Nursing Entrance Exam Information 

Nursing Entrance Exams

Prelicensure BSN applicants must complete and pass a nursing entrance exam. WGU accepts the ATI TEAS. Learn more below. 

What is TEAS?

The ATI TEAS, or Test of Essential Academic Skills, is a standardized test designed specifically to assess a student's preparedness for entering the Nursing and Health Science Fields. Questions are designed to test the basic academic skills you will need to perform successfully in the areas of: Reading, Math, Science, and English and Language Usage. The ATI TEAS has been statistically proven to be a valid predictor of early program success.

The ATI TEAS exam must be completed within 5 years of your desired start date. If expired, you will need to retake all sections.

What does the TEAS exam consist of?

The ATI TEAS test is comprised of 170 questions that are formatted as both multiple-choice items with 4 answer options and alternate-type items. This includes 150 scored questions and 20 unscored pretest questions. Students have 209 minutes to complete the exam. The number of questions in each content section and subsection are as follows: 

• Reading – 45 questions (55 minutes)
• Math – 38 questions (57 minutes)
• Science – 50 questions (60 minutes) -- This section will be graded but not considered in your admissions review.  It will be used to provide insight on support needed to be successful in your program.
• English & Language Usage – 37 questions (37 minutes)

WGU applicants must pass each section with the following scores:

• Reading - 71.8%
• Math - 70.6%
• English and Language Usage - 60.6%
• Science - This section will be graded but not considered in the admissions review. It will be used to provide insight on support needed to be successful in your program

Applicants must retake the entire ATI TEAS exam for new scores to be considered. Retaking a single section is not permitted.

What are my options for taking the TEAS exam?

The exam can be taken at a testing center/school, or remotely in the comfort of your own home in a quiet setting. TEAS at ATI offers 4 sessions each day (Monday through Friday) and 2 sessions each Saturday.  This allows you:

• Flexibility to choose the best testing day and time for you
• Greater comfort when testing at home
• More choices for your convenience
• Easier access; you choose the time, date and location

How should I prepare for the TEAS exam?

WGU offers a preparatory course to help you build the academic skills needed to succeed on nursing entrance exams like the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS). You’ll review reading comprehension, grammar, math, and science—while also learning time management and stress-reduction techniques to boost your confidence on exam day. Learn more about the prep course and sign up here.

ATI, the official provider of prep for the exam, recommends that you allow yourself time to prepare for the exam.

There are a variety of prep resources available to help you study for the test – all aligned to the ATI TEAS, Version 7 and packed with thousands of practice questions based on the content and format of the actual exam.

• https://www.wgu.edu/admissions/personalized-start/courses.html#academic
• https://atitesting.com/teas
• https://www.atitesting.com/teas/free-teas-practice-test

Send Results to Western Governors University

After your TEAS assessment is completed, you must “submit” your transcript to the program. You will be prompted to do so, but steps can also be found here:

• https://help.atitesting.com/how-to-send-a-transcript-for-teas-at-ati-exams

Cost and Payment

TEAS at ATI exams are $120.
TEAS at PSI exams are $120.
TEAS exams taken at institutions or testing centers sometimes vary in cost.

Why does the cost of the exam vary?  Each testing location, including schools and testing centers, sets the price of the exam taken at their location.  Additional fees beyond the exam fee may include proctor fees, scheduling fees, room fees, security monitoring fees for remote exams, etc. that are included in the TEAS registration fee. And those fees vary from school to school. However, you will find that most TEAS exams average out to be about $120.