TEAS 6 vs TEAS 7: the differences between the two versions
Written and reviewed by Brittany Scott, BSN, RN, CCM · 3 min read · Updated November 2026
Short answer
TEAS 7 replaced TEAS 6 on June 3, 2022. The main differences: biology and chemistry became their own science subcategories in place of Life and Physical Sciences, the English and Language Usage section grew while reading shrank, and about 20 percent of items now use formats such as select all that apply, fill in the blank, ordered response and hot spot.
When the switch happened
Texas State Technical College's library announced on May 19, 2022 that TEAS Version 7 would start on June 3, 2022, giving students two weeks' notice of the new blueprint. Any TEAS you sit today is version 7; ATI's exam details page still says TEAS Version 7 is now live as of November 2026.
The current exam has 170 items in 209 minutes. ATI's exam details page marks 20 of those as unscored, leaving 150 scored items spread across reading, math, science, and English and language usage.
How the section weights moved
ATI's February 2016 content sheet for the TEAS 6, released August 31, 2016, weighted the exam at 31 percent reading, 22 percent math, 31 percent science and 16 percent English and language usage.
On TEAS 7, ATI lists 39 scored reading items, 34 math, 44 science and 33 English out of 150. Worked out, that is 26 percent reading, about 23 percent math, about 29 percent science and 22 percent English. English gained the most share and reading lost the most, so a study plan built on the TEAS 6 split will underweight grammar and vocabulary.
The reading subareas kept their names: key ideas and details, craft and structure, and integration of knowledge and ideas. Math kept numbers and algebra plus measurement and data, now 18 and 16 items.
Science: biology and chemistry get their own lines
TEAS 6 grouped science into three areas: human anatomy and physiology, life and physical sciences, and scientific reasoning. TEAS 7 replaced the middle one with separate biology and chemistry subcategories, a change the Texas State Technical College announcement put first on its list.
ATI's current blueprint gives 18 scored items to anatomy and physiology, 9 to biology, 8 to chemistry and 9 to scientific reasoning. Chemistry now has a fixed slot of its own, so skipping it is no longer a small risk hidden inside a broad category.
New item formats on TEAS 7
ATI's help center says most TEAS questions are standard four-option multiple choice and about 20 percent are alternate types: multiple select, fill in the blank, ordered response and hot spot. Fill in the blank means typing your own answer, and hot spot means clicking an area on an image.
Every item is scored right or wrong with no partial credit. On a select all that apply item you must choose every correct option and none of the wrong ones to earn the point, so practice those formats rather than only reading content.
Are TEAS 6 books still useful?
Partly. Reading skills, math, anatomy and physiology, and grammar conventions carry over, so an old book still offers practice there. The gaps are the separate biology and chemistry blueprint, the heavier English weighting, and practice in the alternate item formats, which a pre-2022 book will not match.
If you buy one book, make sure it is labeled for version 7. If you hold an old TEAS 6 score, ask each school whether it still accepts it, because ATI's help center says every school sets its own TEAS cut score and admission rules.
Sources
ATI: TEAS Exam Details. TEAS Version 7: 170 items, 209 minutes, section and subarea item counts.
ATI Help Center: What type of questions are on the ATI TEAS Version 7. About 20 percent alternate item types; no partial credit.
ATI: TEAS Content Updates, February 2016 (hosted by Highline College). TEAS 6 released August 31, 2016; section weights and subareas incl. Life and Physical Sciences.
Texas State Technical College Library: TEAS Version 7 Starts June 3, 2022. June 3, 2022 start; biology and chemistry replace Life and Physical Sciences; English expanded.
ATI Help Center: Will schools lower their cut score for the ATI TEAS Version 7. Each school sets its own TEAS cut score.
Common questions
When did TEAS 7 start?
June 3, 2022, according to the Texas State Technical College library announcement published on May 19, 2022. Every TEAS given since then is version 7.
Is there a TEAS 8?
No new version is announced on ATI's pages as of November 2026; the exam details page still describes TEAS Version 7 as live. Check atitesting.com before you buy materials if you test far in the future.
Will my school accept an old TEAS 6 score?
That is the school's decision. ATI says each school sets its own TEAS cut score and requirements, so check the program's admissions page or ask the admissions office directly.