TEAS Scores and Passing Requirements Explained
There is no single passing score for the ATI TEAS 7. Nursing and allied health programs set their own minimums, and some schools consider section scores, attempt history, or application competitiveness as well as the total score. Start with the published requirement for each program. Then use your score report to decide what needs work before you apply or retake the exam.
Last reviewed: July 12, 2026
Is there a universal passing score for the ATI TEAS?
No. ATI does not set one score that every student must reach.
Each nursing school or allied health program chooses its own cut score. One program may require a minimum total score, while another may also require a certain result in Science, Reading, Math, or English. A score accepted by one school may fall below the requirement at another.
Check these details for every program on your list:
- Minimum total TEAS score
- Any minimum section scores
- Whether the minimum only establishes eligibility
- Whether admission is competitive
- Which attempt the school considers
- How long the school accepts TEAS results
- Whether the school accepts scores from another testing location
Do this before choosing a target.
A student applying to three schools may need to plan around three different policies. Using the lowest published minimum as the target could leave the student unqualified for the other two.
What is considered a good TEAS score?
A good score is one that satisfies the rules of the program you’re applying to and leaves you reasonably competitive within that applicant pool.
ATI’s general FAQ describes a score around 70% to 75%, or a Proficient academic preparedness level, as a commonly competitive result. That is general guidance. It isn’t a promise that 70% will be accepted by a particular school.
Suppose a program publishes a minimum of 65%.
A score of 66% may meet the stated requirement. It may still be weak if most admitted students score in the upper 70s or 80s.
Now consider a program with a strict 75% minimum. A 74.7% result may be close, but it still falls below the stated requirement unless the school has a rounding policy that says otherwise.
The school’s current admissions page should settle the question. When the wording is unclear, ask the admissions office in writing.
ATI TEAS academic preparedness levels
ATI places total scores into five academic preparedness categories.
| ATI academic preparedness level | Total score range |
|---|---|
| Developmental | Below 40.7% |
| Basic | 40.7% to 58.0% |
| Proficient | 58.7% to 79.3% |
| Advanced | 80.0% to 91.3% |
| Exemplary | 92.0% and above |
These ranges appear in ATI’s current Version 7 research on academic preparedness and early nursing-school performance. ATI also advises institutions to choose the benchmark that fits their program instead of treating one category as a universal admission rule.
The preparedness label helps describe the score. It doesn’t decide whether you pass a school’s admission requirement.
Developmental
A Developmental result is below 40.7%.
This result usually points to broad gaps across several tested areas. Before taking another full exam, review the section scores and identify whether the weakness is general or concentrated in one subject.
A rushed retake rarely solves a broad knowledge problem.
Basic
A Basic score falls from 40.7% through 58.0%.
Students in this range may understand parts of the tested material but show inconsistent performance across topics. Start with the weakest section rather than studying all four subjects equally.
Proficient
A Proficient score falls from 58.7% through 79.3%.
ATI says schools commonly look for Proficient performance or above, but the school still controls its cut score. A 60% and a 79% score belong to the same preparedness category while representing very different admission positions.
Advanced
An Advanced score falls from 80.0% through 91.3%.
This is a strong academic preparedness category. Admission still depends on the program’s selection process, other application requirements, and the strength of the applicant pool.
Exemplary
An Exemplary score is 92.0% or higher.
This is ATI’s highest preparedness category. It does not guarantee admission. ATI’s 2025 research states that TEAS results should be considered alongside other academic and nonacademic application information rather than used as the only admission factor.
Is 60%, 70%, 80%, or 90% a good TEAS score?
