TEAS Science Section 2026 — What to Study and How to Pass
TEAS science section 2026: 50 questions in 63 minutes covering biology, chemistry, anatomy, physiology, and scientific reasoning — top study strategies and topics.
TEAS Science Section Overview
The ATI TEAS 7 science section tests foundational science knowledge essential for success in health science programs. Unlike a basic biology course exam, TEAS science questions are written at an application level — you need to understand concepts well enough to apply them to healthcare-relevant scenarios.
TEAS 7 Science section format:
- Total questions: 56 (50 scored + 6 unscored pretest questions you cannot identify)
- Time limit: 63 minutes (~1 minute per question)
- Question type: Multiple-choice (4 options), select-all-that-apply, ordered response, graphic response (label diagrams), text with highlighted passage
Content area distribution (approximate, per ATI blueprint):
- Anatomy and Physiology: ~32% (~16 questions) — largest content area
- Biology: ~32% (~16 questions) — includes cell biology, genetics, microbiology
- Chemistry: ~17% (~8–9 questions)
- Scientific Reasoning: ~19% (~9–10 questions)
Anatomy and Physiology consistently receives the highest question weight, making it the most important study priority for TEAS science preparation.
TEAS Science Content Areas at a Glance
Anatomy & Physiology~32% of science
Highest Weight
- Key systems: Cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous, musculoskeletal, renal
- Priority topics: Heart anatomy, blood flow, respiratory mechanics, nephron function
- Question style: Identify structures, explain function, predict outcomes
Biology~32% of science
High Weight
- Key topics: Cell biology, genetics/inheritance, evolution, microbiology
- Priority topics: Cell membrane transport, DNA replication, Mendelian genetics
- Question style: Apply biological concepts to health scenarios
Chemistry~17% of science
- Key topics: Periodic table, chemical bonds, reactions, acids/bases, biochemistry
- Priority topics: pH scale, enzyme function, macromolecules (lipids, proteins, carbs)
- Question style: Interpret chemical reactions, predict properties
Scientific Reasoning~19% of science
- Key skills: Research design, data interpretation, scientific method
- Priority skills: Read graphs/tables, identify variables, evaluate conclusions
- Question style: Read a study description, answer methodology questions
Anatomy and Physiology — Priority Topics
A&P is the single most important content area for TEAS science. Even if you completed A&P in college, review is essential because TEAS questions test functional understanding, not just anatomical naming.
High-priority A&P topics for TEAS:
- Cardiovascular system: Heart chambers and valves, blood flow through the heart, cardiac cycle, coronary circulation, differences between arteries/veins/capillaries, blood pressure regulation, blood components (red cells, white cells, platelets, plasma)
- Respiratory system: Breathing mechanics (inhalation/exhalation, diaphragm), gas exchange in alveoli, oxygen-CO2 exchange, respiratory regulation, lung volumes
- Nervous system: Neuron structure (axon, dendrite, myelin), action potential, neurotransmitters, central vs peripheral nervous system, autonomic (sympathetic/parasympathetic) functions
- Musculoskeletal system: Muscle contraction (sliding filament theory), bone types, joints, skeletal muscle vs smooth vs cardiac muscle
- Renal system: Nephron structure and function, filtration/reabsorption/secretion, urine formation, kidney regulation of fluid and electrolytes
- Endocrine system: Major hormones and their glands (insulin/pancreas, ADH/pituitary, adrenaline/adrenal), feedback loops
- Digestive system: Organs and their functions (stomach, small/large intestine, liver, pancreas), enzyme functions, nutrient absorption
- Immune/lymphatic system: Types of immunity (innate vs adaptive), B cells, T cells, antibodies, lymph nodes
Biology — Priority Topics
Cell biology:
- Cell membrane structure (phospholipid bilayer, membrane proteins) and transport mechanisms (diffusion, osmosis, active transport, endocytosis, exocytosis)
- Organelle functions — mitochondria (ATP), ribosomes (protein synthesis), nucleus (DNA), endoplasmic reticulum (rough vs smooth), Golgi apparatus, lysosomes
- Cell cycle and mitosis — phases of mitosis (PMAT), purpose of mitosis vs meiosis
Genetics:
- DNA structure (double helix, base pairing: A-T, G-C) and replication
- Central dogma: DNA → transcription → mRNA → translation → protein
- Mendelian genetics — dominant/recessive alleles, Punnett squares, genotype vs phenotype, sex-linked traits
- Mutations and their effects on protein function
Evolution and ecology:
- Natural selection principles, adaptation
- Ecological relationships (predator-prey, symbiosis, commensalism, mutualism, parasitism)
Microbiology:
- Bacteria vs viruses (structural differences, replication methods)
- Modes of disease transmission, host-pathogen relationships
- Basic immunology — how vaccines work, herd immunity
Chemistry and Scientific Reasoning Topics
Chemistry topics on TEAS:
- Periodic table basics: Atomic structure (protons, neutrons, electrons), atomic number, atomic mass, element families (alkali metals, halogens, noble gases), periodic trends
- Chemical bonds: Ionic vs covalent bonds, electronegativity, polarity, hydrogen bonds (especially water's properties)
- Chemical reactions: Reactants vs products, balancing simple equations, exothermic vs endothermic reactions, catalysts
- Acids and bases: pH scale (0–14), acids (pH < 7), bases (pH > 7), neutral (pH 7), buffers in the body
- Biochemistry: Four major macromolecules — carbohydrates (energy, glycogen), lipids (cell membranes, hormones, stored energy), proteins (enzymes, antibodies, structural), nucleic acids (DNA, RNA). Know the monomers of each.
- Enzymes: How enzymes work (active site, substrate, lock-and-key model), factors affecting enzyme activity (temperature, pH)
Scientific reasoning topics:
- Scientific method: Hypothesis, independent/dependent/controlled variables, controlled experiment design
- Data interpretation: Reading bar graphs, line graphs, pie charts, data tables — identifying trends, making predictions from data
- Research design: Experimental vs control groups, sample size, blinding, validity and reliability
- Conclusions: Distinguishing supported vs unsupported conclusions from given data, correlation vs causation
TEAS Science Study Strategies
These are the strategies that consistently produce the highest score improvements on the TEAS science section:
- Start with A&P: Anatomy and physiology is the highest-weighted section and also the one where most nursing students already have some background. Reinforce core systems (cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous) first — even 30% improvement here moves your overall science score significantly.
- Use ATI's official study materials: ATI publishes the TEAS exam. Their official TEAS Study Manual and online ATI TEAS practice tests use the same question format and content weighting as the real exam. These are the most accurate practice resources available.
- Practice diagrams: The TEAS includes graphic response questions where you identify structures on diagrams (heart, nephron, neuron, cell). Don't just memorize names — be able to identify them on unlabeled images.
- Time yourself strictly: 63 minutes for 56 questions = ~67 seconds per question. Use timed practice consistently so pacing becomes automatic.
- Don't skip scientific reasoning: Students often ignore this section but it's 19% of science. These are learnable skills — reading data and experimental design are logical, not memorization-based. Practice with graph interpretation questions.
- 3–4 weeks of focused study: For students with a prior A&P course, 3–4 weeks of focused TEAS science prep is typically sufficient. For those without recent science coursework, 6–8 weeks with deeper biology and chemistry review is recommended.