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The TEAS 7 Science section gives you 60 minutes to answer roughly 50 questions covering anatomy, physiology, biology, chemistry, and scientific reasoning. That’s about one minute per question across four different subjects. 

Most pre-nursing students feel overwhelmed by this section because the content is broad and the time pressure is real. You’re juggling multiple topics while racing against the clock.

You don’t need to memorize every body system or chemical reaction. Focus on what the test actually prioritizes, spend your study time there, and practice working under time pressure.

What’s Actually on the TEAS 7 Science Section

The Science section gives you 60 minutes to answer approximately 50 questions. Out of those, 44 are scored and 6 are pretest items; unscored questions ATI uses to test future exam content. Treat every question like it counts because you won’t know which ones are pretest.

According to ATI’s official TEAS breakdown, the section divides into four content areas:

Human Anatomy & Physiology: ~18 questions (36% of the section)
Biology: ~9 questions (18%)
Chemistry: ~8 questions (16%)
Scientific Reasoning: ~9 questions (18%)

The breakdown matters. Anatomy & Physiology carries the most weight. Spending equal time on all four areas means you’re misallocating effort. A&P deserves the bulk of your study hours.

You’re looking at roughly one minute per question. That includes reading, eliminating wrong answers, and selecting your response. Pacing directly impacts your score.

Human Anatomy & Physiology: Your Biggest Focus

With 18 questions, A&P makes up more than a third of your science score. The TEAS tests your understanding of major body systems and how they function:

• Cardiovascular system (heart structure, blood flow, circulation)
• Respiratory system (gas exchange, lung anatomy)
• Nervous system (central vs. peripheral, neuron function)
• Endocrine system (hormones, glands, feedback loops)
• Digestive system (organs, enzymes, nutrient absorption)
• Immune system (innate vs. adaptive immunity)
• Musculoskeletal system (bone structure, muscle contraction)
• Renal system (kidney function, filtration)

The TEAS tests basic structure and function. Can you identify what the left ventricle does? Do you know the difference between arteries and veins? Can you explain how oxygen moves from the lungs into the bloodstream?

Questions often ask you to apply knowledge. Example: “A patient’s blood pressure drops. Which body system will respond first to increase heart rate?” You need to know the autonomic nervous system controls heart rate and that the sympathetic branch activates during stress.

Use diagrams. A&P involves visual learning. Drawing out the heart, labeling the chambers, and tracing blood flow sticks better than reading descriptions. Khan Academy offers free A&P videos that break systems down clearly.

Biology: Cells, Genetics and Macromolecules

Biology questions focus on cellular and molecular processes. Expect around 9 questions covering:

• Cell structure and organelles (nucleus, mitochondria, ribosomes)
• Cellular processes (mitosis, meiosis, cellular respiration)
• Genetics (DNA structure, RNA, protein synthesis, inheritance)
• Macromolecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids)
• Basic microbiology (bacteria vs. viruses)

Biology questions sometimes blend with scientific reasoning. You might see a Punnett square asking you to interpret inheritance patterns, or a diagram of cellular respiration with a question about ATP production.

Biology requires understanding processes rather than just memorizing terms. Know why mitosis produces identical daughter cells. Understand how DNA codes for proteins through transcription and translation.

Make flowcharts for processes like mitosis, meiosis, and protein synthesis. Seeing the steps in order helps more than vocabulary lists.

Chemistry: The Essentials

Chemistry gets about 8 questions, covering:

• Atomic structure (protons, neutrons, electrons, atomic number)
• Periodic table basics (groups, periods, metals vs. nonmetals)
• Chemical bonds (ionic, covalent, hydrogen bonds)
• Chemical reactions (reactants, products, balancing equations)
• Acids and bases (pH scale, neutralization)
• States of matter (solid, liquid, gas, phase changes)

Chemistry trips students up because it feels abstract. TEAS chemistry covers foundational concepts.

