This is Part 2 in a series on how to create your TEAS test study plan. Read Part 1 here.
The 4 Steps to Your TEAS Test Study Plan…One BIG Mistake You Want to Avoid
In Part 1, we looked at how to create your roadmap. This planning is so important; it’s an investment that will pay for years to come—when you are working as a nurse!
So high five for you scheduling some time on the calendar to dedicate to studying! 🙌
An honest assessment of your time is SO important because if it’s not on the calendar, it’s probably not going to happen.
Today, we’re going to talk about a big mistake a lot of students make… one that I don’t want you to make too!
By the way, if you don’t already have your copy of the planner, you can grab it below.
Let’s look at how to use that time so that you’re studying smarter.
Have you ever sat down to study, opened your book… and then stared into space?
Maybe you end up on Instagram, and then the hours have ticked by… but you haven’t actually learned anything. (Come follow me so at least you’ll learn something on Instagram 😉)
We’ve all been there.
But if you don’t know WHAT you’re going to study, you’re not going to see the results you want.
For example, which student do you think will get a better TEAS score?
Student A: “I’m going to study science.”
Student B: “I’m going to the library from 5-6:30 today, and I’m going to study food’s path through the digestive system, paying particular attention to the major digestive enzymes involved at each step.”
Uh…. let’s all be like Student B, right?!
Student B is SPECIFIC about the time, place, and subject. Student B has also taken the time to break down science into bite-sized pieces.
This can lead to a much higher level of success on the TEAS, guaranteed.
To help you structure your dedicated study time, follow these 4 Key Steps that you’ll need for a higher TEAS score.
Step 1 Study time that’s intensive and learning based. This time is FOCUSED. You’re in a quiet spot, you have detailed materials, and you have a few hours to dive into the material.
Step 2 Study time that’s review based. This time can be smaller chunks, say 20 minutes at a time. You can do the review once you’ve spent time learning and understanding the information. Now, your goal is memorization. This time is great for flashcards, writing terms out 10x each, or reviewing practice questions.
Step 3 Study time that’s application based. Once you’ve spent time learning and reviewing, you are ready to practice applying it through practice questions. This time is devoted to strengthening your recall and problem-solving abilities.
Step 4 Study time that’s spent learning strategy specifically for the test. Standardized tests like the TEAS are different from typical college tests, and most people haven’t learned how to take them.
In order to get your best score possible, you’ll need to learn time-saving techniques specific to the TEAS.
Learn + Memorize + Apply + Strategy = Study Smarter
In the TEAS test study plan PDF, you can notice that many of the 3-hour blocks are devoted to intensive subject learning.
During those 3-hour blocks, you can also do practice questions that are specific only to the subject. This gives you an opportunity to apply what you’re learning.
OK, so I want to make sure you really absorb this. The foundation of most people’s TEAS studying is what?
Practice questions and practice tests.
On the surface, this makes sense, right? If you have to take a test, you want to practice with a test… BUT this method overlooks 3 other areas: learning, review, and strategy. Testing and practice questions are only part of the application.
Practice tests are great, but, in order to be effective for YOU, they need to teach you the important concepts. The practice tests must…
- 🧐 Help you identify the underlying concept so that you can study it in detail and be prepared for other questions.
- 🤓 Tell you specifically what to memorize so that you can focus on the most important concepts.
- 😎 Give you time-saving strategies for specific questions.
So, please, do not make this big mistake: You need more than a practice test and practice questions to score well on the TEAS.
Question Time!
You’ll need to work in regular review into your study schedule. Commit to memorize at least 20 minutes a day. Which of these will you do?
Ways to memorize for 20 minutes a day
- Wake up wake up at _______ on __________ days
- While on public transportation
- In between classes, specifically _________________________
- On your lunch break
- Drive to campus/work ahead of time and study in your car on these days ___________________
Any other options you like? Be sure to list them.
Next, you’ll need to pick how you’ll memorize.
Tools to Memorize Effectively
- Handwritten flashcards of key terms, words in bold, and subject-specific rules
- Use done-for-you flashcards (friendly suggestion for these)
- Make handwritten study sheets based on intensive study sessions
- Rewriting or redrawing study sheets at least three times to cement them to memory
- Listen to audio of key TEAS study points. You can record yourself reading your notes or use the audio reviews in the prep program
- Play quizzing games with friends, study buddy or your kids
Any other options you like? Be sure to list them.
Now go to your calendar and answer the following questions.
- What times would be good for intensive learning? Which times are better for memorizing?
- Where do you study best for long periods of time? The library? Your car? (I actually love studying in my car… parked, of course!)
- What would help you memorize? Cheat sheets? Flashcards? Audio? What works best for you?
- What’s going to help you apply the material? Do you have enough study materials? Where are you getting your practice questions?
- What can you build into your schedule to make it a habit?
Grab your copy of the TEAS study planner to get these worksheets!
Start thinking about how you can fold in the 4 Study Areas into your study time. You need to find time for Learning, Memorizing, Applying, and Strategizing.
In the next lesson, you’re going to learn how to crack the TEAS study code so that you’re certain you are studying the RIGHT material.
Can’t wait to share it with you!
Kate is a CRLA certified tutor and test prep expert. She founded Prenursing Smarter in 2017. Kate lives in sunny Southern California and is an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (Mnikȟówožu Lakȟóta). Prenursing Smarter is an inclusive business and actively seeks opportunities to collaborate with and support diverse voices.
