ATI TEAS Science questions fall into three big groups:

1. Anatomy & Physiology
2. Chemistry and biology
3. Scientific method

The vast majority of your scored TEAS science questions will be about Anatomy and Physiology. Your next big group of ATI TEAS Science questions will be about chemistry and biology. These include questions on chemical bonding, the periodic table, and genetics. Fun stuff!

(By the way, you’ll also see questions about applying the scientific method on the TEAS, and you can read more about the types of Anatomy & Physiology questions you’ll see on the TEAS here.)

Let’s talk about some specific concepts you’ll likely see as ATI TEAS Science questions.

ATI TEAS Science: What type of chemistry questions will you see?

Chemistry questions on the TEAS fall into some general groups:

✔ The organization of the periodic table

✔ Chemical bonding (ionic vs. covalent)

✔ The properties of water

✔ The properties of acids and bases

These topics are mandatory to master before test day. There are a few other topics that you might be tested on, but focusing here will give you the best bang for your study buck. If you master these, you will be in good shape on test day.

By the way, I help students with these topics in my full TEAS prep program.

Here’s what Prenursing Smarter student Alex had to say about the program:

“I haven’t taken Anatomy or Physio yet, and Math/Bio/Chem haven’t been used in like 10 years lol. But I just got home from my first test attempt and managed an 82.3%. I’ll be submitting my application to a Nursing program this fall 🙂 The structure and information provided in your course was honestly so helpful.”

So how can you study these topics for TEAS chemistry questions?

Focus on deep understanding. Rather than rely on TEAS practice exams questions, master the topics so that you are prepared for any question time.

For example, you might first…

1 | Break down the periodic table by column. What are the characteristics of the first column? How is different from the second column? The 8th column? (By the way, you can get a full video lecture to explain this in my full TEAS prep program!)

2 | Compare and contrast ionic and covalent bonds. Name some examples of each. What are some ways they are used in the human body?

3 | Make a chart about the characteristics of acids and bases. How are they different in terms of pH? Taste? Behavior in solution?

ATI TEAS Science: What type of biology questions will you see?

Like the chemistry, there are a few biological concepts that you must master before test day. They include…

✔ Comparing and contrasting DNA, genes, chromosomes

✔ Identifying the basic structure of DNA and RNA

✔ Working with Punnett squares

✔ Identifying expected ratios of Mendelian genetics

✔ Identifying types of non-Mendelian genetics

✔ Describing the qualities of three macromolecules: carbohydrate, lipid, and protein

Keep Reading: How to Study ATI TEAS Biology: Macromolecules

You might also see some overlap with anatomy and physiology, particularly cellular anatomy and organelle functions.

Like chemistry, you’ll want to master the fundamental concepts first. Do this before you worry about ATI TEAS practice tests and questions.

To help you get started, can you confidently answer the following biology questions?

1 | What is the expected dihybrid ratio? What does this look like in terms of phenotypes on a Punnett square?

2 | Can you name some examples of non-Mendelian inheritance in humans? (Is this confusing for you? We cover it in my full TEAS prep program!)

3 | Can you name 2 ways RNA and DNA are alike and 2 ways they are different?

ATI TEAS Science: Important Study Tip  📝

You might see what seems like a lot of chemistry and biology questions on the TEAS.

Why?

Because they might make up your unscored questions. Every section of the TEAS has questions that don’t count. You won’t know which ones they are, but every section has a standardized amount of unscored questions.

You might have TEAS chemistry and biology questions that are ultimately unscored because, well, the test makers have them on hand.

See, the previous version the TEAS exam (the TEAS V) had a much greater emphasis on chemistry and biology than the current version. This old version had only 11 scored questions on anatomy and physiology and 29 questions on chemistry and biology. This ratio is essentially flipped for the current test.

(You can read more about the types of Anatomy & Physiology questions you’ll see on the TEAS here.)

This means that the test makers have a ton of chemistry and biology questions lying around. Might as well put them to good use!

So if you see chemistry and biology questions that seem to come out of left field: don’t panic. Do your best. Focus on the material you know is probably scored. Tackle about the fundamentals first and give yourself time to prepare.

You can check out detailed lessons on all these topics in the full TEAS online prep program!