The Scores of TEAS Explained
The Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) is an aptitude test that assesses the academic knowledge of prospective students who wish to enroll into a nursing program. Needless to say, there are several websites available which explain the test details such as the question format, sections, duration etc. However, information regarding the scoring pattern of the test is hardly stated in most web pages. Hence, this article intends to educate test takers in detail about the system of scoring and its importance in the nursing admissions.
How is the TEAS Scored?
There are composite scores from each of the subject areas as well as sub-scores of individual sub-topics. Thus, your score report includes 4 composite scores and 13 sub-scores. These scores reflect your skills and knowledge in the four broad general areas and the sub-scores reflect your mastery over specific content.
How is the Test Score Report Interpreted?
The TEAS score report includes general information and a table of your test scores. The general information consists of the following data:
- Name and Student Number
- Institution and Program Type
- Test Date
- Number of Questions
- Attempt Number and the Number of Days since last attempt
Just below your general information is the score table which has the following scores listed for each of the subject areas as well as the sub-areas:
Adjusted Individual Score: Adjusted Individual Score is the percentage score, calculated by dividing the number of questions answered correctly by the total number of questions for each of the subject areas and sub-areas. For example, a scoring model of one of the sections looks like this:
Means (National and Program): Your percentage scores are compared to those of students who have taken the test in the country as well as students who have appeared for the test under your program type; Associate Degree in Nursing, for example and listed as the Means score.
Percentile Rank (National and Program): The Percentile Rank indicates your position in comparison with others who have taken the test. For example, if your score is 40, it means that your score is better than that of 40% of test takers.
Adjusted Individual Score (Bar Graph): This is a graphical presentation of your scores which represents the subject areas that you are good at and those in which you need improvement. This can be useful if you are planning to take a re-test.
|TEAS Mathematics||No. Of Questions||Adjusted Individual Score|
|Numbers and Operations||a||P %|
|Algebraic Applications||b||Q %|
|Data Interpretation||c||R %|
How is the Score Obtained?
For computer-based tests, your test centre will give you a print of your score report soon after your exam. The paper and pencil test will take a day for the release of scores. The score report can also be viewed online through the official website of ATI (www.atitesting.com). For additional copies of your score report, you need to place an online order.
How is the Test Score Submitted to Nursing Schools?
In general, if you take the test at your school of nursing where you plan to apply, your test scores will be directly sent to the admissions office of the school. However, a few schools do not provide this facility. Hence, you must remember to check this information during the confirmation of your test appointment. For additional test score submissions, you need to request ATI to send your score report to the nursing colleges by paying the required fees online.
What does Your Score Mean to the Nursing Schools?
There is no minimum or passing score for the TEAS. Each nursing program has its own cut-off score which an applicant's score needs to meet, in order to be eligible to apply for that particular nursing program. Therefore, you must aim well above the cut-off score, set by your nursing college, to get into the nursing program of your choice.
Test takers, in general, ignore the necessity to understand the scores because of which many of them are unable to interpret their score report when they receive it. However, all students must realize that getting familiar with the test scoring pattern is as important as understanding any of the other test details for a fruitful test preparation.