10 Common TEAS Test Mistakes That Cost Students Points (And How to Avoid Them)

Every year, thousands of nursing hopefuls walk into the TEAS exam feeling prepared — only to lose points on mistakes that had nothing to do with how much they studied. The frustrating truth is that many of the most common TEAS errors are completely avoidable. They're not about lacking knowledge; they're about falling into traps that catch even well-prepared students off guard.

After analyzing patterns from hundreds of test-takers, we've identified the 10 mistakes that cost students the most points — and more importantly, how to avoid every single one of them.

Mistake #1: Not Reading the Entire Question

This is the single most common reason students choose wrong answers on the TEAS. When you're under time pressure, it's tempting to skim the question and jump to the answer choices. But TEAS questions are carefully worded, and missing a single qualifier like "EXCEPT," "NOT," "MOST LIKELY," or "LEAST" can flip the entire meaning.

For example, a science question might ask: "Which of the following is NOT a function of the liver?" A student who skims past "NOT" will confidently select a correct liver function — and lose the point.

Mistake #2: Poor Time Management

The TEAS gives you 209 minutes for 170 questions across four sections, but each section has its own time limit. Many students spend too long on difficult questions early in a section, then rush through easier questions at the end — or worse, run out of time entirely.

The Math section is the biggest culprit. With 38 questions in 57 minutes, you have roughly 90 seconds per question. If you spend 4 minutes on a tricky algebra problem, you've eaten into time for three other questions.

Mistake #3: Changing Answers Without a Good Reason

Research consistently shows that your first instinct on multiple-choice tests is correct more often than not. Yet many students second-guess themselves and change answers at the last minute — usually changing from right to wrong.

The only time you should change an answer is when you have a specific, concrete reason — like realizing you misread the question or remembering a fact that contradicts your original choice. "This just doesn't feel right" is not a good enough reason to change.

Mistake #4: Ignoring the Process of Elimination

When you don't immediately know the answer, many students stare at all four options trying to identify the correct one. This is much harder than it needs to be. Instead, focus on eliminating wrong answers first.

On most TEAS questions, you can usually eliminate at least one or two obviously incorrect options. This immediately improves your odds from 25% to 33% or 50% — a massive advantage, especially on questions where you're guessing.

• Read all four options before selecting — don't stop at the first "good" answer
• Cross out answers you know are wrong to narrow your focus
• Look for extreme language ("always," "never") which is often incorrect
• If two options are very similar, one of them is likely the correct answer

Mistake #5: Not Using Scratch Paper on Math

The TEAS Math section does not allow calculators, yet many students try to do multi-step calculations in their heads. Mental math errors are one of the top reasons students lose points on questions they actually know how to solve.

Whether it's converting fractions, solving proportions, or working through word problems, writing out your steps prevents careless arithmetic mistakes and helps you track your work if you need to check your answer.

Mistake #6: Skipping the Reading Passage Details

In the Reading section, some students try to answer questions without carefully reading the passage first. They skim for keywords and try to match them to answer choices. While this might work occasionally, it frequently leads to wrong answers because TEAS reading questions test comprehension, inference, and analysis — not just keyword matching.

The most effective approach is to read the passage once for understanding, noting the main idea and structure, then answer the questions while referring back to specific parts of the text.

Mistake #7: Neglecting the English Section

Many students assume the English and Language Usage section will be easy because they speak English every day. This overconfidence leads them to under-prepare for a section that covers formal grammar rules, sentence structure, context clues, and standard conventions that most people don't use in casual conversation.

Topics like subject-verb agreement with compound subjects, comma splice identification, and the difference between "affect" and "effect" trip up even native speakers who haven't reviewed formal grammar recently.

Mistake #8: Studying Everything Equally

Not all TEAS sections carry equal weight, and not all topics within a section appear with equal frequency. Students who spend the same amount of time on every subject often over-prepare in areas they're already strong in and under-prepare in their weak areas.

The Science section has the most questions (50), followed by Reading (45), Math (38), and English (37). Within Science, anatomy and physiology questions appear far more frequently than chemistry or physics. A smart study plan prioritizes high-frequency topics and personal weak areas.

• Take a diagnostic practice test first to identify your weak areas
• Allocate 40-50% of study time to your weakest section
• Focus on high-frequency topics within each section
• Don't waste hours perfecting a section you already score 85%+ on

Mistake #9: Not Taking Full-Length Practice Tests

Studying topic by topic is essential, but it doesn't prepare you for the stamina required to sit through a 209-minute, 170-question exam. Many students are shocked by how mentally exhausted they feel by the third section — and their accuracy drops significantly.

Taking at least 2-3 full-length practice tests under timed conditions is the only way to build the endurance and pacing skills you need for test day. It also helps you identify which sections drain your energy the most so you can develop strategies to stay sharp.

Mistake #10: Cramming the Night Before

Last-minute cramming creates an illusion of preparation while actually hurting performance. When you study late into the night before the exam, you sacrifice sleep — and sleep is when your brain consolidates the information you've been learning for weeks. Research shows that sleep-deprived test-takers score significantly lower than well-rested ones, even if the rested students studied fewer total hours.

The night before the TEAS, your study materials should already be closed. Instead, focus on logistics: confirm your test center location, pack your ID and approved items, set multiple alarms, and get at least 7-8 hours of sleep.

Bonus: How to Turn These Mistakes Into Your Advantage

Now that you know what trips up most students, you have a real competitive edge. Here's how to put this knowledge into action:

• Print this list and review it before every practice test
• After each practice test, identify which of these mistakes you made
• Track your progress — you should see these errors decrease over time
• On test day, do a quick mental review of these 10 points before you begin
• Remember: avoiding mistakes is just as valuable as knowing the right answers

The students who score highest on the TEAS aren't always the ones who studied the most — they're the ones who studied smart and avoided the traps that catch everyone else. Now you know exactly what those traps are. Use that knowledge to your advantage.