The table below gives a careful interpretation. Your school’s published requirement remains the deciding factor.
| Total score | ATI category | Practical interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 60% | Proficient | Above ATI’s Proficient threshold, but may be below many program requirements |
| 70% | Proficient | Meets some published minimums and falls within ATI’s commonly cited competitive range |
| 75% | Proficient | May be competitive for some programs, but requirements vary |
| 80% | Advanced | Strong result that clears many common minimums |
| 85% | Advanced | Strong academic preparedness, though admission is still not guaranteed |
| 90% | Advanced | Near the top of ATI’s Advanced range |
| 92% or higher | Exemplary | ATI’s highest academic preparedness category |
Is 60% a passing TEAS score?
It may be.
A 60% total is within ATI’s Proficient category, but some schools require a higher score. Others may accept it. Check the exact total and section requirements for your program.
Is 70% a good TEAS score?
ATI describes approximately 70% to 75% as a commonly competitive range. A 70% result may satisfy many programs, but it cannot be called universally competitive.
Is 80% a good TEAS score?
An 80% total enters ATI’s Advanced category. It is a strong result, although a selective program may still compare it with grades, prerequisites, experience, and other admission criteria.
Is 90% a good TEAS score?
Yes. A 90% total is near the upper end of the Advanced category.
It still shouldn’t be described as an admission guarantee. Schools decide how much weight to give the TEAS and how to compare applicants.
How is the ATI TEAS scored?
Your ATI TEAS report includes:
- A total score
- Separate Reading, Mathematics, Science, and English scores
- Sub-content results within those sections
All three types use a scale from 0.0% to 100%, but ATI calculates them differently.
Total score
The total score represents performance across the entire scored exam.
It is an equated score. ATI begins with the percentage of scored questions answered correctly and adjusts the result to account for differences in difficulty among different test forms. This allows results from separate forms of the ATI TEAS to be compared more fairly.
Because of equating, you cannot reliably calculate your official total by dividing the number correct by 150.
Content-area scores
You receive separate equated scores for:
- Reading
- Mathematics
- Science
- English and Language Usage
These section scores are also adjusted for differences among exam forms. You cannot average the four section percentages to reproduce your total score.
That sometimes confuses students.
For example, adding four section percentages and dividing by four may produce a number that doesn’t match the total shown by ATI. That difference doesn’t mean the score report is wrong. The sections carry different numbers of scored questions, and ATI equates the total separately.
Sub-content scores
Sub-content results cover narrower areas such as Key Ideas and Details, Human Anatomy and Physiology, Numbers and Algebra, or Conventions of Standard English.
ATI calculates these as the percentage of questions answered correctly within that sub-content area. They are not equated across different test forms. ATI therefore advises against comparing one sub-content percentage directly with the same sub-content percentage from another form as though both had identical difficulty.
Use sub-content results to choose what to review. Don’t overinterpret a small difference.
What appears on an ATI TEAS score report?
ATI calls the score report an Individual Performance Profile.
It provides the total result, section scores, and areas that need review. ATI also describes national and program percentile ranks, which show how the student’s performance compares with reference groups.
The report may include:
- Total or composite score
- Reading score
- Mathematics score
- Science score
- English and Language Usage score
- Academic preparedness level
- National percentile rank
- Program percentile rank
- Sub-content performance
- Topics to review
You can find the report in the Results area of your ATI student account.
Total score versus percentile rank
A score and a percentile rank answer different questions.
A score tells you how you performed on the assessment scale.
A percentile rank compares your result with a reference group. For example, a percentile rank of 70 means your score was as high as or higher than that of 70% of students in the stated comparison group. It does not mean you answered 70% of questions correctly.
When a school publishes a minimum, check whether it refers to:
- Total score
- Section score
- Academic preparedness level
- Percentile rank
Don’t assume these terms are interchangeable.
Do section scores matter?
They can.
Some programs consider only the total score. Others publish minimums for individual sections or pay particular attention to Science and Reading.
Even when a school does not set section cutoffs, section results show where your total score is being lost.
Acceptable total, weak Science
A student may meet the overall minimum while falling behind in Science.
If the program places special emphasis on Science, the student should verify whether a section requirement applies. Even without one, the result identifies the clearest study priority.
