Reading Diagnostic Test

The TEAS 7 Reading section tests how well you understand, analyze, and interpret written material. You get 55 minutes for 45 questions, and every question is passage based. That leaves you roughly one minute and ten seconds per question, which means pacing matters as much as comprehension.

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

What the TEAS 7 Reading Section Covers

Every question falls into one of three content areas.

You will also see vocabulary questions that ask you to define a word using context clues rather than a dictionary.

How to Use This Practice Test

Do not just read the questions and scroll to the answers. That feels productive but it does not build skill. Follow this order instead:

1. Set a timer. Give yourself 7 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 Craft and Structure, 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 Reading Skills Checklist

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

• State the main idea of a multi paragraph passage in one sentence
• Tell the difference between a stated detail and an inference
• Identify an author's purpose as inform, persuade, or entertain
• Recognize common text structures: cause and effect, compare and contrast, chronological, problem and solution
• Follow a set of written directions in the correct order
• Pull specific data out of a table, chart, or graph
• Judge whether a source is credible and explain why
• Use surrounding sentences to define an unfamiliar word

Top 5 Most Challenging TEAS Reading 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.

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Question 1: Reading a Schedule

Read the schedule below, then answer the question.

On which show would you expect the broadest discussion about national US politics?

A. News from the BBC B. California Update C. Smart Talk D. Commonwealth Club

Answer: C

Explanation: News from the BBC covers world headlines and Commonwealth Club covers the world economy, so A and D are eliminated right away. That leaves two politically focused shows. California Update is limited to a single state, while Smart Talk covers national politics without a regional limit. The broadest discussion of national politics would come from Smart Talk, so C is correct.

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Question 2: Interpreting a University Announcement

Read the passage below, then answer the question.

The university has noticed crowding in the faculty canteen between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. This is due to an increase in staff numbers across several departments. Many faculty members have complained about long lines that leave them unable to get lunch or eat it in time. To address the crowding, the university polled departments about their schedules and created a recommended lunch roster: Business Dept: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; Art Dept: 10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.; Math and Science Dept: 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.; Social Sciences Dept: 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.; Humanities Dept: 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Based on the announcement, what might the reader assume about how the university determined the lunch schedule?

A. The departments are listed in alphabetical order. B. The university required each department to approve the roster. C. The university gathered schedule information from departments before deciding. D. The university ignored the faculty complaints.

Answer: C

Explanation: The passage states that the university "polled departments about their schedules" and then settled on a roster. That sequence shows the university collected information first and made a decision second. The list is not alphabetical, so A is wrong. No approval process is mentioned, so B goes beyond the text. D directly contradicts the passage, since the roster was created in response to the complaints.

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Question 3: Analyzing the Closing Lines of an Announcement

Read the same passage above, then answer the question.

We ask that all faculty members respect this schedule. Faculty will be expected to display a department badge before entering the canteen for lunch.

Which best describes the final two sentences of the announcement?

A. They are a friendly reminder with no expectation attached. B. They request compliance and imply that the schedule will be enforced. C. They suggest faculty should eat somewhere other than the canteen. D. They announce specific penalties for faculty who ignore the schedule.

Answer: B

Explanation: The word "ask" sounds soft, but "will be expected to display a department badge" signals that the schedule is not optional. Faculty who arrive outside their window may be turned away. That makes B correct. A is too weak, since there is clearly an expectation attached. C is not supported anywhere in the passage. D goes too far, because no specific penalty is ever named.

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Question 4: Identifying the Type of Writing

Read the passage below, then answer the question.

