TEAS 7 math guide: what is tested, calculator rules and worked examples
The TEAS 7 math section has 38 questions in 57 minutes: 18 scored items on numbers and algebra and 16 on measurement and data. You can use only the basic calculator built into the exam. Focus on fractions, percents, proportions, equations, conversions, basic geometry and reading data; trigonometry and standard deviation are not among the 64 objectives.
TEAS 7 math at a glance
38 questions in 57 minutes (about 1.5 minutes per question), the second section after Reading.
34 scored items and 4 unscored pretest items you cannot tell apart.
Numbers and Algebra: 18 scored items. Measurement and Data: 16 scored items.
Question types include multiple choice, multiple select, fill in the blank, ordered response and hot spot; there is no partial credit and no penalty for guessing.
An optional 10-minute break follows the math section.
What math is on the TEAS 7?
M.1.1 Fractions, decimals and percents: Convert a number between fraction, decimal and percent form, such as 3/8 = 0.375 = 37.5%. Book chapter 10: Put numbers on a meaningful scale.
M.1.2 Arithmetic with rational numbers: Add, subtract, multiply and divide fractions, decimals and negative numbers in the correct order of operations. Book chapter 11: Calculate, estimate and check.
M.1.3 Comparing and ordering: Put a mixed list of fractions, decimals, percents and negative numbers in order from least to greatest. Book chapter 10: Put numbers on a meaningful scale.
M.1.4 One-variable equations: Solve an equation with one unknown and check the answer by substituting it back in. Book chapter 12: Solve an equation and verify it.
M.1.5 Multistep word problems: Turn a real-world situation into steps you can calculate, carrying the units all the way through. Book chapter 15: Translate a situation into a model.
M.1.6 Percent problems: Find a part, a whole, a rate or a percent increase or decrease, starting from the correct base amount. Book chapter 14: Find the base in percent problems.
M.1.7 Estimating and rounding: Estimate whether an answer is reasonable and round to exactly the place the question asks for. Book chapter 11: Calculate, estimate and check.
M.1.8 Proportions: Recognize when two quantities grow at the same rate and solve the proportion. Book chapter 13: Recognize ratios, rates and proportion.
M.1.9 Ratios, rates and rates of change: Read a ratio in the right order, find a unit rate and describe how fast one quantity changes with another. Book chapter 13: Recognize ratios, rates and proportion.
M.1.10 Expressions, equations and inequalities: Write an expression, equation or inequality for a situation and decide which solutions make sense. Book chapter 15: Translate a situation into a model.
M.2.1 Tables, charts and graphs: Read values from a table or graph using its scale, labels and legend. Book chapter 18: Read data and choose a useful summary.
M.2.2 Mean, median, mode and range: Calculate the basic summaries of a data set and say what they tell you. Book chapter 18: Read data and choose a useful summary.
M.2.3 Relationships between two variables: Describe how two variables move together on a scatterplot without assuming one causes the other. Book chapter 18: Read data and choose a useful summary.
M.2.4 Geometry: Find perimeter, area, circumference and volume using the right dimensions, formula and units. Book chapter 17: Measure shapes and space.
M.2.5 Unit conversions: Convert within the metric system, within US customary units and between the two without losing the meaning of the units. Book chapter 16: Convert a measurement without losing its meaning.
Can you use a calculator on the TEAS?
Yes, only the one built into the exam. ATI’s help article says:
“It is available on every question in every section, not just math.”
“A basic calculator: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, plus percent, square root, a decimal point, a backspace key, and memory keys (m+, m-, mrc, mc). It is not a scientific or graphing calculator”
“personal calculators, phone calculators, and calculator watches are not allowed for any TEAS exam, at home or in person.”
“If yours does, the proctor hands out a calculator; you still may not bring your own.”
ATI’s TEAS at PSI registration page calls the same tool “a four-function, drop-down calculator.” Both pages agree it is a basic calculator, not a scientific or graphing one; the help article lists the extra keys (percent, square root, memory). Practise as if you have only the basics, and confirm the details for your testing format.
