TEAS® Reading Practice Tests
Reading opens the ATI TEAS 7, so it sets the tone for everything that follows. It tests how well you pull meaning from passages, charts, and written directions — the same skills you’ll use reading patient charts and clinical instructions.
Free TEAS Reading Practice Tests
The ATI TEAS 7 Reading section contains 45 questions administered in 55 minutes, covering key ideas and details, craft and structure, and integration of knowledge and ideas.
TEAS® Reading Practice Test Quick Facts
- Exam Name ATI TEAS 7 — Reading Section
- Administered By Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI)
- Current Version ATI TEAS 7 (released June 3, 2022)
- Time Limit 55 minutes (~1.2 minutes per question); 209 minutes for the full exam
- Section Order Reading is the first section administered on the exam
- Testing Method Computer-based; in-person at a school or PSI site, or online remote proctored
- Retake Policy ATI permits retakes, but attempt limits and waiting periods are set by each program. The Reading section cannot be retaken on its own — all four sections must be completed for a valid score.
- Number of Questions 45 (Reading section); 170 across the full exam
- Scored Questions 39
- Unscored Pretest Questions 6
- Passing Score No universal cut score — set by each nursing or allied health program
- Question Format Multiple-choice (four answer choices), multiple-select, fill-in-the-blank, ordered response, and hot spot
- Primary Focus Key ideas and details, craft and structure, and integration of knowledge and ideas
- Who Takes This Exam Applicants to nursing and allied health programs (ADN, BSN, and related)
Exam Content Areas (scored questions)
- Key Ideas and Details — 15
- Craft and Structure — 9
- Integration of Knowledge and Ideas — 15
What’s Covered in Each Content Area
Key Ideas and Details
Summarizing a multi-paragraph text; identifying the main idea, topic, and supporting details; making inferences and drawing conclusions; following a sequence of events; and comprehending written directions.
Craft and Structure
Determining the meaning of words and phrases from context; distinguishing between fact and opinion, including biases and stereotypes; evaluating an author’s purpose, point of view, and tone; and recognizing text structure and organization.
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
Evaluating an argument and its supporting evidence; comparing and contrasting themes across texts; interpreting information from charts, graphs, labels, maps, and other visual sources; and using evidence from a text to make predictions and draw conclusions.
Frequently Asked Questions
The content itself isn’t advanced — no outside knowledge is required, and every answer is somewhere in the passage. The difficulty is pacing. You get roughly 73 seconds per question, and passages can run long with up to seven questions attached to a single text. Most students who struggle here run out of time, not out of ability.
45 questions in 55 minutes. Six of them are unscored pretest items, but they aren’t identified, so treat every question as if it counts.
There’s no universal cut score — each nursing program sets its own. ATI classifies scores from 58.7% to 77.3% as Proficient, but competitive programs often expect Advanced (78% and above). Check your target program’s requirement before you set a goal.
Practice under a timer from day one, since pacing is the real obstacle. Read the question before the passage so you know what you’re hunting for. And drill the three question types separately: big-picture (main idea, summary, structure), detail-level (vocabulary in context, specific facts), and integration (evaluating arguments, interpreting charts and sources).
A mix of academic passages, memos, sets of written directions, labels, maps, charts, and graphs. Not all of it is prose — a meaningful share of questions ask you to read a visual.
Yes, within the section. Once you close Reading and move to Math, you can’t return to it.
TEAS® Reading Test Overview
The TEAS® Reading section measures your ability to understand, interpret, and analyze written passages. Questions focus on identifying main ideas, supporting details, making logical inferences, understanding the author’s purpose, evaluating evidence, and interpreting words and phrases in context. These skills are essential for nursing students who must accurately read and interpret textbooks, patient records, and clinical instructions.
Our free TEAS® Reading Practice Tests closely resemble the format and difficulty of the actual exam, allowing you to become familiar with the types of passages and questions you’ll encounter. Practicing regularly helps improve both your reading comprehension and your confidence before test day.
TEAS® Reading Study Tips
The best way to improve your reading score is through consistent practice. Read each passage carefully before answering the questions, and pay close attention to the main idea, supporting details, and the author’s purpose. When you encounter unfamiliar words, use the surrounding context to determine their meaning instead of guessing.
After completing each practice test, review both your correct and incorrect answers. Understanding why an answer is right—or why another choice is incorrect—helps reinforce important reading concepts and reduces the likelihood of making similar mistakes on future exams.
TEAS® Reading Test-Taking Strategies
Manage your time by avoiding spending too long on any single question. If you’re unsure of an answer, eliminate the options that are clearly incorrect and make the most informed choice from the remaining answers. Remember that many questions can be answered directly from information provided in the passage, so avoid relying on outside knowledge.
As your exam approaches, complete several full-length practice tests under timed conditions. This will help you build endurance, improve pacing, and identify any remaining weak areas. Combining regular practice with a comprehensive TEAS study guide is one of the most effective ways to increase your confidence and maximize your Reading score.