Strong Reading, weak Math
A balanced study schedule would waste time in this situation.
The student should maintain Reading with occasional practice while directing more study time to fractions, percentages, algebra, measurement, data interpretation, or whichever Math sub-content caused the weakness.
Similar section scores
Balanced scores can mean broad, steady preparation. They can also mean that every section needs moderate improvement.
Look at the distance between your current total and the program target. Then use sub-content results to decide where improvement is most realistic.
What do ATI preparedness levels mean for admission?
They describe academic preparedness. They don’t replace an admissions policy.
A school may choose Proficient as its minimum. Another may require an Advanced score. A third may publish a numerical total rather than a category.
ATI’s latest Version 7 research found that higher preparedness categories were associated with better early nursing-school outcomes in the studied samples. The same report says institutions should use TEAS results with other application information and choose cut scores that fit their own students and program needs.
That is why two statements can both be true:
- TEAS performance is relevant to academic preparedness.
- A TEAS score alone doesn’t determine whether a student will be admitted or succeed.
How soon will you receive your TEAS score?
Timing depends on where and how you test.
For tests administered by a school or testing center, scoring is generally immediate, although a school may disable immediate student access. TEAS at ATI candidates can usually see a preliminary result after completing the exam. PSI results can take longer to appear, and paper-and-pencil results require additional processing.
A result marked Preliminary has not yet been finalized.
ATI’s current help information says TEAS at ATI scores can remain preliminary for several business days before the watermark is removed. Students can monitor the status through the Results section of their ATI account.
Don’t plan an exam so close to an application deadline that normal score processing could make the result late.
How long are ATI TEAS scores valid?
ATI says TEAS results are usually accepted for about two years, but each school sets its own policy. Some programs accept older scores; others require a more recent attempt.
Verify:
- The oldest accepted test date
- Whether the rule is measured from the exam date or application deadline
- Whether retaking replaces an older result
- Which score the program uses when several are available
A score still visible in your ATI account isn’t automatically valid for every application.
Official ATI score versus a Pharmacy Freak practice percentage
An official ATI result and a Pharmacy Freak result serve different purposes.
| Official ATI TEAS score | Pharmacy Freak practice percentage |
|---|---|
| Produced after a proctored ATI TEAS exam | Produced after a Pharmacy Freak practice test |
| Total and section scores are equated | Based on scored practice questions |
| Can be submitted according to school policy | Cannot be submitted for admission |
| Used by schools as part of their admissions process | Used to track study progress |
| Includes official ATI reporting | Includes Pharmacy Freak performance reporting |
| May include percentile ranks and preparedness level | Includes practice-test section or topic analysis |
Pharmacy Freak results are not official ATI equated scores. They cannot tell you exactly what you will score on the official exam or whether a school will admit you.
They can still answer useful questions:
- Which subject is weakest?
- Are unanswered questions lowering the result?
- Does accuracy fall when the timer gets tight?
- Are the same topics causing repeated mistakes?
- Is performance improving across several attempts?
How to use a free mixed test as a baseline
Start with a mixed test when you don’t yet know which subject needs the most work.
Pharmacy Freak’s free mixed tests include 50 timed questions across Reading, Math, Science, and English and Language Usage. No login is required. After submission, students receive an instant score, per-question review, explanations, section-wise analysis, and a downloadable PDF.
Start with TEAS Practice Test 1.
Use the result this way:
- Record the total practice percentage.
- Compare the four section results.
- Count unanswered questions.
- Separate knowledge errors from timing or reading errors.
- Choose the weakest section for focused review.
- Return to mixed practice after completing that review.
A result with 15 wrong answers and no unanswered questions points to a different problem than a result with eight wrong and seven unanswered.
The first student needs more content and reasoning review. The second may need pacing as much as content.
How to use subject-wise results
Once you identify a weak section, move to focused practice.
