TEAS Biology & Chemistry Questions: What's New on the TEAS 7 Science Section

Biology and Chemistry became distinct, separately tested content areas on the TEAS Science section starting with TEAS 7 in June 2022, replacing the older, more general "Life and Physical Sciences" category. Together they make up a meaningful share of the 44 scored Science questions — second only to anatomy & physiology. Because this is a newer structure, older TEAS 6 study guides often don't cover biology and chemistry in enough depth, which is why many test-takers under-prepare for these two areas.

Practice both topics with rationale-backed questions on TEAS Academy's Science practice test.

TEAS Biology: What to Study

Biology questions on the TEAS focus on cellular and molecular concepts rather than broad ecology or organismal biology. High-yield topics include:

• Cell membrane structure — the phospholipid bilayer and selective permeability
• Organelles and their functions — mitochondria (energy production), ribosomes (protein synthesis), nucleus (genetic material), and others
• Macromolecules — carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids, and their roles in the body
• Cellular reproduction — the stages and purpose of mitosis vs. meiosis
• Genetics — DNA structure, dominant and recessive traits, and basic Punnett square problems
• Introductory evolution — natural selection and adaptation at a conceptual level

Expect some questions to include a diagram (a labeled cell, or a genetic cross) rather than pure text, so practice interpreting visuals, not just recalling definitions.

TEAS Chemistry: What to Study

Chemistry is entirely new as a scored category on TEAS 7. Core topics include:

• Atomic structure — protons, neutrons, electrons, and how they determine an element's identity
• The periodic table — groups, periods, and trends like valence electrons and reactivity
• Chemical bonding — the difference between ionic and covalent bonds
• Balancing chemical equations — conservation of mass in simple reactions
• Acids and bases — the pH scale and basic acid-base concepts
• States of matter — solid, liquid, gas, and phase changes between them

Because chemistry is a smaller portion of the exam than anatomy & physiology, focus on breadth over depth: know the core vocabulary and be able to apply it to simple problems, rather than trying to master advanced chemistry content that won't appear on the TEAS.

Why These Two Topics Trip Students Up

1. Older prep materials don't cover them. If you're using a TEAS 6 study guide or hand-me-down flashcards, you may have a real content gap here.
2. They feel unfamiliar next to anatomy. Many pre-nursing students haven't taken a dedicated biology or chemistry course recently, while A&P content often overlaps with prerequisite coursework.
3. They reward conceptual understanding over memorization, which means passive review (re-reading notes) is less effective than active practice with explanations.

Study Strategy

1. Confirm your materials are TEAS 7-specific. If a guide or flashcard set doesn't separately list biology and chemistry, it may be outdated.
2. Build a periodic table cheat sheet. Groups, valence electrons, and common ions come up repeatedly.
3. Practice genetics problems by hand. Punnett squares are a skill, not a fact — you need repetition to get fast and accurate.
4. Pair content review with timed practice questions so you're used to applying these concepts under time pressure. TEAS Academy's Science section includes biology and chemistry questions with instant rationales for exactly this purpose.