TEAS 7 Glossary

ATI TEAS 7 Glossary: 77 Terms Defined

Every TEAS 7 term you will see on a score report, on a study guide, or in a practice item — defined in plain English by the TEASAcademy Editorial Team. Every entry has its own anchor so you can link directly to a definition (e.g. /teas-glossary#nephron).

Exam structure

ATI TEAS 7: The 7th edition of the Test of Essential Academic Skills, published by ATI Nursing Education. A 170-question, 209-minute computer-based exam used by 1,300+ US nursing programs for admissions.
Scored item: A TEAS 7 question that counts toward your composite score. Approximately 150 of the 170 items are scored; the remaining ~20 are unscored pilot items used by ATI to test future questions.
Unscored item: Pilot questions embedded in the live TEAS 7 that do not count toward your composite. Test-takers cannot identify which items are unscored.
Hot-spot item: A TEAS 7 question type that asks you to click a specific region of an image — most often a body-system diagram in the Science section.
Multi-select item: A TEAS 7 question that asks you to pick all options that apply. No partial credit is awarded; every required option must be selected.
Ordered-response item: A drag-and-drop TEAS 7 question that asks you to place steps in the correct sequence — common in Reading and Science procedural items.
Supply / fill-in item: A TEAS 7 question type that requires you to type a numeric answer instead of selecting from options. Used in Math and Science calculations.

Scoring

Composite score: The weighted average of the four TEAS 7 section percentages (Reading, Math, Science, English), weighted by the number of scored items per section.
Proficiency band: One of five score categories ATI maps every TEAS 7 composite to: Developmental (0–40.7%), Basic (41.3–58%), Proficient (58.7–77.3%), Advanced (78–90%), Exemplary (90.7–100%).
Section score: The percentage of scored items you got correct in a single TEAS 7 section (Reading, Math, Science, or English). Many nursing programs enforce both a composite minimum and per-section minimums.
Percentile rank: Where your TEAS 7 score falls in the national pool of recent test-takers. Distinct from the composite percentage — 70% composite can map to roughly the 65th–75th percentile depending on the cohort.
Program cutoff: The minimum TEAS 7 composite (and sometimes section) score your target nursing program will accept. Set by each school individually; no national passing score exists.
Advanced band: TEAS 7 composite of 78–90%. Target band for competitive BSN and accelerated BSN (ABSN) programs.
Proficient band: TEAS 7 composite of 58.7–77.3%. Most ADN and community-college nursing programs accept Proficient.

Logistics

On-screen calculator: The embedded four-function calculator ATI provides in the TEAS 7 Math and Science sections. Has +, −, ×, ÷, √, %, and memory keys. No scientific, trig, or graphing functions.
Remote proctoring: ATI's online TEAS 7 testing option supervised by a live proctor via webcam. Calculator policy and timing are identical to in-person tests.
PSI test centre: Network of physical testing locations where the ATI TEAS 7 can be taken in person under in-house proctoring.
Retake policy: ATI permits a TEAS 7 retake after a 30-day wait. Some programs cap the number of attempts they’ll consider; most accept the highest composite.
Score report: The PDF ATI delivers within 48 hours of your TEAS 7 attempt containing your composite percentage, four section percentages, proficiency band, and subdomain breakdowns.
Section break: A short pause built into the TEAS 7 between sections. There are no breaks within a section; once the section timer starts it cannot be paused.
Mock exam: A full-length timed practice attempt that mirrors the live ATI TEAS 7 (170 questions, 209 minutes, all five question types, on-screen calculator). Three mock exams are the minimum TEASAcademy recommends before test day.
Diagnostic test: An initial, full-length practice attempt taken before any focused study. Used to identify which sections cost the most points so prep time can be weighted to the gap.
Pass guarantee: TEASAcademy’s 100% pass commitment, conditional on completing three full-length mock exams at ≥78% composite and ≥70% per section on the platform before test day.

