The ATI TEAS is scored as a percentage based on 150 scored questions out of 170 total. Your score report includes an overall total score, four content area scores, and several sub-content area scores, all expressed as percentages. The 20 extra questions on the exam are unscored pretest items mixed in throughout the test, and you won’t know which ones they are.
Total Questions vs. Scored Questions
The TEAS has 170 questions spread across four sections: Reading, Math, Science, and English Language Usage. Only 150 of those actually count toward your score. The remaining 20 are pretest items that ATI uses to evaluate potential questions for future versions of the exam. These unscored items are distributed proportionally across all four sections, so there’s no way to identify which questions “don’t count” while you’re testing. You need to treat every question as if it matters.
How Your Score Is Calculated
Your total score is a percentage reflecting how many of the 150 scored questions you answered correctly. ATI doesn’t use a simple one-point-per-question system, though. The TEAS uses a statistical method called item response theory, which means not all questions carry the same weight. Harder questions contribute more to your score than easier ones, and the scoring model also accounts for the likelihood that someone guessed correctly on a given item. A lucky guess on a difficult question won’t boost your score the same way genuinely knowing the answer would.
In practical terms, this means two test-takers who get the same raw number of questions right could end up with slightly different scores if one person answered more difficult questions correctly. The system is designed to more precisely measure what you actually know rather than just counting correct answers.
What Your Score Report Shows
When you get your results, you’ll see three layers of scoring. The first is your total score, which is the single percentage most nursing programs use for admissions decisions. Below that, you’ll see four content area scores, one for each section of the test: Reading, Math, Science, and English. These let you (and admissions committees) see where your strengths and weaknesses fall.
The third layer breaks things down even further into sub-content area scores. For example, within Reading you might see separate scores for categories like Key Ideas and Details or Craft and Structure. These granular scores are especially useful if you need to retake the exam, since they pinpoint exactly which topics need the most study time.
What Score You Need
There is no universal passing score for the TEAS. Every nursing program sets its own minimum, and these thresholds vary widely. Some schools require a 60% or higher as a baseline, while more competitive programs may expect scores in the mid-70s or above. A few highly selective BSN programs look for scores above 80%.
Keep in mind that many programs weigh content area scores differently depending on their curriculum priorities. A school with a heavy science focus might pay closer attention to your Science sub-score even if your total score meets the cutoff. Before you take the exam, check the specific requirements for every program you’re applying to, including whether they set minimums for individual sections or only look at the total.
How the Four Sections Break Down
The 150 scored questions are not evenly split across sections. Reading and Science carry the largest share of questions, while Math and English have fewer. This proportional distribution means that Reading and Science have more influence on your total score simply because they contain more scored items. If you’re short on study time, focusing on those two sections gives you the most potential to move your overall number.
The 20 unscored pretest items follow the same proportional split, so larger sections also contain more unscored questions. Again, since you can’t tell which questions are experimental, the only reliable strategy is to answer every question as carefully as you can.
Retaking and Score Validity
ATI allows retakes, but most nursing programs limit how many attempts they’ll accept or specify a waiting period between attempts. Some programs only consider your most recent score, while others take your highest. Your score report is typically valid for a set window (often two to three years, depending on the program), so timing matters if you’re applying across multiple admission cycles. Check with your target schools before scheduling a retake to make sure the attempt will count toward your application.