Fraction answers. The calculator shows decimals, so 0.6666667 hides the 2/3 in the answer choices. Work fractions by hand or convert each choice.
Setting up the problem. The calculator cannot tell you which number is the base in a percent problem or which units go on top. Write the setup first.
Order of operations. Do not assume a basic calculator follows it. Enter one step at a time and write each result on your scratch paper.
Quick mental steps. Multiplying by 10, halving or finding 10% is usually faster in your head than with a mouse.
Rounding too early. Keep the full value until the last step, then round to the place the question asks for.
Estimation questions. When a question asks you to estimate, round first and then calculate, as instructed.
Do they give you conversions on the TEAS?
We found no ATI page (checked 25 October 2026) that lists conversion factors or formulas supplied on screen during the exam. ATI’s formulas article lists “Conversions: metric and imperial units of length, weight, and volume” among the things to know, and students’ recollections conflict. Plan to know the common factors below. When a question gives you a factor, use exactly that factor, even if it is rounded.
°F = (9/5 × °C) + 32 and °C = (°F − 32) × 5/9. These formulas are exact.
Water freezes at 0 °C (32 °F) and boils at 100 °C (212 °F) at sea level.
Temperature conversions add or subtract an offset, so you cannot convert them with a single multiplication factor.
What formulas do you need for TEAS math?
ATI’s general “formulas” help article also mentions basic trigonometry (sine, cosine, tangent) and standard deviation. Neither appears among the 64 objectives in ATI’s TEAS 7 content outline, so TEASPATH does not teach them as TEAS content. Spend that time on the 15 math objectives above.
Perimeter and circumference: Rectangle: P = 2l + 2w; Square: P = 4s; Circle: C = 2πr = πd (the diameter d is twice the radius r).
Area: Rectangle: A = lw; Triangle: A = ½bh (h is the height perpendicular to the base); Circle: A = πr²; Composite shapes: split into rectangles and triangles, then add or subtract.
Volume: Rectangular prism (box): V = lwh; Cube: V = s³; Cylinder: V = πr²h.
Right triangles: Pythagorean theorem: a² + b² = c², where c is the hypotenuse (right triangles only).
Percents: Part = percent × whole (write the percent as a decimal); Percent change = (new − original) ÷ original × 100; After a change of p%: new = original × (1 ± p/100).
Ratios, rates and proportions: Proportion: a/b = c/d, so ad = bc (cross-multiply); Unit rate = quantity ÷ one unit of the other quantity; Distance = rate × time (d = rt).
Data summaries: Mean = sum of values ÷ number of values; Median = middle value of the ordered list (average the two middle values when the count is even); Mode = most frequent value (there may be none or several); Range = greatest value − least value.
Worked examples
When you multiply or divide both sides of an inequality by a negative number, reverse the sign. For example, −2x + 5 > 13 becomes −2x > 8, and dividing by −2 gives x < −4.
Fractions with more than one operation (M.1.2). Simplify 2½ × 4/5 − 1/3. Rewrite the mixed number as an improper fraction: 2½ = 5/2. Multiply before subtracting (order of operations): 5/2 × 4/5 = 20/10 = 2. Write 2 with the same denominator as 1/3: 2 = 6/3. Subtract: 6/3 − 1/3 = 5/3. Write it as a mixed number if the choices do: 5/3 = 1⅔. Answer: 5/3, or 1⅔.
Percent change and the base (M.1.6). Weekly visits to a clinic fell from 250 to 210. What is the percent decrease? Find the change: 250 − 210 = 40 visits. The base is the original amount, 250, because the change is measured from where it started. Divide: 40 ÷ 250 = 0.16. Convert to a percent: 0.16 × 100 = 16%. Check the trap: going back up from 210 to 250 is 40 ÷ 210 ≈ 19.0%, a different percent because the base is different. Answer: A 16% decrease.
