TEAS guide · updated 2026-09-29
TEAS Reading: what is on it and how to prepare
The TEAS 7 Reading section has 45 questions, 39 of them scored, in 55 minutes. The scored questions split into Key Ideas and Details (15), Craft and Structure (9), and Integration of Knowledge and Ideas (15), and together they make up 26% of your scored questions.
Reading at a glance
| Sub-content area | Scored questions | What it asks you to do |
|---|---|---|
| Key Ideas and Details | 15 | Find the main idea and supporting details, summarize, infer, follow directions, put events in sequence, pull facts from a printed or graphic source |
| Craft and Structure | 9 | Identify author purpose and point of view, separate fact from opinion and bias, recognize text structure, work out word meaning from context |
| Integration of Knowledge and Ideas | 15 | Evaluate an argument and its evidence, compare sources, combine information from text with charts or other formats |
What the passages look like
Passages are mostly short: a paragraph or two of informational text, a notice, a set of directions, a label, a table or a chart. Topics are everyday and general-interest, and you are not expected to know anything beyond the passage. Several questions can share one passage.
At 55 minutes for 45 questions you have about 73 seconds per question, including reading time. That is enough if you read the question first and then read the passage with a purpose.
How to work each question type
- Main idea: the right answer covers the whole passage. Answers that match one sentence are usually supporting details.
- Inference: pick the answer the passage supports without adding outside knowledge. If you need an extra assumption, it is probably wrong.
- Fact versus opinion: facts can be checked; opinions use judgment words such as best, should, unfair or excellent.
- Author purpose: decide whether the passage mainly informs, persuades, entertains or instructs, then match the verb in the answer.
- Word in context: replace the word with each option and reread the sentence. The dictionary meaning is not always the one used.
- Graphics and directions: read the labels and units first. Many wrong answers are the right number from the wrong row.
Two-week reading routine
- Daily: 10 timed questions on short passages, then review every miss by asking which words in the passage prove the right answer.
- Every other day: read one news or science article and write its main idea in one sentence.
- Twice a week: one full 45-question set in 55 minutes to fix pacing.
- Track results by sub-content area. Integration of Knowledge and Ideas is where most people lose points on argument and evidence questions.
Sample TEAS questions with answers
1. Read the passage below, then answer the question. "Community gardens have become increasingly popular in urban neighborhoods across the country. By converting vacant lots into shared green spaces, residents gain access to fresh produce that might otherwise be unaffordable or unavailable. Beyond the practical benefits, these gardens create gathering places that strengthen social bonds among neighbors. Studies have shown that neighborhoods with community gardens report lower rates of vandalism and higher levels of civic participation. Clearly, investing in community gardens offers cities far more than just a source of vegetables." Which of the following best states the main idea of the passage?
- Community gardens are an inexpensive source of fresh vegetables for city residents.
- Community gardens provide multiple social and practical benefits to urban neighborhoods.
- Vandalism decreases whenever a neighborhood invests in shared outdoor spaces.
- Urban residents prefer community gardens to grocery stores.
Show answer
B. Community gardens provide multiple social and practical benefits to urban neighborhoods. The passage introduces community gardens and then supports one central claim with several pieces of evidence: fresh produce, stronger social bonds, reduced vandalism, and increased civic participation. Option B captures this broad, multi-benefit main idea. Option A isolates only one supporting detail (produce). Option C names a single statistic and overstates it as universal causation. Option D is never stated or implied in the passage.
2. Read the passage below, then answer the question. "Adults who sleep fewer than seven hours per night are more likely to report problems with concentration, mood, and physical health. The National Sleep Foundation recommends that adults aim for seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Short sleep duration has been linked to a higher risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Getting adequate rest is not a luxury — it is a fundamental health need." According to the passage, how many hours of sleep per night does the National Sleep Foundation recommend for adults?
- At least six hours
- Exactly eight hours
- Seven to nine hours
- More than ten hours
Show answer
C. Seven to nine hours The passage states directly: 'The National Sleep Foundation recommends that adults aim for seven to nine hours of sleep each night.' Option A undercuts the minimum. Option B gives only the midpoint and presents it as exact, which the passage does not say. Option D names a number not mentioned anywhere in the passage.
3. Read the passage below, then answer the question. "Marcus arrived at the interview twenty minutes early and spent the time reviewing his notes in the lobby. He had researched the company thoroughly and practiced answers to common questions all week. When he was called in, he greeted the panel with a firm handshake and steady eye contact. He answered each question confidently, asked thoughtful follow-up questions, and thanked the interviewers by name as he left." Based on the passage, what can the reader most logically infer about Marcus?
- Marcus has been unemployed for a long time and desperately needs the job.
- Marcus had a prior personal relationship with at least one interviewer.
- Marcus took deliberate steps to be well prepared for his interview.
- Marcus is more qualified for the position than the other applicants.
Show answer
C. Marcus took deliberate steps to be well prepared for his interview. Every detail in the passage — arriving early, reviewing notes, thorough research, a week of practice, deliberate body language — supports the inference that Marcus prepared carefully. Option A introduces unemployment as a motive; the passage provides no such information. Option B misreads thanking interviewers by name as evidence of prior acquaintance; it is a professional courtesy. Option D compares Marcus to other candidates who are never mentioned.
4. Read the passage below, then answer the question. "Helmet laws for cyclists have reduced head injuries in every state that has adopted them. Before the laws took effect in California, bicycle-related head injuries accounted for nearly 40 percent of all cycling fatalities. After the laws passed, that figure dropped by more than half. Similar trends have been documented in New Jersey and Washington. The evidence consistently points in the same direction." Which sentence best serves as the topic sentence of this passage?
- Helmet laws for cyclists have reduced head injuries in every state that has adopted them.
- Before the laws took effect in California, bicycle-related head injuries accounted for nearly 40 percent of all cycling fatalities.
- After the laws passed, that figure dropped by more than half.
- The evidence consistently points in the same direction.
Show answer
A. Helmet laws for cyclists have reduced head injuries in every state that has adopted them. The topic sentence introduces the central, overarching claim that the rest of the paragraph supports with specific data from California, New Jersey, and Washington. Options B and C are supporting details drawn from California statistics. Option D is a concluding sentence that restates the claim but does not introduce or set up the paragraph's argument.
Frequently asked questions
How many reading questions are on the TEAS 7?
45 in total, of which 39 are scored and 6 are unscored pretest questions.
How long is the TEAS Reading section?
55 minutes.
Try the free TEAS practice test
Questions tagged to the official outline, with an explanation for every answer. 15 free a day, no sign-up.
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