You need to know the difference between an acid and a base, recognize a balanced chemical equation and understand that atoms bond to achieve stable electron configurations. Most chemistry questions are straightforward when you know the basics. “Which of the following has a pH less than 7?” tests whether you know acids have low pH.

Scientific Reasoning: The Hidden Challenge

Scientific reasoning tests your ability to think like a scientist rather than recall facts. About 9 questions ask you to:

• Understand the scientific method (hypothesis, experiment, conclusion)
• Interpret data from graphs, tables, and charts
• Identify relationships between variables
• Evaluate experimental design and conclusions

These questions feel harder because students overthink them. A graph showing temperature vs. bacterial growth tests whether you can read the axes and identify trends.

Example: “Based on the graph, what happens to bacterial growth as temperature increases from 20°C to 40°C?” The answer lives in the data. You interpret what you see.

Practice reading graphs and charts. Look at scientific studies (even simplified ones) and practice identifying independent vs. dependent variables and conclusions.

Why Students Struggle (And What to Do About It)

Time pressure kills scores. One minute per question feels manageable until you’re 20 questions in and realize you’ve spent 30 minutes. Students who skip timed practice run out of time and leave questions blank.

The breadth is overwhelming. The TEAS skims across anatomy, biology, chemistry, and reasoning. You can’t afford to ignore an entire subject.

Questions combine content and reasoning. A question might give you a diagram of the digestive system and ask which enzyme breaks down proteins. You need anatomy knowledge and biology understanding.

Take a diagnostic test first. Know where you’re weak instead of guessing. Testavia’s TEAS question bank includes detailed rationales so you understand why you missed questions.

Study by system. Block out time for cardiovascular, then respiratory, then nervous. Jumping between topics creates confusion.

Practice timed sets. Do 10-question sets in 10 minutes. Build speed gradually.

Review mistakes immediately. Miss a question about mitosis? Review mitosis right then.

If you’re wondering whether the TEAS is manageable, check out Is the ATI TEAS Exam Difficult? for a realistic breakdown of what makes it challenging and how students actually pass.

How to Read TEAS Science Questions

TEAS questions test whether you can read carefully under pressure.

Break down the question stem. What’s the actual question? Sometimes extra information tests whether you can filter out what matters.

Use elimination. Cross out answers you know are wrong. Narrowing to two options gives you a 50/50 shot.

Trust your first instinct. If a question asks “Which organ produces insulin?” and you know it’s the pancreas, pick it and move on.

Example:

“A patient’s blood glucose level is elevated. Which hormone is most likely deficient?”

A) Glucagon
B) Insulin
C) Cortisol
D) Thyroxine

Elevated glucose means too much sugar in the blood. Insulin lowers blood sugar by helping cells absorb glucose. When insulin is deficient, glucose stays high.

Answer: B) Insulin.

Last Two Weeks Before Test Day

Week 2 out:
Do timed practice sets daily (at least 20 questions). Review weak areas identified in practice. Make quick-reference sheets for each system—one page per topic maximum.

Week 1 out:
Focus on high-yield topics (A&P systems, cell processes, basic chemistry). Do at least one full-length timed practice test. Review mistakes but skip cramming new material.

48 hours out:
Light review only. Skim your reference sheets. Avoid learning new systems, it won’t stick. Get sleep. Exhausted brains struggle with recall.

You might also want to review strategies for the other TEAS sections. Check out ATI TEAS English Questions if you need help with grammar and language usage.

Final Thoughts

The TEAS 7 Science section covers a lot of ground but you’re tested on essentials, applied under time pressure.

Anatomy and physiology will make or break your score, so prioritize it. Chemistry and biology matter, but they’re smaller chunks. Scientific reasoning tests logic over memorization.

Practice with real questions. Study smart. Trust your prep when test day arrives.

Ready to practice with real TEAS 7 science questions? Testavia offers timed practice sets, detailed answer rationales and progress tracking designed specifically for overwhelmed pre-nursing students. Try it free for 7 days no credit card required. You’ll get full access to our question bank, visual study guides and the tools you need to walk into test day confident.

Start your free trial here and see how targeted practice makes the difference.