The short answer
According to ATI, the TEAS has 170 questions and 209 minutes of testing time, which is about 3 hours 29 minutes. Add the optional 10-minute break after the math section and the check-in, and ATI's advice is to plan on about four hours from sign-in to finish.
Of the 170 questions, 150 are scored and 20 are unscored pretest items (ATI content outline). The rest of this page breaks those numbers down so you can plan your pacing. For everything else about the exam (fees, booking, ID, scoring), see our free TEAS practice test page.
Questions and time per section
The four sections always come in the same order, and each has its own clock. Figures from ATI's exam details page and ATI's timing page:
| Order | Section | Questions | Of which unscored | Time | About per question |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reading | 45 | 6 | 55 min | 1.2 min |
| 2 | Math | 38 | 4 | 57 min | 1.5 min |
| — | Optional break | — | — | 10 min | — |
| 3 | Science | 50 | 6 | 60 min | 1.2 min |
| 4 | English and Language Usage | 37 | 4 | 37 min | 1 min |
| Total | 170 | 20 | 209 min |
Two things stand out. Science is the longest section by number of questions, and English is the tightest, at roughly one minute per question. Math gives you the most time per item, and the only calculator is the basic one built into the exam.
The 20 unscored questions
The content outline says the 20 unscored pretest items are "distributed proportionally across the four sections", and the exam details page gives the split: 6 in reading, 4 in math, 6 in science and 4 in English.
ATI's published material does not tell you which questions are unscored, so you cannot skip them safely. Treat every question as if it counts. In practice this means your pacing must cover all 170 questions, not 150.
If you are wondering how the 150 scored answers become your result, our guide to TEAS scores explains the adjusted score and the preparedness levels.
The break
There is one scheduled break. According to ATI Help, it lasts 10 minutes, comes only between math and science, and does not use testing time: the science clock starts only when you click to go on to the next section.
- You can skip it, but you cannot save it for later.
- On a remote exam, your camera must stay on with your testing area in view while you are away, and you must be back within 10 minutes. The break is the only time you may leave the camera's view; leaving at any other point can be flagged.
- At a testing site, follow the proctor's instructions and do not touch your personal items.
If you have a medical need for more breaks, it has to be requested as an accommodation before the exam.
Timing rules that change your strategy
ATI's timing page sets out how the clocks work:
- Time does not carry over. Finishing reading early adds nothing to math. You may move on whenever you are ready.
- You can go back within a section. Until time runs out, you can return to any question in the section, change answers and flag questions.
- A submitted section is closed. Once you submit a section, you cannot return to it.
- Unanswered means wrong. When a section's time runs out it closes automatically and blank questions count as incorrect.
- No penalty for guessing. ATI says so explicitly, so never leave a question blank.
The countdown ("Time Remaining") sits at the upper right of every question screen.
A simple pacing plan
These checkpoints are simple arithmetic from ATI's section times. Glance at the clock when you reach them:
| Section | Halfway checkpoint | Leave for review |
|---|---|---|
| Reading (45 questions, 55 min) | Question 23 with about 27 minutes left | 3 to 5 minutes |
| Math (38 questions, 57 min) | Question 19 with about 28 minutes left | 3 to 5 minutes |
| Science (50 questions, 60 min) | Question 25 with about 30 minutes left | 3 to 5 minutes |
| English (37 questions, 37 min) | Question 19 with about 18 minutes left | 1 to 2 minutes |
If a question is taking more than twice its share, pick your best answer, flag it and move on. Coming back with fresh eyes costs less than losing three easy questions at the end.
The best way to build this rhythm is to time whole sections in practice. Our free section pages are a good place to start: reading, math, science and English. For a week-by-week plan, see our TEAS study guide.
How long the whole day takes
The 209 minutes are only the testing time. ATI's exam day page adds:
- In person: arrive 15 to 20 minutes early. Everyone starts together, there is no grace period, and late arrivals are not admitted.
- Remote with ATI: log in 30 minutes before you plan to start, to complete check-in, show your ID on camera and run the equipment checks. The exam does not begin until a proctor approves you.
- Either way: ATI says to plan for up to four hours.
For a remote exam proctored by ATI, the same page lists the testing hours in Central Time: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Mondays, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturdays. You must be actively testing, past the pre-checks, by the cutoff, so do not start late in the window.
Extra time
Candidates with a documented disability can request accommodations. For TEAS at ATI, approved extended time is 1½ times the standard time; anything beyond that must be justified in your documentation, and schools and PSI set their own arrangements. Requests can take up to 30 days to review and cannot be added on exam day, so apply before you register.
Practice at the real length
A full-length practice run is the only way to know whether you can hold your focus for three and a half hours. Our full-length practice tests follow the official section order and the 209-minute total with 150 original questions (the scored length of the real exam, without the 20 pretest items); they are not ATI material and cannot predict your official score.
Sources
- What is the time limit for the ATI TEAS? — ATI Help (checked September 30, 2026)
- TEAS Exam Details — ATI (checked September 30, 2026)
- ATI TEAS Version 7 Content Outline — ATI (checked September 30, 2026)
- Do you allow bathroom breaks during the online TEAS exam? — ATI Help (checked September 30, 2026)
- TEAS exam day details and requirements — ATI Help (checked September 30, 2026)
- What are the TEAS exam testing accommodations available? — ATI Help (checked September 30, 2026)
ATI TEAS and TEAS are trademarks of Assessment Technologies Institute, L.L.C., which is not affiliated with and does not endorse passmock.
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