TEAS practice test

TEAS Science Practice Test

Anatomy and physiology first, then biology, chemistry and reasoning. Here are 10 TEAS science questions, each with the answer and the reason.

Updated 2026-11-14 by the Tigertest team. Matched to the ATI TEAS 7 blueprint and timing. Includes select-all-that-apply, fill-in and ordered-response items like the real exam; image hot spots are not modelled. Not affiliated with ATI.

1. 1.

   Which heart valve prevents blood from flowing back from the aorta into the left ventricle as the ventricle relaxes?

   • A.

     Mitral (bicuspid) valve

   • B.

     Aortic semilunar valve

   • C.

     Tricuspid valve

   • D.

     Pulmonary semilunar valve

   Answer: B.

   The aortic semilunar valve sits between the left ventricle and the aorta and snaps shut during diastole. The mitral valve lies between the left atrium and left ventricle, so it stops backflow into the atrium, not from the aorta.

2. 2.

   In emphysema, damaged alveolar walls lose their elastic recoil. Which change in lung function is most expected?

   • A.

     Greater surface area for gas exchange

   • B.

     Faster and easier exhalation

   • C.

     Decreased total lung capacity

   • D.

     Air trapping with an increased residual volume

   Answer: D.

   Elastic recoil normally drives passive exhalation, so losing it traps air in the lungs and raises residual volume. Exhalation becomes slower and harder, not easier, and destroyed alveolar walls reduce exchange surface area.

3. 3.

   During the depolarization phase of a neuron's action potential, which ion movement occurs?

   • A.

     Potassium ions flow out of the cell

   • B.

     Calcium ions are pumped out of the cell

   • C.

     Sodium ions are pumped out of the cell

   • D.

     Sodium ions rush into the cell

   Answer: D.

   Voltage-gated sodium channels open and the influx of Na+ makes the inside of the membrane positive. Potassium flowing out happens next, during repolarization, not depolarization.

4. 4.

   Which skin glands secrete an oily substance into hair follicles and, when blocked, contribute to acne?

   • A.

     Eccrine sweat glands

   • B.

     Apocrine sweat glands

   • C.

     Ceruminous glands

   • D.

     Sebaceous glands

   Answer: D.

   Sebaceous glands release sebum into follicles to lubricate skin and hair, and plugged follicles lead to acne. Apocrine glands also open into follicles, but they secrete a thicker sweat, not oil.

5. 5.

   A urinary tract infection that spreads upward from the bladder to infect the kidney is called:

   • A.

     Cystitis

   • B.

     Urethritis

   • C.

     Glomerulonephritis

   • D.

     Pyelonephritis

   Answer: D.

   Pyelo- refers to the renal pelvis, so pyelonephritis is a kidney infection, often with flank pain and fever. Cystitis is an infection limited to the bladder.

6. 6.

   Which directional term correctly describes the location of the thoracic cavity relative to the abdominopelvic cavity?

   • A.

     Inferior

   • B.

     Superior

   • C.

     Dorsal

   • D.

     Distal

   Answer: B.

   The thoracic cavity lies above the abdominopelvic cavity, separated by the diaphragm, so it is superior. Dorsal means toward the back, where the dorsal cavity holds the brain and spinal cord.

7. 7.

   A DNA template strand reads 3'-TAC GGA-5'. Which mRNA sequence will be transcribed from this template?

   • A.

     5'-AUG CCU-3'

   • B.

     5'-ATG CCT-3'

   • C.

     5'-UAC GGA-3'

   • D.

     5'-GUA AAG-3'

   Answer: A.

   Transcription pairs A with U, T with A, C with G, and G with C, so 3'-TAC GGA-5' becomes 5'-AUG CCU-3'. The sequence with T is a DNA copy, but RNA uses uracil instead of thymine.

8. 8.

   A digestive enzyme from the stomach works best at pH 2. If the pH of its environment rises to 8, what most likely happens to its activity?

   • A.

     It drops as the active site loses its shape

   • B.

     It rises because the enzyme gains extra energy

   • C.

     It stays the same because enzymes are never altered

   • D.

     It rises because more substrate fits the active site

   Answer: A.

   Each enzyme has an optimal pH; far from it, the protein denatures and its active site changes shape, so substrate binds poorly and activity falls. Enzymes are not used up by reactions, but they can still be altered by pH and temperature.

9. 9.

   Water has an unusually high specific heat compared with most liquids. Which property of water is mainly responsible for this?

   • A.

     Its very low molecular mass

   • B.

     Ionic bonds between hydrogen and oxygen

   • C.

     Hydrogen bonding between molecules

   • D.

     Nonpolar bonds within each molecule

   Answer: C.

   Hydrogen bonds between polar water molecules absorb a lot of energy before the molecules move faster, so water resists temperature change. The bonds within a water molecule are polar covalent, not ionic or nonpolar.

10. 10.

    Students release the same toy car from ramps set at 10, 20, and 30 degrees and measure how far it rolls. What is the dependent variable?

    • A.

      The angle of the ramp

    • B.

      The toy car used in each trial

    • C.

      The number of students in the group

    • D.

      The distance the car rolls

    Answer: D.

    The dependent variable is the outcome that is measured, which is the rolling distance. The ramp angle is changed on purpose by the students, so it is the independent variable.