Nursing School Entrance Exams: TEAS 7, HESI A2 and Scores

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Most nursing programs require either the ATI TEAS Version 7 or the Elsevier HESI Admission Assessment (HESI A2) to measure your readiness in reading, math, science, and English. According to ATI, the TEAS Version 7 has 170 questions (including 20 unscored pretest items) across 209 minutes of testing time, and 40% of test-takers end up retaking it. There is no universal passing score, so you must check each nursing program's application checklist for its minimum cutoff, accepted proctor format, and attempt cap before you register. Sources: ATI TEAS Exam Details (Version 7 Blueprint and Timing), Register for the ATI TEAS (Proctoring, Checklist, and FAQs), TEAS Online Proctored by ATI (Test Day Rules and Calculator). Last checked November 3, 2026.

Why nursing programs require an admissions exam

Nursing and allied health programs use standardized entrance exams to measure whether you have the academic foundation in reading, mathematics, science, and English needed to handle nursing coursework. According to ATI, 30% of qualified applicants are turned away from ADN, Diploma, and BSN programs, so your entrance exam score often separates your file from applicants with a similar GPA.

The two primary testing platforms you will encounter when applying to pre-licensure nursing programs are the ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS Version 7) and Elsevier's HESI Admission Assessment. Because every school sets its own testing rules, your first step in planning how to apply to nursing programs is confirming which exam your target schools require and whether you are submitting through a school portal or NursingCAS.

Once your exam score clears a program's academic cutoff, many BSN and accelerated BSN (ABSN) programs invite competitive applicants to an admissions interview. To practice nursing school interview questions and practice out loud after your exam, Confetto runs AI mock interviews in traditional, panel, and MMI formats with rubric-based feedback. Start your free week.

ATI TEAS Version 7 format, sections, and timing

The ATI TEAS Version 7 has 170 total questions, made up of 150 scored questions and 20 unscored pretest items, with 209 minutes of allocated testing time on ATI's Exam Details page. When you take the TEAS Online Exam proctored by ATI, a four-function calculator (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) is built into the test screen, and you should plan on a maximum of 4 hours to complete the full session.

Version 7 uses five question formats, not only standard multiple choice. Expect multiple choice, multiple select (select all that apply), fill in the blank, ordered response, and hot spot questions across all four subject areas.

By our calculation from ATI's Exam Details table, you get an average of about 1.23 minutes (roughly 74 seconds) per question across the 170 items, and the English and Language Usage section has the tightest pace at exactly 1.00 minute per question. In the Science section, Human Anatomy and Physiology accounts for 18 of the 44 scored questions, which is about 41% of your scored science items by our calculation from ATI's blueprint.

ATI TEAS Version 7 blueprint and timing (Source: ATI TEAS Exam Details)
Section	Total questions (unscored)	Time limit	Pace per question	Scored content breakdown
Reading	45 (6 unscored)	55 minutes	1.22 minutes (73 sec)	Key ideas and details (15), Craft and structure (9), Integration of knowledge and ideas (15)
Mathematics	38 (4 unscored)	57 minutes	1.50 minutes (90 sec)	Numbers and algebra (18), Measurement and data (16)
Science	50 (6 unscored)	60 minutes	1.20 minutes (72 sec)	Human anatomy and physiology (18), Biology (9), Chemistry (8), Scientific reasoning (9)
English and Language Usage	37 (4 unscored)	37 minutes	1.00 minute (60 sec)	Conventions of standard English (12), Knowledge of language (11), Using language and vocabulary to express ideas in writing (10)
Total	170 (20 unscored)	209 minutes	1.23 minutes (74 sec)	150 total scored questions across 4 sections

Elsevier HESI Admission Assessment: what the platform tests

HESI is Elsevier's review and testing platform for nursing and health professions education. According to Elsevier's HESI page, the system covers the full student path from admission assessment through modular content exams, exit exams, and personalized remediation aligned to the NCLEX test plan.

Unlike the ATI TEAS Version 7, which gives every student the same fixed four-section exam (Reading, Mathematics, Science, and English and Language Usage), Elsevier's HESI platform is built around modular assessments that nursing programs configure to match their own curriculum and admissions standards. If you are applying to a BSN or ABSN school that uses HESI, check the program's admissions packet for its required subtest list and registration instructions through your Evolve student account.

Elsevier delivers HESI assessments under strict security controls. Its HESI Security Framework uses a Secure Browser that blocks screen recording, virtual machines, and unauthorized apps in real time, along with visible watermarks, continuous item rotation, and live proctoring with tester ID verification, unique access codes, and real-time behavior flagging.

How nursing programs publish minimum scores and format rules

There is no universal passing score on the TEAS. Every nursing or allied health program sets its own minimum score requirement, decides whether it accepts remote at-home testing, and sets its own deadline for official transcripts. Aim comfortably above your program's minimum cutoff.