A proportion word problem (M.1.8). A recipe uses 3 cups of flour for 24 muffins. How many cups are needed for 40 muffins? Check that it is proportional: twice the muffins need twice the flour, so a proportion fits. Set up matching ratios with the same units in the same places: 3 cups / 24 muffins = x cups / 40 muffins. Cross-multiply: 24x = 3 × 40 = 120. Divide: x = 120 ÷ 24 = 5. Check with the unit rate: 3 ÷ 24 = 0.125 cup per muffin, and 0.125 × 40 = 5 cups. Answer: 5 cups.
Dimensional analysis with two factors (M.2.5). A car travels at 45 miles per hour. What is its speed in feet per second? Write the starting rate as a fraction: 45 mi / 1 h. Multiply by a factor that cancels miles: × 5,280 ft / 1 mi. Multiply by a factor that cancels hours: × 1 h / 3,600 s (60 minutes × 60 seconds). Cancel mi and h, leaving ft/s: 45 × 5,280 ÷ 3,600. Calculate: 237,600 ÷ 3,600 = 66. Answer: 66 feet per second.
A two-step inequality from a word problem (M.1.10). A gym charges $25 a month plus $4 per class. Your budget is at most $60 a month. How many classes can you take? Let c be the number of classes. “At most” means less than or equal to: 25 + 4c ≤ 60. Subtract 25 from both sides: 4c ≤ 35. Divide both sides by 4 (a positive number, so the sign stays): c ≤ 8.75. Interpret: you cannot take part of a class, so the greatest whole number is 8. Check: 25 + 4 × 8 = $57, which fits; 25 + 4 × 9 = $61, which does not. Answer: At most 8 classes.
Common TEAS math traps
Unit conversions: Students mention conversions more than any other math topic. Write every factor as a fraction and cancel units; square or cube the factor for area or volume (1 yd² = 9 ft², not 3).
Fractions, decimals and percents: Moving the decimal the wrong way and confusing 0.5% with 50% are common slips. Percent means “per hundred”: 0.5% = 0.005.
Ratios and proportions: Keep the same units in the same position on both sides, and check the situation is really proportional before cross-multiplying.
The base in percent problems: A percent increase and a percent decrease between the same two numbers are not equal, because each uses a different base.
Word problems: Translate one phrase at a time: “at most” is ≤, “at least” is ≥, “per” means divide.
Geometry formulas: Students report missing circle and area items. Check whether you were given the radius or the diameter before using πr².
How to study for TEAS math
Take a short diagnostic first, then study the objectives you miss rather than rereading everything.
Start with Numbers and Algebra (18 scored items): fractions, percents and proportions feed almost every word problem, including conversions.
Then work through Measurement and Data (16 scored items): conversions, geometry formulas and reading graphs.
Study one worked example, then solve a similar problem on your own before checking. A 2023 meta-analysis found studying worked examples helps math performance.
Once a skill feels familiar, mix problem types in the same set. A randomized trial in seventh-grade math classes found mixed (interleaved) practice beat practising one type at a time on a delayed test, even though mixing feels harder.
Finish with timed sets of 38 questions in 57 minutes using only a basic calculator, and log every miss with the reason.
Sample TEAS math questions (original)
Which fraction is equal to 0.375? Answer: A. 3/8 0.375 = 375/1000. Divide the numerator and denominator by 125 to get 3/8. Check: 3 ÷ 8 = 0.375. Choice D, 3/80, is ten times too small (0.0375).
After a 20% discount, a jacket costs $64. What was the original price? Answer: B. $80.00 The sale price is 80% of the original, so 0.80 × original = 64 and original = 64 ÷ 0.80 = $80.00. Choice A adds 20% of $64, but the discount was taken from the original price, not from $64.
On a map, 2 cm represents 15 km. Two towns are 7 cm apart on the map. How far apart are they in real life? Answer: A. 52.5 km Set up 2 cm / 15 km = 7 cm / x km. Cross-multiply: 2x = 105, so x = 52.5 km. Choice C forgets to divide by 2.
How many milliliters are in 2.5 liters? Answer: C. 2,500 1 L = 1,000 mL, so 2.5 L × 1,000 mL/L = 2,500 mL. Milli- means one thousandth, so there are 1,000 milliliters in each liter. On a fill-in item, follow the on-screen instructions about commas, decimals and units exactly.
