TEAS 7 scoring
What Is a Passing TEAS 7 Score?
There is no national TEAS pass mark. ATI scores the exam and reports it; each nursing programme sets the minimum it will accept, and many set a minimum for individual sections on top of the overall figure. The only number that matters is the one your own programme publishes.
Last updated August 2026
- No national pass mark
- Section scores explained
- Questions to ask admissions
Why no single number exists
ATI administers and scores the TEAS. It does not decide who gets into nursing school. Programmes do, and they read the score alongside grades, prerequisites and everything else in an application. A score that clears the bar comfortably at one school can fall short at another in the same city.
This is why a figure quoted on a forum is worth very little. It describes one school's requirement in one admission cycle, and you have no way of knowing whether it is yours.
What your score report shows
You receive an overall score plus a breakdown by section, so a programme can see that a strong total was not carried by one area while another lagged behind. That breakdown is also the most useful study document you will ever get if you end up retaking: it tells you exactly where the marks went.
| Line on the report | What it means | Why a programme looks at it |
|---|---|---|
| Total score | Your overall percentage across all four sections | The headline figure most minimums are set against |
| Section scores | A percentage for Reading, Math, Science and English | Some programmes set a floor per section as well |
| Sub-content areas | Performance within each section | Rarely used in admissions, invaluable for a retake |
| National percentile | How you compare with other candidates | Context when a programme ranks applicants |
| Programme percentile | How you compare within your own programme | Context for competitive intakes |
How the proficiency levels read
ATI groups performance into proficiency levels. These are descriptive rather than a pass or a fail, and no programme is obliged to use them, but they are a reasonable way to read your own result before you have your school's requirement in front of you.
| Level | What it indicates |
|---|---|
| Advanced | Strong command across sections. Competitive almost anywhere the TEAS is accepted. |
| Proficient | Solid performance. Meets the requirement at the majority of programmes. |
| Basic | Meets the minimum at some programmes. Worth a retake if you are aiming at a competitive one. |
| Developmental | Below most published minimums. Work the weakest two sections before rebooking. |
A proficiency level is not a requirement. Always work from the percentage your programme publishes, and confirm whether it applies to your total, your sections, or both.
What to ask admissions
Ask in writing if you can. A minimum and a competitive score are rarely the same number, and admissions staff will usually tell you both if asked directly.
- What overall TEAS score do you require, and is it a minimum or a competitive target?
- Do you set minimum scores for individual sections as well?
- What was the score range of admitted students in the last cycle?
- How recent does my score have to be?
- How many attempts do you allow, and do you take the highest, the most recent, or an average?
Is a retake worth it?
Only if you change how you prepare. Sitting the same exam again after the same revision usually produces a similar score. Work from the section breakdown on your report, give the weakest two areas most of your remaining time, and confirm your programme's retake policy before booking. Attempt limits and waiting periods are set locally, and using up an attempt unprepared is expensive.
A retake is worth booking when you can point at the specific thing you will do differently: a section you never actually drilled, a timing problem you can now name, a topic list you have since worked through. If you cannot name it, spend another two weeks before you book.
Frequently asked questions
| Is 70% a passing TEAS score? | At some programmes yes, at others no. It clears the minimum at many schools and falls short of the competitive range at selective ones. |
|---|---|
| Does ATI publish a pass mark? | No. ATI reports the score; the requirement is set by each nursing programme. |
| Do section scores matter? | Often. Many programmes set a floor for Science or Math independently of your total. |
| How soon do I get my score? | Computer-based results are typically available immediately after the exam. |
| How long is a score valid? | Set by the programme. Two years is common, but confirm with yours. |
| Can I retake the TEAS? | Yes, subject to your programme's attempt limit and any waiting period between sittings. |
We do not publish a composite weighting for the TEAS. It is widely repeated online but ATI does not state it in its published specifications, so it is recorded as unverified and never rendered here.
Start practising for your exam
Reading about the exam only goes so far. Sit a timed set and find out where you actually stand.
- No card required
- Instant access
- Rationale on every question
Keep reading
More TEAS Resources
Guides and tools across the TEAS course.
TEAS 7 Exam Prep
Format, sections, timing
TEAS 7 FAQ
Scoring, retakes, test day
Is the TEAS Hard?
An honest answer
How Long Is the TEAS 7?
209 minutes, section by section
What Is a Passing TEAS Score?
Your programme sets the bar
TEAS Reading
18 topics · 39 scored questions
TEAS Math
18 topics · 34 scored questions
TEAS Science
22 topics · 44 scored questions
TEAS English
21 topics · 33 scored questions
Free TEAS Practice Test
Sit a set before you buy
TEAS Plans & Pricing
Choose your access
Start TEAS Prep
Create your account
TEAS Study Guide
All four sections, free
8-Week Study Plan
Week-by-week schedule
TEAS Cheat Sheet
Formulas and high-yield facts
TEAS vs HESI A2
Which exam to take