand. Practicing mindfulness during the exam helps improve concentration and focus, even in high-stress situations.
Exam Strategy: Pacing and Prioritizing Sections
With time pressure being one of the biggest challenges during the TEAS exam, it is essential to use your time wisely. The TEAS exam consists of multiple sections, each with its own set of questions. The key to success lies in managing your time effectively and prioritizing tasks.
Reading Section
The Reading section tests your ability to understand and analyze written passages. While this section may seem straightforward, it’s important not to rush through the questions. Instead, take a systematic approach:
- First, quickly read the questions before reading the passage. This allows you to focus on relevant information as you read.
- After reading the passage, refer back to the questions and answer them in order, ensuring that you’re answering based on the context of the passage.
Mathematics Section
The Mathematics section requires quick and accurate problem-solving. To avoid spending too much time on individual questions, employ the skip and return method. If you come across a difficult question, skip it, move on, and come back to it later if you have time. This ensures that you are not wasting valuable time on questions that may be too complex at first glance.
- Practice using mental math to avoid unnecessary delays.
- Be sure to review the formula sheet provided during the exam and ensure you understand how to apply the formulas efficiently.
Science Section
In the Science section, focus on applying your knowledge rather than memorizing facts. Many questions require you to understand relationships between concepts and apply them to practical situations. Use the process of elimination to narrow down answer choices and increase your chances of selecting the correct one.
Understanding cause-and-effect relationships will help you with questions about biology, chemistry, physics, and human anatomy.
English and Language Usage Section
This section evaluates your grammar, sentence structure, and understanding of language mechanics. Stay focused on clarity and conciseness when reviewing the questions. When in doubt, choose the answer that provides the most straightforward and correct structure, avoiding unnecessary words or phrases.
During the Exam: Maintaining Focus and Energy
Maintaining focus throughout the entirety of the TEAS exam requires mental stamina. Here are some tips to stay energized and engaged throughout:
- Take Short Breaks: After each section, stretch, drink water, or take a deep breath. These small moments of relaxation will keep your mind fresh and prevent fatigue from setting in.
- Monitor Your Pace: Keep track of time, but don’t obsess over it. Aim to spend approximately 8–10 minutes per section. If you’re nearing the end of a section, move on to the next question to prevent running out of time.
- Keep a Positive Attitude: If you encounter a question you don’t know the answer to, don’t panic. Take a deep breath, use logic to eliminate incorrect answers, and move forward. Remember, you can always come back to the question if there’s time remaining.
Conclusion
Once you’ve completed the exam, it’s important to reflect on the process and give yourself credit for the effort you put in. Don’t get caught up in obsessing over the questions you may have struggled with. Focus on the fact that you’ve put in the work and gave your best effort.
In the days following the exam, resist the temptation to analyze the questions or stress about the results. Instead, give yourself some space to relax, engage in enjoyable activities, and recharge your mental energy.
