Math Diagnostic Test
Test your ATI TEAS 7 knowledge with real exam-style questions and get instant feedback.
The TEAS 7 Math section gives you 38 questions in 57 minutes, which works out to about 90 seconds per question[reference:0]. The content is middle school to early high school level, but it is dressed up in nursing scenarios. That is where most students freeze. They have not touched algebra in years, and the word problems feel foreign.
This page gives you five of the hardest Math 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 Math Section Covers
Every question falls into one of two content areas.
| Content Area | Scored Questions | What It Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Numbers and Algebra | 18 | Fractions, decimals, percentages, ratios and proportions, basic algebra, word problems |
| Measurement and Data | 16 | Metric and household conversions, geometry basics, reading graphs and charts, mean, median, mode |
Of the 38 total questions, 34 are scored and 4 are unscored pretest items that ATI uses to trial future questions[reference:1]. You will not know which are which, so treat every question as if it counts.
You get a basic four-function calculator built into the screen. It handles addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and square roots. It does not handle fractions or order of operations automatically.
How to Use This Practice Test
Do not just read the questions and scroll to the answers. Follow this order instead:
- Set a timer. Give yourself 8 minutes for all five questions. That matches the real exam pace.
- Write down your work. The TEAS Math section is not a mental math test. Show your steps so you can spot where you went wrong.
- 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.
- Log your misses by topic. If three of your five misses are ratios and proportions, that is your study target for the week.
- Retake the set after 48 hours. Spaced repetition is what moves material into long term memory.
TEAS Math Skills Checklist
Before test day, you should be able to do each of the following without hesitation.
- Convert cleanly between fractions, decimals, and percentages
- Set up and solve a proportion using cross multiplication
- Calculate a percent of a number, a percent change, and a markup or discount
- Convert between metric units (grams, liters, meters) and household units (teaspoons, cups, pounds)
- Solve a one-variable equation or inequality
- Read a graph or table and pull the requested data point
- Calculate mean, median, mode, and range from a data set
- Use the formulas for area, perimeter, and volume of common shapes
- Translate a word problem into an equation and answer in the units requested
- Use the built-in calculator without relying on it for basic arithmetic
Top 5 Most Challenging TEAS Math 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: Order of Operations
What is the value of 8 + 4 × (6 − 3)²?
A. 20 B. 44 C. 52 D. 108
Answer: B
Explanation: Follow PEMDAS. Start with the parentheses: 6 − 3 = 3. Then apply the exponent: 3² = 9. Next, multiply: 4 × 9 = 36. Finally, add: 8 + 36 = 44. Choice B is correct. Choice A comes from doing the addition before the multiplication. Choice C comes from squaring the wrong number. Choice D comes from multiplying 4 × 9 and then adding 8 to the wrong total.
Question 2: Converting a Decimal to a Fraction
Convert 0.45 to a simplified fraction.
A. 9/20 B. 45/100 C. 4/5 D. 5/9
Answer: A
Explanation: Write 0.45 as 45/100. The greatest common factor of 45 and 100 is 5. Divide both the numerator and the denominator by 5: 45 ÷ 5 = 9 and 100 ÷ 5 = 20. The simplified fraction is 9/20. Choice B is correct as a fraction but it is not simplified. Choice C is the decimal 0.8, not 0.45. Choice D is the repeating decimal 0.555, not 0.45.
Question 3: Percent of a Number
What is 25% of 320?
A. 64 B. 80 C. 96 D. 128
Answer: B
Explanation: Convert the percent to a decimal: 25% = 0.25. Multiply: 0.25 × 320 = 80. Choice B is correct. Choice A is 20% of 320. Choice C is 30% of 320. Choice D is 40% of 320. These are all common mistakes when students grab the wrong decimal.
Question 4: Ratios and Proportions
A nurse needs to administer 250 mg of a medication. The medication is available in a solution that contains 50 mg per 2 mL. How many milliliters should the nurse administer?
A. 5 mL B. 8 mL C. 10 mL D. 12 mL
Answer: C
Explanation: Set up a proportion. You have 50 mg per 2 mL and you need 250 mg per x mL. Write it as 50/2 = 250/x. Cross multiply: 50x = 500. Divide both sides by 50: x = 10. The nurse should administer 10 mL. Choice C is correct. Choice A comes from dividing 250 by 50 and ignoring the 2 mL. Choice B and D come from arithmetic errors during cross multiplication.
Question 5: Unit Conversion
A patient weighs 154 pounds. What is the patient's weight in kilograms? (1 kg = 2.2 lb)
A. 60 kg B. 65 kg C. 70 kg D. 75 kg
Answer: C
Explanation: Divide the weight in pounds by the conversion factor. 154 ÷ 2.2 = 70. The patient weighs 70 kg. Choice C is correct. Choice A comes from dividing by 2.5 instead of 2.2. Choice B comes from a rounding error. Choice D comes from multiplying by 2.2 instead of dividing.
Score Your Practice Set
| Correct | What It Means | Next Step |
|---|---|---|
| 5 of 5 | Math is a strength | Move to timed full length practice |
| 4 of 5 | Solid, one weak spot | Review the topic you missed and drill 20 questions |
| 3 of 5 | Gaps are showing | Reread the explanations, then retake in 48 hours |
| 0 to 2 of 5 | Fundamentals need work | Start with the skills checklist before more practice |
Most competitive nursing programs want a TEAS composite of 70% or higher and a math subscore of 70% or higher[reference:2]. Top programs may want 80% or higher. A practical goal is to shoot for 80% on math so you have a cushion for missed questions.
Build a Four Week Math Plan
Week 1: Foundations. Work through the skills checklist one item at a time. For each skill, do ten practice problems until the setup feels automatic.
Week 2: High yield topics. Ratios and proportions, metric conversions, and percentages show up far more than anything else[reference:3]. Drill these three topics until you can solve them without hesitation.
Week 3: Timing. Take three timed sets of 38 questions in 57 minutes. Use the built-in calculator. 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.