Going to Nursing School? Get Ready for the TEAS

in Education by Angie — February 16, 2011 at 10:58 am | 0 comments

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you probably know that nursing is supposed to be a hot career in the next decade – especially now that the baby boomers are retiring.

That means there are lots of people applying to nursing school, making nursing school programs highly competitive. In order to help with the selection process for training RNs and LPNs, schools use entrance exams as a way to measure knowledge in several subject areas. In some cases schools will not consider applicants who achieve below a predefined score. In other instances schools will consider your GPA and other factors along with your entrance exam score.

If you want to go to nursing school, you will probably be required to take a skills assessment test like the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS). Before you apply, find out what tests are being administered at your school and how your test results will be considered during the admission process.

What exactly is the TEAS Test?

As mentioned above, TEAS stands for Test of Essential Academic Skills. It is a multiple-choice exam that tests your basic knowledge in a number of different subjects including math, reading, English, and science. Nursing educators developed the test based on objectives they felt were most relevant to evaluate the entry level skills and requisite knowledge of their many applicants.

When do I take the TEAS?

Prepare to register for the exam before your application deadline. If you take the test after the deadline, you will most likely need to wait for the next admissions cycle.

How do I prepare for TEAS?

There are a number of study aids available to help you prepare before you take the exam. From complete study guides to practice tests and even flashcards, you can familiarize yourself with the topics and the overall format of the test. These can be purchased at university bookstores, online, and at many bookstores.

Generally, the TEAS test lasts about 3.5 hours and covers four different sections. Be prepared to sit for long periods. Do your best to focus on the exam, and remember that with multiple-choice tests, it’s important to read all of the possible answers before making your final decision.

Finally, once you have completed the exam your TEAS scores will be sent to your school’s admissions department. Often, because the test is computer-scored, you may be able to get your scores immediately. If you do not get a passing score, ask when you can take the test again.

Results can be sent to multiple schools if you plan to apply to more than one nursing school.

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