Anatomy & Physiology

Anatomy & Physiology (A&P): The heaviest TEAS 7 Science subdomain — 32 of the 50 Science items. Covers all major body systems: cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous, endocrine, renal, digestive, musculoskeletal, immune, reproductive, integumentary.
Cardiovascular system: Heart and blood vessels. Tested on cardiac cycle, pulmonary vs systemic circuits, chamber order (RA → RV → lungs → LA → LV), and basic vessel function.
Respiratory system: Airways, lungs, and gas exchange. Tested on alveolar O₂/CO₂ exchange, the role of the diaphragm, and the pathway from nose to alveoli.
Nervous system: Central nervous system (brain + spinal cord) and peripheral nervous system. Tested on the reflex arc, common neurotransmitters, and CNS vs PNS distinctions.
Endocrine system: Hormone-producing glands. Highest-yield TEAS 7 hormones: insulin and glucagon (pancreas), ADH (posterior pituitary), cortisol (adrenal cortex), TSH and thyroid hormone, epinephrine.
Renal / urinary system: Kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra. The nephron is the functional unit; tested on filtration, reabsorption, and the basic role of RAAS.
Digestive system: GI tract plus accessory organs (liver, gallbladder, pancreas). Tested on enzyme sources (amylase, pepsin, lipase) and the role of bile.
Musculoskeletal system: Bones, joints, and skeletal muscle. Tested on bone types (long, short, flat, irregular) and the sliding-filament model of muscle contraction.
Immune system: Innate and adaptive defences. Tested on B-cell vs T-cell function, antibody basics, and inflammatory response.
Integumentary system: Skin, hair, nails. Tested on the three skin layers (epidermis, dermis, hypodermis) and their primary functions.
Nephron: The functional unit of the kidney. Includes the glomerulus, proximal convoluted tubule, loop of Henle, distal convoluted tubule, and collecting duct.
Reflex arc: The neural pathway controlling a reflex: sensory neuron → interneuron (in the spinal cord) → motor neuron → effector. Tested as the explanation for involuntary responses like the knee-jerk reflex.
Pulmonary circuit: The flow of blood from the right ventricle, through the pulmonary arteries to the lungs for oxygenation, and back via the pulmonary veins to the left atrium.
Systemic circuit: The flow of oxygenated blood from the left ventricle through the aorta to the body, returning deoxygenated to the right atrium via the venae cavae.

Biology

Mitosis: Cell division producing two genetically identical diploid daughter cells. Phases: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, followed by cytokinesis.
Meiosis: Specialised cell division producing four genetically distinct haploid gametes from one diploid cell. Includes two divisions: meiosis I (homologous separation) and meiosis II (sister-chromatid separation).
Mitochondrial inheritance: Mitochondrial DNA is passed from mother to child only — sperm mitochondria are degraded after fertilisation. A common TEAS 7 genetics item.
Dominant vs recessive allele: A dominant allele is expressed in the phenotype whenever present; a recessive allele is expressed only when both copies are recessive (homozygous recessive).
DNA replication: The semi-conservative process where each strand of a DNA double helix serves as a template for a new complementary strand, producing two identical molecules.

Chemistry

Atomic number: The number of protons in an atom's nucleus. Defines the element. For a neutral atom, equals the number of electrons.
Mass number: The total number of protons plus neutrons in an atom's nucleus.
Cation: A positively charged ion — an atom that has lost one or more electrons. Example: Na⁺.
Anion: A negatively charged ion — an atom that has gained one or more electrons. Example: Cl⁻.
pH scale: A 0–14 logarithmic scale measuring hydrogen-ion concentration. pH 7 is neutral; below 7 is acidic; above 7 is basic. Each unit represents a 10× change in [H⁺].
Covalent bond: A chemical bond formed by the sharing of electrons between two atoms. Common in organic molecules.
Ionic bond: A chemical bond formed by the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions, typically a metal cation and a non-metal anion.

