TEAS English practice test

Free TEAS English and Language Usage questions with explanations: grammar, punctuation, spelling, sentence structure, formal style and vocabulary from context.

questions: 37
scored: 33
60 s per question: 37 min
last: 4 of 4

What's on TEAS English

The English and Language Usage section has 37 questions (33 scored) and 37 minutes. It's section 4 of 4 on the ATI TEAS 7.

Free English and Language Usage questions

15 questions

Conventions of Standard English · 1 of 15Which sentence places punctuation correctly in relation to the quotation marks, following standard American conventions?

The instructor called the exam "challenging;" however, most students passed.
The instructor called the exam "challenging"; however, most students passed.
Did the instructor call the exam "challenging?"
The instructor called the exam "challenging", however, most students passed.

TEAS English practice test with answers

Every question above with its answer and the reasoning. Open one to check yourself, or read straight through.

English · Conventions of Standard EnglishWhich sentence places punctuation correctly in relation to the quotation marks, following standard American conventions?
- A. The instructor called the exam "challenging;" however, most students passed.
- B. The instructor called the exam "challenging"; however, most students passed. (correct)
- C. Did the instructor call the exam "challenging?"
- D. The instructor called the exam "challenging", however, most students passed.
Semicolons go outside closing quotation marks, and the semicolon correctly joins the two independent clauses. Choice A puts the semicolon inside; choice C puts the question mark inside even though the whole sentence, not the quoted word, is the question; choice D has a comma splice with the comma outside.
English · Knowledge of LanguageA writer means that the clinic treated almost forty patients on Saturday. Which sentence expresses this meaning clearly?
- A. The clinic nearly treated forty patients on Saturday.
- B. The clinic treated nearly forty patients on Saturday. (correct)
- C. Nearly, the clinic treated forty patients on Saturday.
- D. The clinic treated forty patients nearly on Saturday.
The modifier 'nearly' must sit directly before the number it describes. In A it modifies 'treated' and suggests the clinic almost treated them but did not.
English · Using Language and Vocabulary to Express Ideas in WritingRead the sentence: "Dr. Ellis was dismayed by the perfunctory way the intern reviewed the chart: he skimmed it in seconds, initialed every page, and never noticed the missing allergy entry." As used in the sentence, the word "perfunctory" most nearly means
- A. performed with admirable efficiency
- B. done with minimal care or attention (correct)
- C. carried out in a hostile manner
- D. required by hospital policy
The intern skimmed, initialed, and missed an important entry, so the review was done without real care. "Admirable efficiency" is tempting because it was fast, but Dr. Ellis was dismayed and an error was missed.
English · Conventions of Standard EnglishWhich of the following sentences are punctuated correctly? Select all that apply.
- A. After the shift ended, the nurses restocked the cart, and then they went home. (correct)
- B. The pharmacist who filled the prescription, called the clinic.
- C. We ordered gauze, tape, and saline; the shipment, however, was delayed. (correct)
- D. The clinic opens at 7:00 a.m. it closes at 5:00 p.m.
- E. The nurses' station was quiet, so Priya finished her charting. (correct)
- F. The patient was tired, she had not slept in two days.
A, C, and E are correct: an introductory phrase and a compound sentence are punctuated properly in A, C joins two independent clauses with a semicolon and sets off "however," and E uses the plural possessive "nurses'" with a comma before "so." B puts a comma between subject and verb, D is a run-on, and F is a comma splice.
English · Knowledge of LanguageWhich revision of this sentence is most appropriate for a formal report to a funding agency while keeping the original meaning? 'The panel's decision was a real bummer for the applicants, who figured they'd get the funding.'
- A. The panel's decision disappointed the applicants, who had expected to receive the funding. (correct)
- B. The panel's decision was unfortunate for the applicants, who figured they would receive the funding.
- C. The panel's decision disappointed the applicants, who'd expected to receive the funding.
- D. The panel's decision disappointed the applicants, who had expected funding, which was kind of sad.
