Key Insights for Passing Your Nursing Entrance Exam

Thinking about a career in nursing is an exciting step, and you’ve come to the right place to understand the first major hurdle: the entrance exam. This guide provides simple, clear information about the concepts you’ll face, focusing on general study themes and basic preparation to help you feel confident and ready.

Understanding the Purpose of a Nursing Entrance Exam

Before diving into study topics, it’s helpful to know why these exams exist. Nursing schools use entrance exams as a standardized tool to measure a candidate’s academic readiness for the rigorous curriculum ahead. They aren’t designed to trick you; they are designed to see if you have the foundational knowledge in key areas to succeed in your nursing studies.

There are several different nursing entrance exams, but three of the most common ones in the United States are:

• The TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills): This is a widely used multiple-choice exam that assesses a student’s preparedness for entering the health science fields.
• The HESI A2 (Health Education Systems, Inc. Admission Assessment): This exam is also very common and covers many of the same core subjects as the TEAS.
• The Kaplan Nursing School Admission Test: This is another popular option that tests critical thinking and academic skills.

It is very important to check the specific requirements of the nursing programs you are applying to, as they will tell you exactly which exam you need to take.

Core Concepts You Need to Master

The ad you clicked mentioned “nursing-entrance quiz concepts,” and that’s exactly what we’ll cover here. While the exact questions vary, the core subjects are remarkably consistent across all major exams. Let’s break down the general themes you should focus on.

1. Reading Comprehension

This section tests your ability to read and understand passages, which is a critical skill for digesting textbooks, patient charts, and research articles in nursing school.

• What to Expect: You will be given short to medium-length passages and asked questions about them. These questions will require you to identify the main idea, find supporting details, understand the author’s purpose, and make logical inferences based on the text.
• How to Prepare: The best way to improve is simply to read more. Practice with articles from science journals, news websites, and textbooks. As you read, actively ask yourself: What is the main point here? What evidence supports it? This active reading will build the skills you need to excel.

2. Mathematics

Many aspiring nurses worry about the math section, but it typically focuses on foundational concepts that are directly applicable to healthcare.

• What to Expect: You won’t be doing advanced calculus. Instead, you’ll see problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of whole numbers, decimals, and fractions. A significant portion of the test will likely focus on percentages, ratios, and proportions, as these are used daily in nursing for things like calculating medication dosages. You may also see some basic algebra and questions involving data interpretation from charts and graphs.
• How to Prepare: Review your foundational math skills. Use free online resources like Khan Academy to brush up on fractions and percentages. Work through practice problems specifically designed for nursing exams to get comfortable with the types of questions you’ll see. For example, you might see a question like, “A doctor orders 500 mg of a medication, and the available tablets are 250 mg each. How many tablets should the nurse administer?”

3. Science

This is often the most substantial section of the exam. It ensures you have the baseline knowledge needed for more advanced courses like pharmacology and pathophysiology.

• Anatomy and Physiology (A&P): This is the study of the human body’s structure and function. You should have a general understanding of all major organ systems, including the cardiovascular, respiratory, skeletal, nervous, and digestive systems. You don’t need to be an expert, but you should know the primary function of the heart, lungs, kidneys, and other major organs.
• Biology: This section covers topics like cell structure and function, basic genetics, and macromolecules (proteins, carbohydrates, etc.). Understanding these building blocks is essential for A&P.
• Chemistry: The chemistry portion usually covers the basics. This includes the structure of an atom, periodic table trends, chemical bonds, and pH balance. This knowledge is crucial for understanding how medications interact with the body.

4. English and Language Usage

Clear communication is vital in nursing, and this section tests your command of the English language.

• What to Expect: This part of the exam focuses on grammar, spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure. You will be asked to identify errors in sentences or choose the most grammatically correct version of a phrase. Vocabulary is also a key component.
• How to Prepare: The best preparation is to review fundamental grammar rules. Pay close attention to common mistakes like subject-verb agreement, comma usage, and pronoun clarity. Using study apps with flashcards for vocabulary can also be very effective.

Smart Study Themes for Effective Preparation

Knowing what to study is only half the battle. Knowing how to study will make your preparation much more effective.

Start with a Baseline

Before you buy any books or start any courses, take a full-length practice test. Many official study guides, like the “Official ATI TEAS Study Manual,” include one. This will give you a clear picture of your strengths and weaknesses. If you score highly in reading but struggle with fractions, you know exactly where to focus your energy.

Create a Realistic Study Schedule

Don’t try to cram everything in a week before the test. A successful approach involves consistent, planned study sessions over several weeks or even months. Dedicate specific days to specific subjects. For example, Mondays and Wednesdays could be for science, while Tuesdays and Thursdays are for math and English. This prevents burnout and helps the information stick.

Focus on Understanding Concepts

For subjects like A&P, pure memorization is not enough. Instead of just memorizing that the mitochondria is the “powerhouse of the cell,” try to understand why it is. What processes happen there? How does it generate energy? This deeper level of understanding will help you answer critical thinking questions you can’t just memorize an answer for.

Use Quality Resources

Your study materials matter. Invest in the official study manual for the specific test you are taking. Supplement this with reputable online resources. For example, websites like NurseHub and Mometrix offer practice questions and video lessons tailored to the TEAS and HESI exams.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should I study for a nursing entrance exam? This varies greatly depending on your existing knowledge. Most experts recommend studying for at least 4 to 6 weeks. If you have been out of school for a while, you may want to plan for 2 to 3 months to thoroughly review all the material.

Are nursing entrance exams difficult? The difficulty is subjective. The content itself is not advanced; it is based on high school-level knowledge. The challenge comes from the breadth of topics covered and the need to recall information from multiple subjects under time pressure. With dedicated preparation, the exam is very manageable.

What is a good score on the TEAS or HESI? “Good” depends entirely on the program you are applying to. Some competitive programs may look for scores in the 80s or 90s (proficient or advanced levels), while others may have a lower threshold. Always check the admissions website for your target schools to see their average accepted scores.