Among the first women awarded a degree from Oxford University, Dorothy L. Sayers became one of the most versatile writers in post war England. Born in 1893, she was the only child of an Anglican chaplain and received an unexpectedly strong education at home. She began studying Latin at age six. She entered Oxford in 1912, when the university did not grant degrees to women. By 1920, the policy had changed, and Sayers earned her degree in medieval literature and modern languages. That same year, she also received a master of arts degree. Sayers's first published work was a poetry collection released in 1916. Soon after, she began writing the detective novels and short stories that made her famous, including the Lord Peter Wimsey series. She also wrote mysteries featuring Montague Egg. Despite her success as a mystery writer, Sayers continued to balance popular fiction with academic work. Her translation of Dante's Inferno earned respect for conveying the poetry in English while staying true to the Italian terza rima. She also composed twelve plays about the life of Christ and wrote essays on education and feminism. In middle age, she published works of Christian apologetics, one of which was so well received that the archbishop of Canterbury attempted to present her with a doctorate of divinity. Sayers declined for reasons known only to her.

Which of the following describes the type of writing used to create the passage?

A. Narrative B. Expository C. Persuasive D. Technical

Answer: B

Explanation: Expository writing explains or informs. This passage lays out the facts of Sayers's life and catalogues the range of her work, which supports the claim that she was unusually versatile. The author is not telling a story with a plot, so A is wrong. There is no attempt to change the reader's opinion, so C is wrong. The language is accessible rather than specialized, so D is wrong.

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Question 5: Evaluating Author Credibility

Read the excerpt below, then answer the question.

The following is an excerpt from a newspaper article announcing the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

Awful Event President Lincoln Shot by an Assassin The Deed Done at Ford's Theatre Last Night The Act of a Desperate Rebel The President Still Alive at Last Accounts No Hopes Entertained of His Recovery Attempted Assassination of Secretary Seward Details of the Dreadful Tragedy

Official War Department, Washington, April 15, 1:30 A.M.

Maj. Gen. Dis.: This evening at about 9:30 P.M. at Ford's Theatre, the President, while sitting in his private box with Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Harris, and Major Rathburn, was shot by an assassin who suddenly entered the box and appeared behind the President. The assassin then leaped upon the stage, brandishing a large dagger or knife, and made his escape in the rear of the theatre. The pistol ball entered the back of the President's head and penetrated nearly through the head. The wound is mortal. The President has been insensible ever since it was inflicted and is now dying. About the same hour, an assassin, whether the same or not, entered Mr. Seward's apartments and, under the pretense of having a prescription, was shown to the Secretary's sick chamber. The assassin immediately rushed to the bed and inflicted two or three stabs on the throat and two on the face. It is hoped the wounds may not be mortal. My apprehension is that they will prove fatal. The nurse alarmed Mr. Frederick Seward, who was in an adjoining room, and hastened to the door of his father's room, where he met the assassin, who inflicted upon him one or more dangerous wounds. The recovery of Frederick Seward is doubtful. It is not probable that the President will live throughout the night. Gen. Grant and wife were advertised to be at the theatre this evening, but he started to Burlington at 6 o'clock this evening. At a Cabinet meeting at which Gen. Grant was present, the subject of the state of the country and the prospect of a speedy peace was discussed. The President was very cheerful and hopeful and spoke very kindly of Gen. Lee and others of the Confederacy and of the establishment of government in Virginia. All the members of the Cabinet except Mr. Seward are now in attendance upon the President. I have seen Mr. Seward, but he and Frederick were both unconscious.

Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War.

Which of the following is NOT evidence of the author's credibility?

A. The report is signed by the Secretary of War, who had direct access to the events. B. The author admits uncertainty about whether the wounded men will survive. C. The article was published by a major newspaper. D. The author includes specific times, locations, and names.

Answer: B

Explanation: Admitting uncertainty shows honesty, but honesty on its own does not establish that a source is reliable. The other three options all point to verifiable access and editorial trust. A shows the author was positioned to receive firsthand information. C shows an editorial team was willing to stake its reputation on the report. D shows the author supplied checkable specifics rather than vague claims. B is the only option that is not itself a credibility marker, so it is the correct answer.

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 Reading Plan

Week 1: Foundations. Work through the skills checklist one item at a time. For each skill, read two short passages and write the main idea in a single sentence.

Week 2: Question types. Drill 20 questions per content area. Track which category gives you the most trouble.

Week 3: Timing. Take three timed sets of 45 questions. 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.