Pharmacy Freak’s free subject-wise tests contain 30 questions and use timing based on the pace of the relevant TEAS section. They include question explanations, instant results, topic-wise analysis, PDF review, and no-login access.
Science practice
Use the free Science tests when your result points to Anatomy and Physiology, Biology, Chemistry, or Scientific Reasoning:
Reading practice
Use the Reading tests for main ideas, inferences, evidence, author choices, and source integration:
Math practice
Use the Math tests for Numbers and Algebra or Measurement and Data:
English and Language Usage practice
Use these tests for grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, language, and vocabulary:
Take the relevant subject test after review, not before it.
Otherwise, you may simply confirm the weakness you already knew about.
When is a full-length score more useful?
A 30-question subject test is good for finding a content problem. A 50-question mixed test can show how you switch between subjects.
Neither fully measures what happens over 170 questions.
A full-length practice test can reveal:
- Loss of concentration later in the exam
- Slow pacing in one section
- Too many unanswered questions
- Poor use of review time
- Difficulty moving from one subject to another
- A drop in Science or English after fatigue sets in
- Whether a break helps or disrupts concentration
Pharmacy Freak’s full-length ATI TEAS 7 practice package includes 10 complete 170-question tests for $9. Each exam uses four section timers and includes 150 scored and 20 unidentified unscored questions. The system also provides automatic saving, server-controlled timing, a question navigator, Mark for Review, a Math calculator, locked submitted sections, emailed results, section-level analysis, account history, and a downloadable PDF report.
This reporting makes the tests more useful than the score-only practice exams commonly found online. You can see whether the problem came from knowledge, timing, unanswered questions, or a particular section.
The advantage is practical, not predictive. A Pharmacy Freak practice result remains a study percentage rather than an official ATI score.
How to turn a low score into a study plan
A low result is only useful when it changes what you do next.
Step 1: Find the largest weakness
Compare Reading, Math, Science, and English.
Start with the weakest section unless:
- Your program sets a higher minimum for another section
- The difference among sections is very small
- One result was distorted by unanswered questions or a technical interruption
Step 2: Find the weak subtopics
“Science is weak” is too broad.
A better diagnosis is:
- Cardiovascular and respiratory pathways
- Genetics
- Chemical reactions
- Experimental variables
That list can become a study plan.
Step 3: Classify each mistake
Use categories such as:
- Didn’t know the content
- Misread the question
- Chose an unsupported inference
- Used the wrong formula
- Made an arithmetic error
- Ran out of time
- Changed a correct answer without evidence
- Guessed without eliminating options
A content error needs review. A pacing error needs timed practice. Treating both the same wastes study time.
Step 4: Review before retesting
Read the explanation for every missed question.
Also review questions you answered correctly by guessing. A lucky answer doesn’t prove that the concept is secure.
Step 5: Retest with a different set
Use a second test after studying the weak concepts.
Improvement on fresh questions is more meaningful than remembering answers from the first attempt.
Step 6: Check whether improvement holds under full timing
A student may solve a topic accurately during untimed review and still struggle during a complete section.
Use a full-length simulation once content performance has started to improve.
Common mistakes when interpreting TEAS scores
Treating the school minimum as a competitive target
The minimum may only allow the application to be considered.
Look for published averages or guidance from the program. When none is available, ask whether the minimum is typically competitive.
Averaging the four section scores
ATI calculates the total separately. Averaging the four displayed section percentages will not necessarily reproduce it.
Comparing sub-content percentages across forms
ATI says sub-content scores are not equated across forms. A difference between two attempts may partly reflect the specific questions delivered. Use the result as a study clue rather than a precise measure of change.
Assuming a practice percentage equals an official score
Practice tests don’t use ATI’s equating process.
Use them to identify patterns and track preparation, not to predict an exact official result.
Ignoring unanswered questions
A student may blame content knowledge when the larger problem is incomplete work.
Review wrong and unanswered totals separately.
Retesting without reviewing
Taking another exam immediately may produce another version of the same result.
