Is the TEAS hard to pass? It depends on your school's cut score
Written and reviewed by Brittany Scott, BSN, RN, CCM · 4 min read · Updated November 2026
Short answer
The TEAS is hard to pass only relative to your school's minimum, because ATI sets no national passing score. A 65% total clears Waukesha County Technical College's nursing bar, while ATI says most schools look for the Proficient level or higher. Science is the biggest section, and ATI says approximately 40% of students need to retake it.
Why there is no single answer to how hard it is
ATI's help center states that each school sets its own cut score for the TEAS. There is no score that means you passed everywhere. Your score report shows a total score and an academic preparedness level, from Developmental through Basic, Proficient and Advanced to Exemplary, and ATI says most schools will want you at Proficient or above.
Real cutoffs vary. Waukesha County Technical College in Wisconsin requires a minimum total score of 65% for its nursing program. Kapi'olani Community College in Hawaii does not publish a number on its testing page and sends applicants to its nursing department. So the honest first step is to find your program's number, then judge the gap between it and a practice score.
What makes the TEAS feel hard
The difficulty is mostly breadth and pace. ATI's blueprint packs 170 questions into 209 minutes across reading, math, science, and English and language usage. Each section has its own time limit, and ATI states there is no penalty for guessing, so answer every question.
Twenty of the 170 questions are unscored, and ATI says you will not know which ones they are, so treat every question as if it counts.
What is the hardest section of the TEAS?
ATI does not name a hardest section, but its own numbers show where the load sits. Science has the most questions, math gives the most time per question, and English gives the least.
| Section | Questions (scored) | Time | Minutes per question |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 45 (39) | 55 min | About 1.2 |
| Math | 38 (34) | 57 min | About 1.5 |
| Science | 50 (44) | 60 min | About 1.2 |
| English and language usage | 37 (33) | 37 min | About 1.0 |
Science is where many applicants lose ground because anatomy and physiology alone is 18 scored items, more than any other subtopic on the exam, and it draws on course content rather than general reading or grammar skill. If you have not taken anatomy recently, treat science as your hardest section until a timed practice test proves otherwise.
Is the TEAS harder than the SAT?
No official body compares the two, so any claim that one is harder is opinion. What you can compare is structure. College Board lists the digital SAT at 98 questions in 2 hours and 14 minutes, split into Reading and Writing and Math, with adaptive modules that get harder or easier based on your first module.
The TEAS is longer, at 170 questions in 209 minutes, is not adaptive, and adds a full science section that the SAT does not have. If science is your weak area, the TEAS will likely feel harder. If you are strong in biology and anatomy, the extra section can work in your favor.
How to make it easier on yourself
ATI recommends at least six weeks of preparation and names too little prep time as the biggest mistake students make. Start with ATI's online practice tests to see which section is actually weakest for you before you plan your weeks.
Then check your school's retake rules before test day, not after. Schools set waiting periods: Kapi'olani Community College requires a 90-day wait between attempts, while Waukesha County Technical College has no retake limit but strongly recommends 30 days. A long wait can cost you an application cycle, so book early.
Sources
ATI Help: What is the ATI TEAS exam? (content specifications). 170 items, 150 scored, 20 unscored, 209 minutes, questions and time per section, 18 scored anatomy and physiology items, no guessing penalty
ATI Help: What score do I need to get on the ATI TEAS exam?. Each school sets its own cut score; most schools want Proficient or above
ATI Help: When should I start studying for the TEAS exam?. Approximately 40% need to retake; at least six weeks of preparation; biggest mistake is too little study time
Waukesha County Technical College: ATI TEAS. School example: 65% minimum total for nursing; 30 days recommended between retakes
College Board: SAT structure. Digital SAT has 98 questions in 2 hours 14 minutes with adaptive modules
Common questions
Is the TEAS hard to pass?
There is no national pass mark. You pass if you reach your school's minimum, which ranges from a stated total like Waukesha County Technical College's 65% to a preparedness level such as Proficient. Find your program's number first.
Is the TEAS harder than the HESI A2?
Neither ATI nor Elsevier publishes a difficulty comparison. The exams differ in sections and scoring, and your school usually decides which one you take. See our TEAS vs HESI A2 guide for the format differences.
How many people fail the TEAS?
ATI does not publish a failure rate because schools set their own cut scores. ATI does say approximately 40% of students need to retake it, so a first attempt below target is common.