Introduction
The practice of retaking the TEAS exam is not uncommon in the nursing field. Many students find themselves in such a situation, allowing them to learn from their previous mistakes and pass the exam the second time.
Embrace the second TEAS experience with a positive and vibrant attitude to pass it. Ensure you prepare adequately and learn impeccable TEAS test retake strategies during this time.
1. Understand TEAS Retake Policies
Before retaking the TEAS test, it is essential to understand the retake policies and guidelines that govern the process. Below are some crucial aspects to consider:
A. Waiting Period Before a Retake
Many institutions have a mandatory waiting period before you can attempt to retake the TEAS test. The period could be between 30-45 days. This period gives students ample time to review and enhance their skills and knowledge in the TEAS sections. Students should take advantage of this period to reflect on where they made mistakes in the first attempt and make necessary adjustments.
B. Number of Allowed Retake Attempts
The number of allowed retakes for the TEAS test depends on the policies of the particular nursing program or institution you are applying. Typically, nursing applicants are allowed up to three retakes in one year. Some programs could be stricter about the number of retakes, so it is advisable to always check with your institution to know how many retakes are allowed.
C. Associated Fees For Exam Retake
Every retake attempt for the exam incurs a fee that has to be paid during registration. Typically, the cost of retaking the test will range between $65 to $115. As you prepare to do the retake, plan for this fee.
2. Carry Out Diagnostic Analysis
Ensure you carefully review your score report from the previous exam. The analysis will help you understand the areas that require improvement and where you performed excellently. It will allow you to discover where to put more effort into your preparation plans.
A diagnostic analysis will also help identify your strengths and weaknesses. Break down all sections into subsections based on your score and determine which topics were challenging in mathematics or science. From there you will know where to focus more attention on.
3. Revise Your Study Plan
Ensure you adjust your study schedule accordingly based on the diagnostic analysis. Create a TEAS study schedule that focuses more on your weak areas, although it does not have to completely neglect the areas you excel. The schedule should also include regular study sessions for enhanced information retention.
Consider new study methods. If from the diagnostic analysis, you discovered that your study methods failed to work, diversify and add other methods. You could use flashcards, educational videos, and even effective study groups. Use practice questions as these will help you familiarize yourself with the format and style of the test questions.
4. Use Practice Exams
Endeavor to take full-length TEAS practice tests as these will simulate what you will encounter during the actual exam. It will help you become more comfortable, especially with the time constraints and the exam format.
You could also hone your test-taking skills, such as question analysis, eliminating incorrect answers, and time management. To save time, look for ways to make educated guesses when faced with a challenging question during the exam.
5. Review Mistakes
Critically assess the questions you missed during your first trial to understand what mistakes you made. From there you will know what to do during this second retake to avoid making the same mistake. For every right answer, look keenly into what makes it correct and understand why you picked the wrong answer. What was your rationale for picking that answer? This deeper review of your mistakes will make you understand the right concept.
6. Practice Time Management
The success of your TEAS test second attempt will also depend on how well you manage your time. Here are impressive time management for the TEAS test:
- Use a timer—When taking the practice tests, you could use a timer to simulate the real TEAS test to gauge how much time you ideally spend on each question. From here, you will know where to improve accordingly.
- Skip challenging questions first – if you encounter a challenging question, mark it and work on the easy ones first. Afterward, you can return to the challenging questions and try to work on them. That way, you save time and can garner more points from other questions.
- Make educated guesses – if you can still not find the right answer for a given question in mathematics, it is prudent to make an educated guess and move on to the next. That will save you time, which can be used to handle other easier questions in the paper.
7. Manage Test-day Anxiety
It is common for most students to have the test-day anxiety. The key to remaining relaxed and calm is knowing how to suppress anxiety using TEAS exam relaxation techniques. The techniques include:
- Deep breathing exercises – these exercises help calm down the nerves and hence reduce anxiety. Practice inhaling deeply and holding your breath for a few seconds.
- Relaxation techniques – these are techniques to help you relax such as progressive muscle relaxation. In this technique, you tense your body and slowly relax every muscle.
- Visualization—Visualization helps a lot. Imagine having completed the test and remaining calm throughout the exam. This will trick your mind into remaining calm and relaxed in the actual exam.
8. Sleep Well
A good night’s sleep is important, especially on the eve of the test day. Ensure you get 7-8 hours of quality sleep, which is essential for concentration, cognitive function, and overall performance. You should also have a consistent sleeping schedule to regulate the body’s internal clock.
You also ought to maintain healthy eating habits. Eat lots of fruits, lean proteins, vegetables, and whole grains to maintain focus and energy levels. Ensure you exercise regularly to help improve your mood and reduce stress. These are essential attributes to the success of your TEAS test retake strategies. Lastly, ensure you stay hydrated by drinking lots of water, especially during the day.
9. Arrive Prepared
On the test day, plan your route to assess possible delays and traffic. You should arrive at the testing center 30 minutes before the exam starts to check in and settle. Avoid the last-minute rush, where you may be inconvenienced by traffic on your route, which might cause panic. Planning lets you arrive on time and relax while waiting for the test to commence.
10. Seek Support
Seeking support when preparing for the TEAS retake is crucial for your success. Students ought to leverage the power of support from tutors and teachers that will offer them insights into challenging areas in different sections of the TEAS test. Teachers will clarify complicated mathematics topics or concepts in chemistry and suggest the most effective study resources.
Look for professional tutors who specialize in TEAS test preparation. They will support you by helping you create a personalized study plan, giving you one-on-one instructions, and offering in-depth practice sessions that focus on your weak areas.
You could also take advantage of TEAS test study group formation. Form a study group with your peers who wish to retake the test and pool your resources. The groups are a great source of motivation since you all have a common goal, which makes the preparation process more enjoyable and less isolating.
11. Stay Positive and Motivated
Motivation is a crucial factor in retaking the TEAS test. You need all the motivation you can get to keep you moving and distract you from the thoughts of the first attempt. Here are a few hacks to apply to stay motivated:
- Embrace the challenge—consider this retake a challenge that you are willing to overcome and emerge successful from.
- Believe in your ability and skills – the retaking process is an opportunity to show your improved knowledge and skills. Believe you can do it after thorough preparation and pass the exam on the final day.
- Stay positive—Maintain a positive mindset as you prepare to retake the TEAS test. Take breaks if need be and remind yourself that you can pass the exam.
Take Away
You are not the first student to fail to pass the TEAS test on your first trial. What matters most is how you take the results and what you do about them. Retaking the test is a brilliant option since you already know where you messed up on the first attempt and have been working on improving that.
Employ the brilliant TEAS test retake strategies diagnostic analysis, revise your study plan, and practice more on the TEAS questions. That will allow you to get admitted to your ideal nursing school and follow your dreams.