Review first. Retest after you can explain what changed.
Assuming a high score guarantees admission
ATI recommends that TEAS results be considered with other admission information. Schools may also review prerequisites, GPA, application materials, experience, and program-specific criteria.
A practical score-review worksheet
After each practice test, record:
| Item | Your result |
|---|---|
| Total practice percentage | |
| Reading percentage | |
| Math percentage | |
| Science percentage | |
| English percentage | |
| Wrong answers | |
| Unanswered questions | |
| Weakest section | |
| Three weak topics | |
| Most common error type | |
| Next resource to review | |
| Planned retest date |
One line matters most:
What will I study differently because of this result?
When that answer is blank, taking another test is premature.
Frequently asked questions
What is the passing score for the ATI TEAS?
There is no universal passing score. Each nursing or allied health program sets its own cut score and may also set section-specific requirements.
Is 70% a good ATI TEAS score?
ATI describes roughly 70% to 75% as a commonly competitive range, but every program sets its own requirement. A 70% score may be acceptable at one school and too low at another.
Is 80% a good ATI TEAS score?
Yes. An 80% total falls within ATI’s Advanced academic preparedness category. Admission still depends on the rules and competitiveness of the program.
What are the ATI TEAS preparedness levels?
ATI uses Developmental, Basic, Proficient, Advanced, and Exemplary categories. The current Version 7 cut scores place Proficient at 58.7% to 79.3%, Advanced at 80.0% to 91.3%, and Exemplary at 92.0% or higher.
Are ATI TEAS scores curved?
ATI describes total and content-area scores as equated. They are based on correct answers but adjusted for differences in difficulty among exam forms. This is different from a classroom curve based on how other students in the same room perform.
Can I calculate my total TEAS score from my section scores?
No. ATI calculates the total and content-area scores separately. Averaging Reading, Math, Science, and English scores will not necessarily match the official total.
Do nursing schools look at individual section scores?
Some do. Each program decides whether it uses only the total score or also requires minimum results in particular sections. Check the current admissions policy of every school.
How soon will I receive my ATI TEAS score?
Computer-based results are often available soon after testing, but access and finalization depend on the testing method. Schools may delay immediate viewing, TEAS at ATI results may first appear as preliminary, and PSI or paper testing can take longer.
How long are TEAS scores valid?
ATI says scores are usually valid for about two years, but each school can set a different acceptance period.
Is a Pharmacy Freak score an official ATI score?
No. Pharmacy Freak provides a practice percentage for study tracking. It is not equated by ATI, cannot be sent to schools, and does not predict admission.
Why are Pharmacy Freak practice reports more useful than score-only quizzes?
The free mixed and subject-wise tests provide explanations, question-level review, performance by section or topic, and downloadable PDF reports. The full-length tests add separate section timers, review tools, automatic saving, account history, emailed results, and full 170-question testing. These features help students identify what to study instead of showing only a final percentage.
Can a practice-test score predict my official ATI TEAS result?
No practice score can guarantee an official result. Use repeated practice results to identify trends, weak topics, pacing problems, and improvement. Your official score comes from the proctored ATI TEAS and its equated scoring process.
What to do after reading your score report
Use this sequence:
- Confirm the score required by each program.
- Compare the target with your current total.
- Check all four section results.
- Identify two or three weak subtopics.
- Review the explanations for missed questions.
- Take a focused subject test.
- Return to a mixed test after revision.
- Use a full-length test to check timing and endurance.
- Retest officially only after your practice results and error patterns have improved.
You can find all current free mixed tests, subject tests, and full-length options through the ATI TEAS practice-test hub.
Sources and independence statement
Score calculation, score-report features, preparedness categories, score availability, and general passing-score guidance were checked against official ATI pages and ATI’s 2025 Version 7 research on July 12, 2026.
Pharmacy Freak is an independent educational resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Assessment Technologies Institute. ATI and TEAS are trademarks of their respective owner.
