Free PDF TEAS Exam Questions 2026: 14 Real Practice Questions With Answers

Read the following passage, then answer the question.

Nosocomial infections — also known as hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) — affect approximately 1 in 31 hospital patients on any given day, according to the CDC. These infections are not present or incubating at the time of admission but develop during the course of a hospital stay. The most common types include catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), surgical site infections (SSIs), central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). While advances in infection control have reduced HAI rates by 16% over the past decade, they remain a leading cause of preventable patient harm and contribute to an estimated 99,000 deaths annually in the United States.

Based on the passage, which of the following statements is best supported?

1. Nosocomial infections are primarily caused by surgical errors.
2. Hospital-acquired infections are present at the time of patient admission.
3. Despite progress in prevention, hospital-acquired infections remain a significant cause of patient deaths.
4. The CDC has eliminated the majority of catheter-associated infections.

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Answer: C

Rationale: The passage explicitly states that HAI rates have been reduced by 16% (showing progress) but that they "remain a leading cause of preventable patient harm" with an estimated 99,000 annual deaths (showing they're still significant). Option A is unsupported — the passage doesn't attribute HAIs to surgical errors specifically. Option B directly contradicts the passage, which states HAIs are "not present or incubating at the time of admission." Option D overstates the CDC's achievement — rates were reduced, not eliminated.

Read the following passage, then answer the question.

The debate over mandatory nurse-to-patient ratios has intensified in recent years. Proponents argue that fixed ratios — such as California's landmark 2004 law requiring no more than 5 patients per nurse in medical-surgical units — demonstrably improve patient outcomes, reduce nurse burnout, and decrease mortality rates. Critics counter that rigid mandates ignore the variability of patient acuity, create staffing inflexibility, and impose financial burdens on hospitals already operating on thin margins. Both sides agree, however, that nurse staffing levels significantly impact quality of care.

What is the author's primary purpose in this passage?

1. To advocate for mandatory nurse-to-patient ratio laws
2. To present opposing viewpoints on a healthcare staffing policy
3. To criticize hospitals for insufficient nurse staffing
4. To explain why California's 2004 law has failed

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Answer: B

Rationale: The author presents both "proponents" and "critics" arguments without taking a side, making the primary purpose to present opposing viewpoints (B). The passage doesn't advocate for ratios (A), criticize hospitals (C), or claim California's law failed (D) — it actually describes the law in neutral terms.

A nursing student finds two sources about hand hygiene compliance:

• Source 1: A 2024 WHO report states that hand hygiene compliance in hospitals averages 40% globally, despite evidence that proper hand washing reduces HAIs by up to 50%.
• Source 2: A hospital in Michigan implemented an electronic monitoring system that alerts staff when hand hygiene is missed. After 12 months, compliance rose from 38% to 91%, and MRSA infections dropped by 62%.

Which conclusion is best supported by BOTH sources?

1. Electronic monitoring is the only effective method to improve hand hygiene.
2. Low hand hygiene compliance is a widespread problem that can be significantly improved with targeted interventions.
3. Hand hygiene compliance has no measurable impact on infection rates.
4. Global hand hygiene rates have improved dramatically since 2020.

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Answer: B

Rationale: Source 1 establishes that low compliance is a widespread problem (40% globally). Source 2 demonstrates that a targeted intervention (electronic monitoring) dramatically improved compliance (38% → 91%). Together, both sources support B. Option A overstates — Source 2 shows one effective method, but neither source claims it's the only method. C is contradicted by both sources. D is unsupported by either source.

A nurse administers medication at a rate of 125 mL per hour using an IV drip. The IV tubing has a drop factor of 20 drops/mL. How many drops per minute should the nurse set?

1. 25 drops/min
2. 42 drops/min
3. 60 drops/min
4. 104 drops/min

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Answer: B

Rationale: Use the IV drip rate formula: drops/min = (volume × drop factor) ÷ time in minutes. So: (125 mL × 20 drops/mL) ÷ 60 minutes = 2,500 ÷ 60 = 41.67, rounded to 42 drops per minute. This type of calculation is essential for nursing — and frequently appears on the TEAS.

A hospital's emergency department treated 840 patients in January. In February, patient volume increased by 15%. How many patients were treated in February?

1. 126
2. 714
3. 966
4. 955

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Answer: C

Rationale: 15% of 840 = 0.15 × 840 = 126. Total February patients = 840 + 126 = 966. Option A (126) is just the increase, not the total. Option B (714) is a 15% decrease. Option D is incorrect arithmetic.

Solve for x: 3(2x − 4) + 7 = 2x + 15

1. x = 2
2. x = 4
3. x = 5
4. x = 6

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Answer: C

Rationale: Step by step: 3(2x − 4) + 7 = 2x + 15 → 6x − 12 + 7 = 2x + 15 → 6x − 5 = 2x + 15 → 4x = 20 → x = 5. Always distribute first, then combine like terms, then isolate the variable.

A student's test scores across five exams were: 78, 85, 92, 88, and 72. What is the median score?

