Author · 64 posts
RN · Medical-Surgical nurse & health writer
Meet Nathan, a registered nurse with over five years of experience in Medical-Surgical care, based in New York City. Having worked with a wide range of patients through some of their most vulnerable moments, Nathan brings a grounded, real-world perspective to his writing on healthcare. His goal is simple: to bridge the gap between medical knowledge and everyday understanding, making health topics feel less intimidating and more empowering for everyone. When he's not caring for patients, Nathan channels his passion for medicine into writing that educates, comforts and inspires.
NCLEX questions test clinical judgment, not recall — which is why they feel nothing like nursing school exams. Here is the 2026 breakdown: the six NGN item types, the three partial-credit scoring models, the CJMM behind every question, where to find free NGN questions, and how to read a question strategically.
Register for the ATI TEAS at atitesting.com/teas/register: create your ATI account, choose ATI/PSI testing ($120) or institution-arranged testing, and bring a government photo ID whose name matches your account exactly. Book four to eight weeks before your target exam date.
The ATI TEAS registration fee is $120 booked direct through ATI or PSI, but nursing schools run institution-arranged testing from $70 to over $120. Add the official Study Manual ($19.99–$24.99) and a possible $120 retake, and your real total runs $120 to $265+.
Pearson VUE administers the NCLEX for every candidate. Here is the full 2026 process: the two-step registration, the $200 fee, ATT and scheduling rules, reschedule deadlines, exam-day ID requirements, the $7.95 Quick Results service, and an honest look at whether the Pearson VUE Trick still works.
More than two-thirds of U.S. nursing programs require the TEAS — but there is no universal passing score. Here is what score you realistically need, how ADN and BSN cutoffs differ, how the TEAS compares to the HESI A2, and what admissions committees actually do with your score once you submit it.
NCLEX stands for National Council Licensure Examination — and each word tells you something about the exam. Here is what every letter means, the difference between the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN, who NCSBN is, why the exam exists, and the exact steps from graduation to your nursing license.
The HESI A2 is a computer-based admission test used by nursing and allied health programs. It checks academic skills, not nursing knowledge. Schools choose which sections you take, so your version may not match another applicant’s.
Effective TEAS test prep starts with a diagnostic, not a textbook. Find your weakest section (usually Science and A&P), set a target composite from your programs' cutoffs, and follow a 30-, 60-, or 90-day plan. Close to target? 30 days. Most candidates: 60. Lower baseline: 90.
A diagnostic-first NCLEX study plan in 4, 6, 8, and 12-week versions — daily question targets, weekly milestones, NGN drills, a stamina simulator, and clear exit criteria for when you're actually ready to schedule.
ATI sells two official TEAS practice forms (A and B), 150 questions each, at $29.99 per form — the only practice test with a reportable, sub-topic score breakdown. There is no free full-length ATI test; free options are limited to sample questions. Here is when to use each.
The ATI TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) is the standardized admissions exam many U.S. nursing programs use. The current TEAS 7 has 170 questions (150 scored) over ~209 minutes across Reading, Math, Science, and English. Minimum scores vary by school.
The NCLEX uses 8 item formats — standard multiple choice plus the 7 Next Generation (NGN) types. Each has one decision rule. Here's how to read the stem and apply the right rule, with worked examples for SATA, priority, delegation, Bow-Tie, Matrix, and Trend.