Last updated: July 1, 2026. Based on ATI's official TEAS 7 Academic Preparedness Level score report and current published nursing program admission requirements, verified against official school and ATI sources.
Quick Answer: What TEAS Score Do You Need?
There is no universal passing score for the ATI TEAS exam. Each nursing school sets its own minimum. Here are the typical ranges:
| Program Type | Minimum Score | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|
| ADN (Associate Degree) | 55–65% | 70%+ |
| BSN (Bachelor's Degree) | 65–75% | 80%+ |
| Accelerated BSN | 70–80% | 85%+ |
| Graduate Entry MSN | 75–85% | 90%+ |
Rule of thumb: Aim for 10–15% above your target school's stated minimum. Meeting the minimum does not guarantee admission — most competitive programs admit students well above the cutoff.
How TEAS Scoring Works
The TEAS 7 produces several different scores. Understanding what each one means helps you interpret your results and plan retake strategy if needed.
Score Types
| Score Type | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Composite Score | Overall percentage — a weighted average of all 4 sections |
| Section Scores | Percentage for each content area (Reading, Math, Science, English) |
| Sub-Content Scores | Performance on specific topics within each section |
| National Percentile | How you compare to all TEAS test-takers nationwide |
| Program Percentile | How you compare to applicants for your specific program type |
ATI Academic Preparedness Levels (Official Score Ranges)
ATI classifies TEAS scores into five official "Academic Preparedness Levels," published on every score report:
| Level | Score Range | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Exemplary | 90.7%–100.0% | Very high academic readiness — unlikely to need additional prep |
| Advanced | 78.0%–90.0% | High readiness — unlikely to need additional prep for most objectives |
| Proficient | 58.7%–77.3% | Moderate readiness — may need added prep on some objectives |
| Basic | 41.3%–58.0% | Low readiness — likely needs added prep on many objectives |
| Developmental | 0.0%–40.7% | Very low readiness — likely needs added prep on most objectives |
(Note: ATI's equating process leaves small gaps between bands — for example, you will never see a score between 58.0% and 58.7% — so don't be alarmed if a band boundary looks oddly specific.)
Most nursing programs require at least a Proficient score (58.7%+). Competitive BSN programs typically expect Advanced (78%+) scores, and highly selective programs (top CSU campuses, R1 university BSNs) often expect Exemplary (90.7%+).
TEAS Score Requirements by Program Type
ADN (Associate Degree Nursing) Programs
Community college ADN programs are generally the most accessible entry point into nursing:
- Typical minimum: 55–65% composite
- Competitive score: 70%+
- Examples (verified 2026):
- HACC (Pennsylvania): 70% minimum for RN, 60% for LPN
- Southeastern Community College (NC): 59% minimum composite
- Sacramento City College, LA Pierce College, LA City College (CA community colleges): ~62% minimum composite
- Many community colleges: 58–65% minimum
BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) Programs
University BSN programs have higher admission standards:
- Typical minimum: 65–80% composite
- Competitive score: 80%+
- Examples (verified 2026):
- Texas State University: 70% minimum (general applicants), 85% minimum (priority current TXST students)
- Texas Woman's University: 64% minimum in each individual section; average admitted student scores 87% composite (GPA 3.70)
- University of Houston: no published minimum, but 80%+ in each of the 4 content areas recommended for competitive consideration
- University of Pennsylvania: 84% minimum — among the most selective nationally
- California State University (CSU) campuses: 70–75% typical minimum (e.g., Sacramento State 75%, CSU Bakersfield 72%, CSU San Marcos 71%, CSU East Bay/Cal State LA 70%)
- UCLA School of Nursing: 85% minimum; UCSF School of Nursing: 84% minimum
Programs Requiring Individual Section Minimums
Some programs don't just look at your composite — they require minimum scores in each individual section:
- Touro University (NY): 70% composite minimum AND 70% minimum in both Science and Math sections individually
- Texas Woman's University: 64% minimum in each of the 4 individual sections (not just composite)
- University of Houston: Recommends 80% in each of the 4 content areas for competitive consideration
This is critical: a student with an 80% composite could still be rejected if their Science score is 60% at a school requiring 70% per section.
Accelerated BSN Programs
Second-degree accelerated programs are the most selective:
- Typical minimum: 70–85% composite
- Competitive score: 85%+
- Often require minimum scores in each individual section, not just the composite
Graduate Entry MSN Programs
Some MSN programs that accept non-nursing bachelor's degrees require the TEAS:
- Typical minimum: 75–85% composite
- Competitive score: 90%+
National Score Statistics
ATI does not publish an exact national percentile breakdown, but every official score report includes two figures that answer "how do I compare":
- National Percentile Rank — the percentage of all test-takers nationwide who scored at or below your score
- Program Percentile Rank — the percentage of test-takers within your specific program type (ADN, BSN, accelerated BSN, etc.) who scored at or below your score
Commonly reported national average composite scores fall in the 65–75% range, which lands in the Proficient band. If your score report shows a National Percentile Rank of 75, you scored better than roughly 75% of all test-takers nationwide — a strong result for most ADN programs and many BSN programs, though selective BSN and accelerated programs expect scores well above the national average.
