So, you’re applying to nursing school! I am very excited for you. Your school probably requires their applicants to take the ATI TEAS entrance exam, which brought you here. I am going to show you step by step how to get started studying so you can do your very best on the ATI TEAS 7 exam.
Why create a study plan?
Creating a study plan is a good idea because it will keep your studying organized and effective. No one wants to study for 8 hours a day and get burnt out after a week, right? By creating a study plan, you can keep yourself accountable, prevent burnout, and stay motivated to study and make sure you review all of the material. When I took the ATI TEAS 6 in 2021, I ran out of time studying, and did not get to cover all of the material I needed for the English Section. The English section ended up bringing down my overall score because I didn’t get to study as much as I should have, which could have been the difference between getting denied or accepted into nursing school.
Now that I am applying to nursing school again and am taking the ATI TEAS 7, I am creating a study plan to make sure that I have enough time to cover all of the material, and I am going to show you how I did it!
Here’s my YouTube Video about it, and my own study plan that you can use as a template:
Step 1: Gather your study guides, apps, and books
The first step is to choose your study materials. I am using the Smart Edition Academy Full Online TEAS 7 Course and the Official ATI TEAS Study Manual. I also make references to “Smartprep”, that is part of the ATI study package. It’s not entirely necessary do follow along fully, but try to get your hands on a practice test or two before you take your exam.
You can find more on the Smart Edition Academy online course here: https://www.smarteditionacademy.com/
*Disclaimer: Some of the links I use may be affiliate links, where at no extra cost for you to use, I may earn a commission if you purchase a product using a link. I only am affiliated with companies I trust and products that I have used myself.
Step 2: Determine how studying will fit into your schedule (be realistic!)
It’s recommended to spend no more than 6 hours studying for the TEAS per day. You may have to spend more if you have less than 3 weeks to take the exam, but for the most part, between 2-4 hours per session is an appropriate amount of time to prepare for the test. If you’re in school, working, or looking after family members, you may be restricted with how much time you can take out of your day to study. For most people, 6-8 weeks is needed to prepare for the TEAS.
Determining how studying will fit into your schedule may give you a clear picture on how much time per week you need (and how many weeks you need) to study. If you’re not sure how many weeks you’ll need, try taking a practice test. Depending on how you do, you can figure out that way how much time you will need. Here is a subjective reference chart:
| Practice Test Score | Number of weeks you might need to study: | Hours per week you might need to study: | |
| Below 50% | 8 weeks | 18-22 hours per week | |
| 50%-59% | 8 weeks | 18-20 hours per week | |
| 60%-69% | 8-7 weeks | 15-20 hours per week | |
| 70%-79% | 7 weeks | 15-18 hours per week | |
| 80%-89% | 6 weeks | 15-18 hours per week | |
| Above 90% | 5-4 weeks | 12-15 hours per week |
Step 3: Put pen to paper!
After you’ve figured out how long it will take you to study for the test, it’s time to create your study plan. Begin with the areas that you think you will need more time with; most students start with the science section. Dividing the table of contents of your study book of choice is a great strategy to make sure your study plan is concrete. Try your best to be realistic with yourself if you have a busy schedule. Working on a few topics per day will help you stay on track and will help you do your very best on your exam. Writing your study plan down on a calendar, planner , or notebook keeps you organized. You may even find approaching this test less overwhelming since you have a concrete plan of how you’re going to tackle this test. You got this!