When you read a nursing school's own admissions page or application packet, check how the program structures both its exam format and its score cutoff. On the ATI TEAS, each school chooses which of the four proctoring methods it accepts (online via ATI, online via the institution, in person at the institution, or via a PSI testing center) and sets its own minimum score, retake waiting window, and attempt cap. On Elsevier's modular HESI platform, programs also decide which specific assessment modules you take and what benchmark you need to clear.

Because entrance exam rules often sit inside department documents rather than on general university admissions pages, ATI's registration guide outlines a two-step method to verify your school's exact rules before you pay for an exam.

Search your school's domain directly: run a search for "[School] TEAS requirements" or use site:[school].edu TEAS, and also try terms like "entrance exam," "admission exam," or "pre-admission testing."
Open the nursing application checklist and PDF handbooks: check the nursing department's specific program page and add filetype:pdf to your search to surface downloadable admissions packets and student handbooks.
Email the admissions office at least 2 months before your deadline: if the website does not specify the proctor or cutoff, send one email naming your exact program. Ask whether they accept TEAS Version 7, whether you register through ATI or the school, whether remote at-home testing is accepted, what the minimum acceptable score is, whether they prefer a specific testing provider (ATI or PSI), and when scores are due.
Follow up if needed: if you do not hear back within 5 to 7 business days, send a polite follow-up email before booking your seat.

Proctoring options, transcripts, and test-day checklist

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The ATI TEAS is one exam offered through four proctoring methods: online proctored by ATI, online proctored by an institution, in person at an institution, or through a PSI testing center (in person or online). Confirm which proctor and format your school accepts before you pay. ATI warns that some nursing schools do not accept scores from remote exams taken at home, and registering for the wrong exam type is non-refundable.

How your score reaches your school depends on where you test. Every TEAS registration includes one free transcript. If you test in person or online through an institution, your included transcript goes automatically to that institution and you cannot redirect it to a different school. If you test via TEAS at ATI or TEAS at PSI, you choose which school receives your included transcript credit.

If you apply to more than one nursing program, you must buy additional transcript credits. Note that ATI's registration FAQ lists additional transcript credits at $27 per credit (1 credit equals 1 school submission), while the ATI TEAS Transcript store page lists them at $29.99 per credit. Credits never expire, and once your score is finalized, electronic transcripts are sent within 2 hours of submission. If you have taken the TEAS more than once, ATI lets you choose which exam results to send to each institution.

Request ADA accommodations before you register: if you have a documented disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act, submit your accommodations request and get approval before registering, as accommodations cannot be added after you book.
Check your computer before registering for a remote exam: TEAS at ATI remote exams use the Respondus LockDown Browser on PC, Mac, or iPadOS, and ATI does not support Google Chromebooks. You need administrator rights to install the browser, at least 4GB of available RAM, 200 MB of free hard disk space, a webcam (minimum 320x240 VGA), a microphone, and an internet connection of at least 5 Mbps (ideally 10+ Mbps).
Bring a physical, non-expired government ID: both in-person and at-home exams require a physical government-issued photo ID (driver's license, state ID, passport, military ID, permanent resident card, US visa, or tribal card) whose name matches your ATI registration name exactly. Digital photos on a phone and paper printouts are not accepted.
Prepare your desk and log in 30 minutes early: for a remote TEAS at ATI exam, clear your workspace for a room and desk scan, have one single piece of clean scratch paper and a pen or pencil ready (which you must destroy upon completion), and start logging in at atitesting.com 30 minutes before your scheduled start time.

TEAS proctoring methods, score release, and transcript rules (Source: ATI TEAS Registration and Transcript pages)
Proctoring option	Where you test	When scores are ready	How the 1 included transcript works
TEAS Online Proctored by ATI	Remotely from home on PC, Mac, or iPadOS	Preliminary score immediately. Finalized in 3 business days (excluding weekends and major holidays)	You select the receiving school in your ATI student account under the RESULTS tab
TEAS at PSI	At a PSI testing center or online via PSI	Typically posted within 72 hours of exam date and time	You select the receiving school in your ATI student account
TEAS Online Proctored by an Institution	Remotely from home, proctored by school staff	No preliminary watermark period applies	Automatically sent to the testing institution. Cannot be redirected to another school
TEAS In-Person at an Institution	On campus, typically on a school-provided computer	No preliminary watermark period applies	Automatically sent to the testing institution. Cannot be redirected to another school

Retake policies, rescheduling fees, and a 6-week study plan

According to ATI, 40% of test-takers must retake the TEAS. Every exam registration counts as an attempt once started, even if you do not finish or submit the test. ATI does not cap your total lifetime attempts and only requires you to wait at least 48 hours after completing an exam before scheduling a retake through ATI, but individual nursing schools set their own caps on how many attempts count and how long you must wait between sittings.

If your plans change before test day, TEAS at ATI exams can be rescheduled up to 48 hours before your initial exam date for a $15 change fee. You cannot cancel an exam for a refund without required emergency documentation, and ATI does not grant refunds or free reschedules for technical issues on your home computer or internet connection.

ATI recommends allowing at least 6 weeks of preparation before taking or retaking the TEAS, and notes that students using its SmartPrep tutorial increased their average score by 7.5 percentage points. Below is our team's 6-week study schedule built around ATI's 150-scored-question Version 7 blueprint.