TEAS Exam Format (Quick Reference)
| Section | Questions | Time | Scored Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 45 | 55 minutes | 39 scored + 6 pretest |
| Math | 38 | 57 minutes | 34 scored + 4 pretest |
| Science | 50 | 60 minutes | 44 scored + 6 pretest |
| English & Language Usage | 37 | 37 minutes | 33 scored + 4 pretest |
| Total | 170 | 209 minutes | 150 scored + 20 pretest |
The 20 pretest (unscored) questions are mixed in and look identical to scored questions. You cannot tell which questions count, so treat every question seriously.
How to Set Your Target Score
Step 1: Research Your Target Schools
Check each program's published minimum TEAS score. Look for:
- Minimum composite score
- Whether individual section minimums are required
- Whether they use the composite or specific section scores for ranking
- Whether they accept your highest score or most recent score
Step 2: Add the Competitive Buffer
| School's Published Minimum | Your Target Score |
|---|---|
| 55–60% | 70–75% |
| 65–70% | 78–82% |
| 75–80% | 85–90% |
| 80–85% | 90–95% |
Step 3: Identify Your Weak Sections
Your composite score is a weighted average. If one section drags you down, targeted study on that section can significantly raise your overall score.
Common weak spots by section:
- Science: Anatomy & physiology, biology, chemistry — requires solid prerequisite knowledge
- Math: Algebra, ratios, and metric conversions
- Reading: Long passage analysis and inference questions
- English: Grammar rules and sentence structure
TEAS Retake Policies
Before planning a retake, understand these common policies:
| Factor | Typical Policy |
|---|---|
| ATI's own waiting period | 14 days between ATI-administered attempts |
| School-imposed waiting period | Many nursing programs require 30 days between attempts, even though ATI's own minimum is 14 days |
| Maximum attempts | ATI sets no cap; individual programs commonly limit you to 2–3 attempts per admission cycle or year |
| Cost per attempt | $120 at an ATI-administered exam (no retake discount); school/PSI-hosted sittings often run $70–$140 |
| School policies | Vary — some accept highest score, others use most recent or average |
| Score combination | Most programs do not allow combining section scores across attempts |
Critical Warning
The 30-day wait and 3-attempts-per-year rules you'll see quoted everywhere are school policies, not ATI's — always confirm the exact rule with your target program, since ATI itself only requires 14 days between attempts and sets no annual cap. Some nursing programs are also stricter about which attempt counts: UTHealth Houston, for example, accepts at most two TEAS/HESI attempts (in any combination) and uses the last attempt as the official score. Always check your target program's retake policy before sitting for the exam.
Study Timeline for Your Target Score
| Current Level | Target Score | Recommended Study Time |
|---|---|---|
| Strong prerequisite GPA (3.5+) | 80%+ | 4–6 weeks |
| Average prerequisite GPA (3.0–3.5) | 70–80% | 6–8 weeks |
| Weaker prerequisites or long gap | 65–75% | 8–12 weeks |
| Returning to school after years away | 60–70% | 10–14 weeks |
ATI recommends at least 6 weeks of preparation, and Texas State University's nursing program advises completing Human Anatomy & Physiology I before taking the TEAS for the best chance at a competitive Science section score.
What Else Nursing Programs Consider
Your TEAS score is important, but it is usually one of several admission factors:
- Prerequisite GPA — especially science courses (A&P, microbiology, chemistry)
- Overall GPA — cumulative undergraduate GPA
- Healthcare experience — CNA certification, volunteer hours, clinical hours
- Essays and personal statements — many competitive programs require these
- Letters of recommendation — from science professors or healthcare supervisors
- Prerequisite completion — some programs require all prerequisites finished before admission
A strong TEAS score can compensate for a slightly lower GPA, and vice versa. Programs evaluate the full picture.
Common Mistakes That Lower TEAS Scores
- Skipping A&P before taking the TEAS — the Science section is the hardest for most students and relies heavily on anatomy and physiology knowledge
- Underestimating the Math section — even strong students miss metric conversion and ratio problems
- Not timing practice tests — the TEAS has strict time limits per section
- Ignoring the unscored questions — they look identical to scored ones, so skipping or rushing any question is risky
- Taking the exam too early — a poor first attempt can hurt you at programs that consider all attempts
Your Next Steps
- Start FREE TEAS Exam Prep → — AI-powered practice covering all 4 sections
- TEAS Study Guide → — Complete section-by-section study plan
- TEAS Math Practice → — Focus on the most commonly missed math topics
- TEAS Science Practice → — Master anatomy, biology, and chemistry questions
Official Resources
- ATI TEAS Official Site — Registration, scheduling, and score reports
- ATI TEAS 7 Content Overview — Official content areas and question breakdown
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