English Diagnostic Test

The TEAS 7 English and Language Usage section gives you 37 questions in 37 minutes. That is exactly one minute per question, which makes it the tightest pacing on the entire exam. Unlike the Reading section, you will not read long passages. Most questions are a single sentence or a short paragraph, and you have to spot the error or pick the best revision fast.

This page gives you five of the hardest English questions we have on record, step-by-step explanations for each one, a skills checklist, and a study plan you can start today.

What the TEAS 7 English Section Covers

Every question falls into one of three content areas.

Of the 37 total questions, 33 are scored and 4 are unscored pretest items that ATI uses to trial future questions. You will not know which are which, so treat every question as if it counts.

How to Use This Practice Test

Do not just read the questions and scroll to the answers. Follow this order instead:

1. Set a timer. Give yourself 5 minutes for all five questions. That matches the real exam pace.
2. Write down your answer before checking. Commit to a choice so you can see your actual reasoning later.
3. Read the explanation even when you are right. A lucky guess and a correct answer look identical on a score report but they are not the same thing.
4. Log your misses by category. If three of your five misses are punctuation, that is your study target for the week.
5. Retake the set after 48 hours. Spaced repetition is what moves material into long term memory.

TEAS English Skills Checklist

Before test day, you should be able to do each of the following without hesitation.

• Identify a complete sentence and spot a fragment or run-on
• Use commas correctly in lists, compound sentences, and after introductory elements
• Match subjects with verbs in number and match pronouns with antecedents
• Choose the correct homophone for the context (their, there, they're)
• Apply the i before e rule and other common spelling patterns
• Spot misplaced or dangling modifiers
• Keep items in a list parallel in structure
• Choose the most concise version of a sentence without changing the meaning
• Adjust tone for formal and informal writing
• Use context clues and word parts to define an unfamiliar word
• Organize a paragraph so the main idea comes first and supporting details follow logically

Top 5 Most Challenging TEAS English Questions

We pulled answer data from nearly 15,000 test takers who worked through our question bank. The five questions below were missed by 70% to 80% of them. That is not a sign the questions are unfair. It is a sign that these five skills are the ones most students skip.

---

Question 1: Subject-Verb Agreement

Which sentence uses correct subject-verb agreement?

A. The group of students are planning a trip. B. Each of the nurses have completed the training. C. Neither the doctor nor the nurses was available. D. The list of supplies includes gloves, syringes, and bandages.

Answer: D

Explanation: The subject of sentence D is "list," which is singular, so the verb "includes" is correct. In A, the subject is "group," which is singular, so the verb should be "is," not "are." In B, the subject is "each," which is always singular, so the verb should be "has," not "have." In C, when "neither...nor" connects a singular and a plural subject, the verb agrees with the closer subject, which is "nurses," so the verb should be "were," not "was."

---

Question 2: Punctuation

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

A. The patient complained of nausea, headache and dizziness. B. After the surgery the nurse checked the patient's vitals. C. The medication, which was prescribed yesterday, should be taken with food. D. The doctor said "Take this twice daily."

Answer: C

Explanation: Sentence C correctly uses commas to set off a nonessential clause. In A, a comma is needed after "headache" in a list of three or more items. In B, a comma is needed after the introductory phrase "After the surgery." In D, a comma is needed before the quotation and the sentence should end with a period inside the quotation marks.

---

Question 3: Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

Which sentence uses pronouns correctly?

A. Each nurse must file their report by Friday. B. The hospital updated its visiting hours. C. A patient should always ask for their medication list. D. Neither of the doctors remembered their stethoscope.

Answer: B

Explanation: In sentence B, "hospital" is singular and "its" is the correct singular pronoun. In A, "each" is singular, so the pronoun should be "his or her" or the sentence should be rewritten. In C, "a patient" is singular, so "their" does not agree. In D, "neither" is singular, so the pronoun should be "his or her."

---

Question 4: Misplaced Modifiers

Which sentence has a misplaced modifier?

A. She almost drove the car for ten hours. B. The nurse, who had worked the night shift, was exhausted. C. Walking to the car, the rain soaked my jacket. D. The patient was given a prescription by the doctor.

Answer: C

Explanation: In sentence C, the introductory phrase "Walking to the car" is meant to describe "I," but the way the sentence is written, it describes "the rain." That is a dangling modifier. Sentence A places "almost" in front of "drove," which is correct. Sentence B uses a nonessential clause correctly. Sentence D is in passive voice but it is grammatically correct.

---

Question 5: Vocabulary in Context

Read the sentence below and answer the question.

The doctor's prognosis was optimistic, but the nurse remained cautiously skeptical about the patient's recovery timeline.

As used in the sentence, what does the word "prognosis" most nearly mean?

A. A prescription for medication B. A prediction about the likely outcome of a condition C. A formal complaint from a patient D. A record of a patient's vital signs

Answer: B

Explanation: "Prognosis" is a prediction about the likely course or outcome of a disease or condition. In the sentence, the doctor's prognosis is described as optimistic, which fits the idea of a prediction about recovery. Choice A is a prescription, choice C is a grievance, and choice D is a chart or record.

---

Score Your Practice Set

Most nursing programs look for a total TEAS score in the 60% to 70% range, though cutoffs vary by school. Confirm the number with your program advisor rather than guessing.

Build a Four Week English Plan

Week 1: Foundations. Work through the skills checklist one item at a time. For each skill, write ten original sentences that demonstrate the rule.

Week 2: High yield topics. Punctuation, subject-verb agreement, and pronoun-antecedent agreement show up far more than anything else. Drill these three topics until you can spot errors without hesitation.

Week 3: Timing. Take three timed sets of 37 questions in 37 minutes. Aim to finish with two minutes left so you have room to review flagged items.

Week 4: Review only. No new material. Rework every question you missed across the previous three weeks and confirm you can explain why the wrong answers are wrong.

Ready for Full Length Practice?

Five questions is a diagnostic, not a preparation plan. If you want structured review with video lessons, a full question bank, and progress tracking, our TEAS 7 course covers all four sections and includes over 2,650 practice questions, 300 digital flashcards, and 200 instructional videos. It comes with a money back guarantee and works on mobile.