What value of x makes 5x + 4 = 2x − 11 true? Answer: B. −5 Subtract 2x from both sides: 3x + 4 = −11. Subtract 4: 3x = −15. Divide by 3: x = −5. Check: 5(−5) + 4 = −21 and 2(−5) − 11 = −21. Choice C comes from adding 2x instead of subtracting it.
Data set: 4, 7, 7, 9, 13. Which statements are true? I. The mean is 8. II. The median is 7. III. The mode is 7. IV. The range is 13. Answer: B. I, II and III only Mean: (4 + 7 + 7 + 9 + 13) ÷ 5 = 40 ÷ 5 = 8. Median: the middle of the ordered list is 7. Mode: 7 appears twice. Range: 13 − 4 = 9, not 13, so statement IV is false. 13 is the greatest value, not the range.
A circular garden has a diameter of 10 meters. Using π ≈ 3.14, what is its area? Answer: D. 78.5 m² The radius is half the diameter: 10 ÷ 2 = 5 m. A = πr² ≈ 3.14 × 5² = 3.14 × 25 = 78.5 m². Choice B uses the diameter as the radius, and choice A is the circumference (πd).
Store A sells 12 ounces of almonds for $5.40. Store B sells 20 ounces for $8.60. Which statement is true? Answer: C. Store B is cheaper by $0.02 per ounce. Unit prices: Store A $5.40 ÷ 12 = $0.45 per ounce; Store B $8.60 ÷ 20 = $0.43 per ounce. Store B is cheaper by $0.45 − $0.43 = $0.02 per ounce. Choice D compares total prices, not prices per ounce.
Questions and answers
What math is on the TEAS 7? The math section has 38 questions in 57 minutes; 34 are scored. ATI groups the scored items into Numbers and Algebra (18) and Measurement and Data (16). The 15 objectives cover fractions, decimals and percents, arithmetic, equations and inequalities, ratios and proportions, word problems, data displays and summaries, geometry and unit conversions.
Can you use a calculator on the TEAS? Yes, but only the basic calculator built into the exam. ATI says it is available on every question in every section and has the four operations plus percent, square root, decimal, backspace and memory keys. It is not scientific or graphing, and personal, phone and watch calculators are not allowed.
Does the TEAS give you formulas or conversions? We found no ATI page that lists formulas or conversion factors supplied on screen. ATI’s own formulas article lists conversions and geometry formulas as things to know, so plan to memorize the common ones. When a question supplies a factor, use exactly that factor.
Which conversions should I memorize for the TEAS? Know the metric prefixes from kilo- to micro-, the US customary relationships (12 in = 1 ft, 3 ft = 1 yd, 16 oz = 1 lb, 8 fl oz = 1 cup, 2 cups = 1 pt, 2 pt = 1 qt, 4 qt = 1 gal) and a few bridges such as 1 in = 2.54 cm (exact) and 1 kg ≈ 2.2 lb (approximate).
Is trigonometry or standard deviation on the TEAS 7? Neither appears among the 64 objectives in ATI’s TEAS 7 content outline, although ATI’s general formulas article mentions them. TEASPATH focuses study time on the 15 math objectives instead.
How hard is the TEAS math section? In public forum posts we reviewed, students often called math their most manageable section, yet unit conversions, fractions and percents, and ratios and proportions were the misses they mentioned most. ATI allows about 1.5 minutes per math question, so accuracy on these basics matters more than speed tricks.
Is there a printable TEAS math formula sheet? This page prints cleanly from your browser, with the formulas and conversion tables included. The TEASPATH book also has final-week rapid-review sheets. Practise recalling each formula from memory rather than only reading the list.
TEASPATH is independent of ATI. ATI TEAS® and TEAS® are registered trademarks of Assessment Technologies Institute, L.L.C., which is not affiliated with and does not endorse TEASPATH. Practice results are not official scores or admission predictions.