# What's Tested on the TEAS: Mathematics

As a nursing or health science program student, and later in your career as a healthcare professional, you will need to interpret data, perform calculations, and translate real-world situations into math to respond appropriately. You might be reading test results presented as numbers or a graph, calculating medication dosages, interpreting research study results, or planning client care. The TEAS Mathematics content area tests your ability to perform arithmetic and algebra. You will apply these skills to solving word problems; interpreting charts and graphs; using descriptive statistics to characterize data sets; understanding relationships between numbers; calculating geometric values; and using measurements appropriately, including by converting from one unit of measure to another.

### The TEAS Mathematics Content Area

Of the 170 items on the TEAS, 36 will be in the Mathematics content area, and you will have 54 minutes to answer them. Thus, you will have 54 minutes ÷ 36 questions = 1.5 minutes per question.
Of the 36 Mathematics questions, 32 will be scored and 4 will be unscored. You won’t know which questions are unscored, so do your best on every question.
The 32 scored Mathematics questions come from two sub-content areas:
 Sub-content Areas Number of Questions Number and algebra 23 Measurement and data 9

### The Kaplan Method for Mathematics

Approaching every Mathematics question on the TEAS in a systematic way will help you solve efficiently.
• #### Step 1: Analyze the information provided.

Every TEAS Mathematics question will give you the information you need to solve it. This information may be in the question and/or in a table, figure, or other information supplied above the question. The answer choices may also provide useful information, so analyze those as well.

• #### Step 2: Approach strategically.

Unlike a math class, which focuses on a single subject such as algebra, the TEAS tests many types of math. When you look at a new question, pause briefly—give yourself the time it takes to take a deep breath—and think about what type of math you will use to solve. Is the question testing arithmetic? Algebra? Geometry? Call to mind the math rules you use to solve this type of question.
In addition, make sure that you have clearly stated in your mind what you are solving for. It’s a shame to do all the math right only to choose the wrong answer because you solved for when the question was asking for − 2, or because you solved for a possible solution when the question asked for a value that cannot be a solution. Make sure you are solving for the right thing.
Finally, use the answer choices to your advantage. For example, if there are two negative numbers and two positive numbers in the answers, then if you can quickly determine that the answer must be negative (or must be positive), you can immediately rule out two choices. If the values in the answers are far apart, then estimating an approximate value may be an efficient approach. If you can tell that the answer must be a little less than 1, and only one answer choice fits that description, then you can choose that answer without doing any calculations.

• #### Step 3: Evaluate the answer choices.

Choose the correct answer from the answer choices. If no choice matches the value you arrived at, then revisit Steps 1 and 2 to see if you overlooked any information or made an error in solving.

You’re not done yet! Double-check that you’ve answered the right question. For example, you don’t want to choose the time it takes to load one truck if the question asks for the time to load two trucks. Also, make sure your answer makes sense. For example, if a coat cost $100 and it’s now on sale, the sale price should be less, not more, than$100.