The short answer
A "good" TEAS score is the one that clears the requirement of the programs you apply to. ATI states that each school sets its own cut score, and it adds that your school will most likely want you in the Proficient level or above. Beyond that, the only honest benchmark is each program's published minimum and, for competitive programs, how your score compares with other applicants.
The format of the exam (170 questions, four timed sections) is covered on our free TEAS practice test page. This guide explains the numbers you get back.
How the total score is calculated
Your score report is called the Individual Performance Profile. According to ATI's sample report:
- Your raw score (the points you earned) is converted into an adjusted total score through a process called equating. Equating adjusts for small differences in difficulty between forms of the exam.
- The total score is on a scale of 0% to 100%. It is not simply the percentage of questions you got right.
- The four content area scores (Reading, Math, Science, English and Language Usage) are adjusted the same way, and they do not add up to the total.
- Only the 150 scored questions count; the report's content table lists 39 in Reading, 34 in Math, 44 in Science and 33 in English.
- If you do not complete all four content areas, no total score is given, because the total uses items from all four.
The five academic preparedness levels
The total score places you in one of five ATI academic preparedness levels. The ranges and ATI's own descriptions come from the sample score report:
| Level | Total score | What ATI says it generally indicates |
|---|---|---|
| Developmental | 0.0% to 40.0% | A very low level of academic preparedness; additional preparation needed for most objectives |
| Basic | 40.7% to 58.0% | A low level; additional preparation likely for many objectives |
| Proficient | 58.7% to 79.3% | A moderate level; additional preparation may be needed for some objectives |
| Advanced | 80.0% to 91.3% | A high level; additional preparation not likely needed |
| Exemplary | 92.0% to 100.0% | A very high level; additional preparation not likely needed |
The Proficient band starts at 58.7%. On this scale, "Proficient" therefore means a total score of at least 58.7%. If a program gives its own percentage, that percentage is what counts; if its wording is unclear, ask the program.
Is there a TEAS passing score?
No. ATI's FAQ is explicit: there is no universal passing score. Each school sets its own minimum, and many weigh the TEAS alongside your GPA and other factors.
That means two things in practice:
- A score can "pass" at one school and fall short at another. Check the requirement of every program on your list, not a number you read on a forum.
- Meeting a minimum is not the same as being competitive. When a program ranks applicants, a score well above the minimum can matter. Programs publish their own admission criteria; ATI does not publish typical admitted scores, and neither do we.
How to read your score report
Beyond the total and the level, the Individual Performance Profile shows several comparison figures. ATI defines them on the report:
- National mean: the average score of all examinees.
- Program mean: the average score of examinees within the program type you selected (for example BSN).
- National percentile rank: the percentage of examinees who scored at or below your score.
- Program percentile rank: the same comparison, but only within your program type.
The most useful part for a retake is Topics to Review. For each sub-area (for example Key Ideas and Details, or Human Anatomy and Physiology), the report shows how many items there were and the percentage you answered correctly, then lists the topics behind the questions you missed. The sub-area counts come from the report's content table: in Science, anatomy and physiology is 18 of the 44 scored questions (sample report), so a weak result there costs more than a weak result in chemistry (8 questions).
The report also shows your attempt number and the days since your last attempt.
When your score appears
According to ATI's FAQ:
- TEAS at ATI (remote, ATI-proctored): a preliminary score appears in your ATI account right away and becomes final four business days after your exam date. Transcripts are released only once it is final.
- TEAS at an institution: the score usually posts right after the exam, but some schools turn score posting off.
- TEAS at PSI: results can take up to 48 hours to appear.
Sending your score and how long it is valid
With TEAS at ATI and TEAS at PSI, one transcript credit is included, but the transcript is not sent automatically: you send it from the Results tab of your ATI account (ATI FAQ). If you tested through a school, the transcript goes to that school automatically. Each additional transcript costs $29.99.
How long a score stays valid is also a school decision. ATI says two years is common, but policies vary, so check each program.
Retakes: what counts as an attempt
ATI itself imposes no waiting period between attempts; the number of attempts allowed and any wait are set by your program. Two details catch people out:
- Every completed and scored exam counts as an attempt, even if you never send the result. Schools see updated attempts when you send them a transcript.
- Each retake is a new registration at full price, $120 plus applicable sales tax for TEAS at ATI or TEAS at PSI, and registrations are not refundable.
So before you book again, confirm how many attempts your program accepts and whether it uses your highest or most recent score.
Turning a score into a study plan
If your total is below your program's requirement, do not restart from page one. Use the Topics to Review list, rank the sub-areas by how many questions they carry and how low your percentage was, and work the biggest gaps first. Then take a full timed practice test to check your progress. Our free TEAS practice questions are original and written from ATI's published blueprint; they show your percentage correct by section, not an official ATI score.
Sources
- ATI TEAS Version 7 sample score report (Individual Performance Profile) — ATI (checked September 30, 2026)
- What score do I need to get on the ATI TEAS exam? — ATI Help (checked September 30, 2026)
- ATI TEAS Exam FAQs — ATI Help (checked September 30, 2026)
- How many times can I take the ATI TEAS exam? — ATI Help (checked September 30, 2026)
- What is the cost of the ATI TEAS exam? — 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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