How can I manage test anxiety for the TEAS?

Feeling nervous before the ATI TEAS® is normal, and a little adrenaline can sharpen your focus. Anxiety becomes a problem when it makes it hard to remember what you studied or think clearly, or brings on a racing heart, sweaty palms, or nausea. The good news is that most test anxiety comes from uncertainty, and you can remove a lot of that uncertainty before exam day.

Before the exam

1. Know exactly what to expect. Learn the four sections, question counts, and time limits. Then take a full-length ATI TEAS Online Practice Test under timed conditions; the practice tests use the same question types, on-screen calculator, timer, and flag-for-review feature as the real exam, so nothing on exam day is a surprise; practice flagging a question and coming back to it so it feels natural on test day.
2. Study the major concepts, not every detail. No one knows everything on the test. Understanding the main ideas in each content area helps you reason through questions you are unsure of. How do I prepare for the ATI TEAS exam?
3. Remove the technical worries. If you are testing at home, complete the Dry Run at least a few days before your exam, on the same device and in the same room you will use, and set up your room ahead of time.
4. Know who to contact before you need to. Write down your exam-day contact and keep it next to your computer, so a problem is a phone call, not a crisis. TEAS at ATI: call the ATI proctor line at 1-844-956-2790 (during exam hours) for anything on test day; email [email protected] with questions beforehand. Exam proctored by your school or testing center: use the contact in your school’s instructions. Chamberlain University applicants: 1-833-261-5735 or [email protected]. If something goes wrong mid-exam, exit and call; your answers are saved as you go. Who do I contact about my TEAS at ATI exam?
5. Keep it in perspective. The TEAS matters, but it does not decide your future. Many successful nurses and allied health professionals had academic setbacks along the way, and about 40% of students take the TEAS more than once.
6. Picture it going well. Walk through the whole day in your mind, from waking up to finishing the last section, seeing yourself calm and working steadily.
7. Sleep and caffeine. Get a full night’s sleep for several nights before the exam, and go easy on caffeine on exam day; it can amplify the physical symptoms of anxiety.
8. Need an accommodation? If you have a documented disability, submit your request at least 30 days before your exam date. TEAS testing accommodations

On exam day

1. Arrive or sign in early, and protect your calm. At a testing site, arrive early but skip the pre-exam chatter with other students; their nerves can feed yours. Take a short walk, breathe, or run through your positive self-talk instead. At home, sign in about 30 minutes before you plan to start so the pre-checks are done without rushing (TEAS at ATI start times).
2. Answer every question. There is no penalty for guessing, and an unanswered question is always wrong. If you are unsure, eliminate the choices you know are wrong and pick the best of the rest. Within a section you can move back and forth, so flag a hard question, keep going, and return to it if time allows.
3. Expect a few curveballs. You are not aiming for 100%; you are aiming for your goal score. When a question stumps you, make your best guess or flag it for later, and keep your momentum rather than letting it rattle the next ten questions.
4. Watch the clock, but not constantly. Glance at the timer every so often; checking it every minute only adds pressure.
5. Use the break. After the math section you get a 10-minute break. Stand up, stretch, roll your shoulders, and reset. Breaks during the TEAS
6. Think of it as a game. Your goal is to collect as many points as you can in the time available. You can miss several questions and still reach your goal.

Flagged questions: the exam reminds you before you leave a section

A one-minute reset if anxiety spikes mid-exam