Week 1 (Diagnostic and Human Anatomy & Physiology): Take one full 170-question practice test under the exact 209-minute section timers to find your baseline. Spend the rest of the week on Human A&P, which is the single largest topic on the exam at 18 scored questions.
Week 2 (Biology, Chemistry, and Scientific Reasoning): Cover the remaining 26 scored Science items (9 Biology, 8 Chemistry, 9 Scientific Reasoning) and practice interpreting experimental data and tables.
Week 3 (Mathematics): Drill Numbers and Algebra (18 scored questions) and Measurement and Data (16 scored questions). Practice using a basic four-function screen calculator so you do not rely on a scientific calculator you will not have on test day.
Week 4 (Reading): Practice Key Ideas and Details (15 scored questions), Integration of Knowledge and Ideas (15 scored questions), and Craft and Structure (9 scored questions) under a strict 55-minute timer for 45 items.
Week 5 (English and Language Usage + Multi-Select Drills): Review Conventions of Standard English (12), Knowledge of Language (11), and Using Language and Vocabulary (10), then drill multiple-select, fill-in-the-blank, ordered-response, and hot-spot item formats.
Week 6 (Full Timed Simulation and Tech Dry Run): Take a second full-length practice test in one 209-minute sitting, review every rationale for missed questions, and complete the ATI Respondus LockDown Browser dry run on the exact computer and desk you will use.

After the entrance exam: the nursing school interview

Clearing your program's entrance exam cutoff and prerequisite GPA gets your file through the initial academic screen. At programs that interview applicants, the next step is a live or recorded interview focused on your motivation for nursing, teamwork, ethical judgment, and communication, often alongside a review of your nursing school resume.

Unlike the TEAS or HESI, an interview does not test anatomy or algebra facts. Admissions interviewers ask how you handle tense conversations, why you chose nursing over other healthcare careers, and how you have prepared for the workload of clinical rotations. Read our guide to nursing school interview questions for common prompts and how committees score them.

Below is a practice interview question written by our team that bridges your academic preparation and your readiness for nursing school, with an example answer showing how to talk about a setback or study challenge without making excuses. To rehearse answers out loud with follow-up questions, use Confetto's nursing school interview practice. Start your free week.

Practice question

Tell us about an academic or testing setback you experienced while preparing for nursing school, and what you changed afterward.

See an example answer

When I took my first full-length timed practice test for the TEAS six weeks before my exam date, my Science score came back much lower than I expected, especially in human anatomy and physiology. I had taken anatomy a year earlier and assumed rereading my old lecture notes would be enough. Looking at the missed questions, I realized I was recognizing terms on the page but freezing when a question asked how two organ systems interacted. I changed my study method that week. Instead of passively rereading notes, I broke the remaining five weeks into daily 45-minute blocks focused on one body system at a time, drew the pathways on blank paper from memory, and wrote out in plain sentences why each wrong answer choice was wrong. I also practiced under a strict one-minute-per-question timer so the clock would not rush me on test day. By my actual exam sitting, science was my highest section. That experience taught me that recognizing material is not the same as being able to use it under pressure, which is how I plan to study for pharmacology and clinicals in nursing school. (Example answer written by our team. The applicant is invented.)

It names a concrete problem without blaming the test, explains the specific change in study method (moving from passive rereading to active recall and timed drills), and connects the lesson directly to how the applicant will handle nursing school coursework.

Frequently asked questions

How many questions are on the ATI TEAS Version 7 and how long does it take?

According to ATI's Exam Details page, the ATI TEAS Version 7 has 170 total questions (150 scored and 20 unscored pretest items) and 209 minutes of testing time. The four timed sections are Reading (45 questions, 55 minutes), Mathematics (38 questions, 57 minutes), Science (50 questions, 60 minutes), and English and Language Usage (37 questions, 37 minutes).

What is a passing score on the TEAS for nursing school?

There is no universal passing score on the ATI TEAS. Each nursing program sets its own minimum score requirement, so you must check your target school's admissions checklist and aim comfortably above its cutoff.

Can I retake the ATI TEAS if I do not get the score I need?

Yes, and ATI reports that 40% of test-takers retake the TEAS. ATI does not limit your total attempts and only requires a 48-hour wait before scheduling a retake through ATI, but individual nursing schools set their own attempt caps and required waiting periods between exams.

Should I take the TEAS online at home or in person?

Your nursing program decides which proctoring method it accepts. Some schools do not accept scores from remote exams taken at home, and ATI warns that registering for the wrong exam format is non-refundable, so confirm with your school before you pay.

How do nursing schools get my TEAS transcript and what do extra transcripts cost?

Every TEAS registration includes one free transcript, which goes automatically to the testing institution if your school proctors the exam, or to a school you select if you test through ATI or PSI. Additional transcript credits cost $27 per credit on ATI's registration FAQ page ($29.99 per credit on the ATI Transcript store page), never expire, and let you choose which exam attempt to send to each school.