Test of Essential Academic Skills

General Information

The Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS Version V) is offered by the Testing Office at California State University, East Bay. You can:

• Obtain a direct link to the testing company's website to order TEAS test preparatory materials
• See a sample score report
• Review information published by the testing company (see the next paragraph)

The Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) is a scholastic aptitude assessment that can be used as one component of the selection process for admitting students into post-secondary education programs. Screening qualified candidates for college admission is crucial for best matching of available resources to individuals with a minimum level of ability relevant to program study requirements. The goal is to predict those candidates with the highest likelihood of academic success in a future area of study.

The TEAS exam is a 4-part assessment consisting of Reading, Mathematics, Science and English (in that order only) with a total testing time of 3 hours and 29 minutes. Each subtest has a separate time limit:

Content and psychometric experts helped develop the test construction process to ensure content relevance, accuracy, statistical strength, and integrity of the test. A random sampling of geographically diverse state standards for the selection and use of assessment instruments was performed to guide the development of the assessment blueprint and objectives for the TEAS.

A table of specifications was used to ensure adequate representation of items that reflect objectives for testing. The TEAS consists of four content areas: Math, Reading, English, and Science. All subtests contain multiple-choice items with one correct answer. The applicant is directed to answer each item as accurately as possible within the allotted time. The reporting system for the TEAS includes a composite score for each of the four general areas. Sixteen sub-scores are generated to assess specific content mastery.

The Math subtest covers whole numbers, metric conversion, fractions and decimals, algebraic equations, percentages, and ratio/proportion.

Reading covers paragraph comprehension, passage comprehension, and inferences/conclusions.

The English subtest measures knowledge of punctuation, grammar, sentence structure, contextual words, and spelling.

The Science portion of the exam covers science reasoning, science knowledge, biology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology, basic physical principles, and general science.

Test Construction Process

A well-written exam is an opportunity for test takers to show what they know. The steps taken to construct this standardized aptitude assessment were: 1) determining the test objectives, 2) using a test matrix outlining the content domain and the relative weights of those areas, 3) collating original, multiple-choice items that meet the specifications for content and style, 4) analyzing the test items, 5) alpha and beta testing results prior to use, 6) finalizing standardized forms of the test, 7) creating equated forms and levels.

ATI's Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) was developed by Drs. John Poggio and Douglas Glasnapp, nationally recognized leaders in the area of assessment and test development. You can review this information at the testing company's website at atitesting.

Cut-Scores

The purpose of the cut-score is to separate test takers with demonstrated academic mastery from those who have not met the criterion. Standard setting process is determined by the modified Angoff method. High cutting scores help select more highly qualified students, but reduce the number given an opportunity for admission. The scores are set by the individual program depending on the availability of positions for admission, the number of qualified applicants, funding, attrition rate, and various other factors. The TEAS was developed for use in conjunction with other criteria used for screening purposes and is not to be used as the sole criterion for selection into a program.

IMPORTANT

Students taking TEAS at the Testing Center of Cal State East Bay do not need to send scores to the Nursing Department of Cal State East Bay. The Nursing Department will retrieve your scores. If you are taking TEAS more than one time, you might contact the Nursing Department at 510.885.3481 to let them know which test they should take into consideration.

Students who will be taking TEAS at the Testing Center of Cal State East Bay and applying at nursing programs of the universities listed bellow should contact ATI Testing or calling 800.667.7531 to request an official copy of the TEAS score to be sent to the institutions they are applying at. The cost of each copy is $20. It takes around 24 hours for a score copy to be received by nursing departments following the request submission.

• Cal State – Bakersfield
• Cal State – Chico
• Cal State – Long Beach
• Cal State – Los Angeles
• Cal State – San Bernardino
• Cal State – Stanislaus
• Cal State – Sacramento
• Humboldt State University
• San Jose State University

If you are applying at other nursing institutions you may ask those institutions for their TEAS score submission requirements.

Exams are given on the dates provided in the table below.

REFUND: There will be no refund of test registration student charges.

RESCHEDULE: You can only reschedule once. To reschedule a test date, a minimum of 2 weeks notification is required. Less than a 2 week notification will result in the forfeiture of the test registration student charge. To reschedule your test 2 weeks prior to your test date, go to:
contact us. Complete the form, choose "Test Reschedule" as the subject and click "Submit." Once your reschedule is processed, you will be notified via email.

Table last updated at 7/25/18 12:47pm (Table is updated every ten minutes).

VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Before coming to take the TEAS exam, you must go to atitesting and at the top of the page choose "Create an Account." You are not registering for the exam, you are simply creating an account with ATI. When you create your account with ATI, they will issue you a Paper Pencil ID number that looks like this: A12345678 (it starts with the letter "A" followed by eight digits). Write this number on a paper and bring it with you on the test date. You will be required to insert this number on your answer sheet on the day of the test. If you do not insert this number on your answer sheet, your test will not be scored. Once the account number has been issued, you can use it for every TEAS you take.