1. 83
2. 85
3. 88
4. 92

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Answer: B

Rationale: To find the median, arrange the scores in order: 72, 78, 85, 88, 92. The median is the middle value in an odd-numbered data set. With 5 values, the median is the 3rd value: 85. Don't confuse median with mean (average = 83) — the TEAS frequently tests whether you know the difference.

During gas exchange in the lungs, oxygen moves from the alveoli into the pulmonary capillaries. Which process is responsible for this movement?

1. Active transport
2. Osmosis
3. Simple diffusion
4. Endocytosis

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Answer: C

Rationale: Gas exchange in the lungs occurs via simple diffusion — oxygen moves from an area of higher concentration (alveoli) to lower concentration (pulmonary capillaries) across the respiratory membrane. This is a passive process requiring no energy (ATP). Active transport (A) requires energy and moves against the concentration gradient. Osmosis (B) is the diffusion of water, not gases. Endocytosis (D) involves engulfing particles into a cell — not relevant to gas exchange.

Which phase of mitosis is characterized by the alignment of chromosomes along the cell's equatorial plate (metaphase plate)?

1. Prophase
2. Metaphase
3. Anaphase
4. Telophase

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Answer: B

Rationale: During metaphase, chromosomes align along the metaphase plate (the cell's equator) attached to spindle fibers at their centromeres. In prophase (A), chromosomes condense and the spindle begins to form. In anaphase (C), sister chromatids separate and move to opposite poles. In telophase (D), nuclear envelopes reform around the separated chromosomes. Remember: P-MAT (Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, Telophase).

A solution has a pH of 3. Which of the following statements is correct?

1. The solution is basic with a high concentration of hydroxide ions.
2. The solution is neutral.
3. The solution is acidic with a high concentration of hydrogen ions.
4. The solution is acidic with a low concentration of hydrogen ions.

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Answer: C

Rationale: The pH scale runs from 0–14. Values below 7 are acidic; 7 is neutral; above 7 is basic (alkaline). A pH of 3 is strongly acidic, meaning there is a high concentration of hydrogen ions (H⁺). Lower pH = more H⁺ ions = more acidic. Option D is tricky — the solution IS acidic, but the H⁺ concentration is high (not low). This is a common TEAS trap designed to test whether you understand the inverse relationship between pH and H⁺ concentration.

A researcher wants to test whether a new antibiotic is more effective than the current standard treatment for bacterial skin infections. She randomly assigns 200 patients into two groups: Group A receives the new antibiotic, and Group B receives the current standard treatment. All patients are evaluated after 14 days.

What is the independent variable in this experiment?

1. The number of patients in each group
2. The type of antibiotic administered
3. The duration of treatment (14 days)
4. The severity of the skin infection after treatment

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Answer: B

Rationale: The independent variable is what the researcher deliberately changes or manipulates — in this case, the type of antibiotic (new vs. standard). The dependent variable is what's measured as a result (D — infection severity after treatment). The number of patients (A) and treatment duration (C) are controlled variables — kept the same across both groups. The TEAS loves experimental design questions — knowing the difference between independent, dependent, and controlled variables is essential.

Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct?

1. The patient, who's condition had improved, was discharged on Tuesday.
2. The patient, whose condition had improved, was discharged on Tuesday.
3. The patient who's condition had improved was discharged on Tuesday.
4. The patient whose condition had improved; was discharged on Tuesday.

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Answer: B

Rationale: "Whose" is the possessive form of "who" — the condition belongs to the patient. "Who's" (A, C) is a contraction of "who is" or "who has," which doesn't make sense here ("who is condition" is nonsensical). Option D incorrectly uses a semicolon to separate the subject from its verb. The relative clause "whose condition had improved" is correctly set off by commas in option B because it's a non-restrictive (non-essential) clause.

Which of the following is a complete sentence (not a fragment or run-on)?

1. Because the patient refused medication and left against medical advice.
2. The nurse completed the assessment she documented her findings in the chart.
3. After reviewing the lab results, the physician ordered additional blood work.
4. Running late for the shift change and needing to update the patient records.

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Answer: C

Rationale: Option C is a complete sentence with a dependent clause ("After reviewing the lab results") followed by an independent clause ("the physician ordered additional blood work"). Option A is a fragment — it starts with "because" (subordinating conjunction) and never provides an independent clause. Option B is a run-on — two independent clauses joined without punctuation or a conjunction. Option D is a fragment — a participial phrase with no main subject-verb pair.

Read the following sentence:

"The physician noted that the patient's symptoms were exacerbated by physical activity, recommending rest and limited movement for the next two weeks."

What does "exacerbated" mean in this context?

1. Alleviated
2. Worsened
3. Diagnosed
4. Monitored

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Answer: B

Rationale: "Exacerbated" means made worse or more severe. Context clues support this: the physician recommended rest and limited movement, which implies activity was making the symptoms worse. Option A ("alleviated") means the opposite — relieved or lessened. Options C and D don't fit the sentence structure or the physician's recommendation. Even if you don't know the word, the context (recommending rest because of what physical activity does to symptoms) points clearly to "worsened."