Math

Dimensional analysis: A problem-solving technique that uses unit conversion factors to move from given units to required units. Heavily used in TEAS 7 Math and Science dosage problems.
Dosage calculation: A medication-math word problem where the test-taker calculates the volume or number of tablets required from a given order and concentration. Common on TEAS 7 Math and Science.
Proportion: An equation stating two ratios are equal, of the form a/b = c/d. Solve by cross-multiplication. Foundational for TEAS 7 dosage and recipe-scaling problems.
Linear equation: An algebraic equation of the form ax + b = c, where x is the unknown. Solved by isolating x using inverse operations.
Order of operations: The convention PEMDAS — Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication & Division (left to right), Addition & Subtraction (left to right). Critical when using the on-screen calculator.
Mean, median, mode: Three measures of central tendency. Mean = arithmetic average; median = middle value when sorted; mode = most-frequent value.
Box-and-whisker plot: A graphical summary of a data set showing minimum, first quartile (Q1), median, third quartile (Q3), and maximum. Common in TEAS 7 data-interpretation items.

Reading

Key Ideas & Details: The largest TEAS 7 Reading subdomain — approximately 22 of 39 scored items. Covers main idea, supporting details, summary, and inference from explicit text.
Craft & Structure: TEAS 7 Reading subdomain (~14 scored items) covering author's purpose, text structure, point of view, and word meaning in context.
Integration of Knowledge & Ideas: TEAS 7 Reading subdomain (~9 scored items) covering comparison of sources, evaluation of arguments, and interpretation of graphics embedded in passages.
Main idea: The central point of a Reading passage — what the passage is primarily about. Distinct from a supporting detail or the author’s purpose.
Inference: A conclusion drawn from explicit text rather than stated outright. TEAS 7 inference items test what is logically implied, not what is interpretation or opinion.
Author's purpose: Why the author wrote the passage — typically to inform, persuade, entertain, or describe. TEAS 7 passages are overwhelmingly informational.

English

Conventions of Standard English: TEAS 7 English subdomain covering punctuation, spelling, capitalisation, and sentence structure. Roughly 9 of the 33 scored English items.
Knowledge of Language: TEAS 7 English subdomain covering register (formal vs informal), clarity, redundancy, and effective sentence construction. Roughly 9 scored items.
Vocabulary Acquisition: TEAS 7 English subdomain covering word meaning in context, prefixes, suffixes, and roots — particularly medical-context vocabulary. Roughly 15 scored items.
Subject–verb agreement: Grammar rule requiring the verb to match the subject in number. Often tested when intervening phrases obscure the subject (e.g. “the box of nails IS”, not “ARE”).
Pronoun–antecedent agreement: Grammar rule requiring a pronoun to match its antecedent in number and gender. Singular indefinites (everyone, each, anyone) take singular pronouns in formal English.
Comma splice: An error where two independent clauses are joined with only a comma. Fixed with a period, semicolon, or comma-plus-conjunction.
Restrictive clause: A relative clause essential to identifying its noun — written without commas (e.g. “the nurse who arrived first”).
Non-restrictive clause: A relative clause that adds non-essential information — set off with commas (e.g. “my mother, who is a nurse, ...”).
Brady- (prefix): Greek medical prefix meaning slow. Example: bradycardia = slow heart rate.
Tachy- (prefix): Greek medical prefix meaning fast or rapid. Example: tachycardia = fast heart rate.
Hyper- (prefix): Greek prefix meaning excessive or above normal. Example: hyperglycemia = high blood glucose.
Hypo- (prefix): Greek prefix meaning below normal or deficient. Example: hypotension = low blood pressure.
-itis (suffix): Medical suffix meaning inflammation. Example: appendicitis = inflammation of the appendix.
-ectomy (suffix): Medical suffix meaning surgical removal. Example: appendectomy = surgical removal of the appendix.
-emia (suffix): Medical suffix indicating a blood condition. Example: anemia = a deficient blood (low red cell or hemoglobin) condition.