Can You Fail the TEAS and Still Get Into Nursing School?
There is no universal TEAS pass/fail score — you "fail" only when your score falls below a specific program's cut. Here is what that means, how ATI's retake policy actually works, and the realistic paths forward after a low score.
Yes — you can score below your target program's requirement on the TEAS and still get into nursing school. The first thing to understand is that there is no universal TEAS pass/fail score. ATI does not stamp any score as a "fail." The exam reports a percentage and a proficiency level, and each nursing program decides its own minimum. So "failing" the TEAS really means one thing: your score came in below the cut score a specific program set. The same score that gets you rejected at one school can clear the bar at another. That distinction matters, because it changes your next move from "give up" to "pick a strategy" — retake the exam, target programs with a lower requirement, or apply to schools that don't require the TEAS at all. Here is how each path actually works.
What does "failing" the TEAS actually mean?
According to ATI's official TEAS information, there is no single passing score on the exam — each institution determines its own minimum requirement. The TEAS reports your performance as an overall percentage along with a proficiency level. Those proficiency levels are descriptive bands, not pass/fail verdicts:
Developmental — the lowest band; signals you likely need more foundational prep before you're ready for health-science coursework.
Basic — some readiness, but meaningful gaps remain.
Proficient — the level most competitive programs look for; you're ready to learn the material with some targeted review.
Advanced — strong academic readiness, competitive at most programs.
Exemplary — the highest band; the kind of score that stands out at highly competitive schools.
Notice what's missing: nowhere does ATI label a band "fail." You "fail" the TEAS only in the practical sense — when your overall score (or, at some schools, a section score) lands below the number a program set as its cutoff. Because every program picks its own cutoff, your score isn't universally good or bad. It's good or bad relative to where you're applying. For a deeper breakdown of what counts as a competitive number, see our guide to the TEAS passing score.
Section minimums: the cutoff hiding behind your composite
Many programs look only at your overall composite. But some — often more competitive BSN programs — also set a minimum for individual sections. That means you can clear the composite requirement and still miss on one section. A strong reading and English score can prop up your overall number while a weak science or math score quietly sinks your application against a per-section rule. Before you assume your composite is all that matters, read the program's admissions page carefully. If section minimums exist, your study plan should defend your weakest section, not just chase a higher average.
Option 1: Retake the TEAS — and how the policy really works
Retaking is the most common move, and the rules are more forgiving than people assume. Per ATI's retake policy, when you test at an ATI-proctored site there is a 14-day wait between attempts, and ATI itself does not cap the total number of attempts. The catch is that your program sets its own rules on top of that — many schools impose a longer wait (30 days is common) and limit how many attempts they'll count per application cycle. Programs also differ on which score they use: some take your highest, some your most recent, some only your first. Confirm your target school's policy in writing before you book a second seat.
Rule | Set by ATI | Set by your program |
|---|---|---|
Wait between attempts | 14 days at ATI-proctored sites | Often longer (30 days is common) |
Total number of attempts | No cap | May limit attempts per application cycle |
Which score counts | Reports all scores | Highest, most recent, or first — varies |
Minimum passing score | None — no universal pass/fail | Each program sets its own cutoff |
The 14-day minimum is just permission to test again — it is not enough time to change your result. A retake only raises your score if you fix what went wrong in between. Pull your score report, find your weakest sections and the specific topics inside them, and drill those instead of re-reading everything. Then take at least one full, timed practice exam under real conditions so a pacing problem doesn't resurface on test day.
When a retake makes sense — and when it doesn't
Retake if you landed within a few points of the cutoff, had a bad test day (sick, exhausted, technical issues), tested before finishing your science prerequisites, or consistently scored higher on practice tests than on the real thing.
Think twice if you're far below the requirement, you've already retaken without improvement, or you haven't actually diagnosed why you scored low. Booking another seat without a plan just burns the fee and an attempt.
Option 2: Apply where your score already clears the bar
Because cutoffs vary so widely, the gap between your score and your dream program isn't the whole picture. A score that misses at a competitive urban BSN program may comfortably clear an ADN program at a community college, where TEAS requirements tend to be more flexible. Requirements differ dramatically even within the same state, so widen your list and check several programs' published minimums before you decide a retake is your only option. Starting in an ADN program isn't settling — you can bridge to a BSN later through an RN-to-BSN track. If you want a sense of where the bar sits lower, see our roundup of the easiest nursing schools to get into.
Option 3: Apply to programs that don't require the TEAS
A lot of applicants don't realize this option exists: many accredited nursing programs don't require the TEAS at all. These schools use holistic admissions — weighing GPA, prerequisite grades, healthcare experience, essays, and interviews instead of a standardized entrance exam. They aren't lower quality, and they aren't easier. They simply evaluate differently, and they often expect a stronger GPA to compensate for the absence of a test score.
One non-negotiable if you go this route: verify accreditation. Look for CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education) or ACEN (Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing) accreditation. Graduating from an unaccredited program can block you from sitting the NCLEX and getting licensed — which defeats the entire point. A program skipping the TEAS is fine; a program skipping accreditation is a dealbreaker.
Why scores come in low (and what to fix)
Before you decide which path to take, figure out what actually went wrong. The usual culprits are predictable, and most are fixable:
You tested too early. Sitting the TEAS before finishing anatomy and physiology, biology, and chemistry means guessing through the science section. Finish the prerequisites first.
You under-prepared. The TEAS tests specific, studyable content. Winging it is the fastest route to a low score; structured prep over several weeks is the fastest route up.
Time management failed. Each section is separately timed. Running out of clock forces blind guessing on the last questions. Practice under real time limits.
Test anxiety took over. Knowing the material isn't the same as performing under pressure. Full-length timed practice builds the familiarity that calms nerves.
Weak foundations got exposed. If math or science was always shaky, the TEAS finds the gaps. Address the fundamentals — a tutor or a remedial course — before retaking.
Alternative pathways into nursing
The TEAS isn't the only door, and a stumble doesn't have to reset your whole timeline. A few routes that often sidestep the exam:
Start as a CNA or LPN. These programs typically don't require the TEAS. You gain real clinical experience, and some schools offer CNA-to-RN or LPN-to-RN bridges with relaxed entrance-exam requirements.
Try a different entrance exam. Some programs accept the HESI A2 or Kaplan instead of the TEAS. The content overlaps, but the format differs, and some students simply test better on one than another.
Look at direct-entry programs. Direct-entry tracks fold prerequisites into the curriculum and frequently skip the entrance exam, since they're built for students without prior healthcare coursework.
Written by · Verified educator
Testavia editorial
Nathan Cole
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.
5+
Years in Med-Surg
Medical-Surgical
Specialty
New York City
Based in