A removes the slang and the contraction and uses a formal verb. B keeps the casual 'figured,' C keeps a contraction, and D adds the informal phrase 'kind of sad.'
English · Using Language and Vocabulary to Express Ideas in WritingRead the sentence: "The researcher's claim was corroborated when two independent laboratories repeated the experiment and obtained the same results, which persuaded even the skeptics on her team." As used in the sentence, the word "corroborated" most nearly means
- A. supported by additional evidence (correct)
- B. disputed by other scientists
- C. postponed until further notice
- D. summarized in a brief report
Repeating the experiment with the same results strengthens the claim and convinces skeptics, which is what corroborated means. "Summarized" is wrong because the sentence describes confirmation, not a report.
English · Conventions of Standard EnglishWhich choice correctly punctuates a compound sentence?
- A. The nurse checked the chart, she called the physician.
- B. The nurse checked the chart and, she called the physician.
- C. The nurse checked the chart, and she called the physician. (correct)
- D. The nurse checked the chart, and called the physician.
Two independent clauses joined by "and" take a comma before the conjunction. The first choice is a comma splice, and the last wrongly puts a comma before the second half of a compound predicate that has no new subject.
English · Knowledge of LanguageWhich sentence uses parallel structure correctly?
- A. Candidates are evaluated both on their clinical skills and how well they communicate.
- B. Candidates are evaluated both on their clinical skills and on their communication with patients. (correct)
- C. Candidates are evaluated not only on clinical skills but also they must communicate well.
- D. Candidates are evaluated on clinical skills, on communicating with patients, and their teamwork.
Choice B pairs two matching prepositional phrases after 'both ... and' ('on ... skills' and 'on ... communication'). Choice A is tempting but pairs a noun phrase with a clause ('how well they communicate').
English · Using Language and Vocabulary to Express Ideas in WritingRead the sentence: "The patient's headaches were sporadic: she might feel well for several weeks and then have two attacks in a single afternoon." As used in the sentence, what does the word "sporadic" most nearly mean?
- A. constant and unchanging
- B. severe and life-threatening
- C. occurring at irregular intervals (correct)
- D. easily predicted
The colon introduces an example of weeks without symptoms followed by two attacks in one day, which shows an irregular pattern. "Severe" is not supported, since the sentence says nothing about intensity.
English · Conventions of Standard EnglishWhich choice correctly completes the sentence? The lab results were delayed ____ the physician postponed the patient's discharge until the next morning.
- A. ; therefore, (correct)
- B. , therefore,
- C. therefore;
- D. : therefore,
Two independent clauses joined by a conjunctive adverb such as "therefore" need a semicolon before it and a comma after it. A comma alone before "therefore" creates a comma splice.
English · Knowledge of LanguageWhich sentence is a complex sentence?
- A. The patient waited quietly and filled out the intake form.
- B. The patient who had filled out the intake form waited quietly. (correct)
- C. The patient waited quietly, and she filled out the intake form.
- D. The patient waited quietly, filled out the intake form, and asked no questions.
Choice B has one independent clause and one dependent clause ('who had filled out the intake form'). Choice A is tempting, but it has a single subject with a compound predicate, so it is a simple sentence.
English · Conventions of Standard EnglishWhich sentence uses quotation marks and other punctuation correctly?
- A. Did Dr. Lee say, "Wash your hands?"
- B. Did Dr. Lee say, "Wash your hands"? (correct)
- C. Did Dr. Lee say, "Wash your hands."?
- D. Did Dr. Lee say "Wash your hands?".
The whole sentence is a question, but the quoted words are a statement, so the question mark goes outside the closing quotation mark. Choice A wrongly places the question mark inside, implying the quotation itself is a question.
English · Knowledge of LanguageIn which sentence is the verb in the active voice even though it contains a form of 'to be'?
- A. The rounds were scheduled by the charge nurse.
- B. The wound is being cleaned by the aide.
- C. The medication has been prescribed for ten days.
- D. The new interns were nervous about their first rounds. (correct)
In D, 'were' links the subject to the adjective 'nervous'; the subject is not receiving an action, so the voice is active. A, B and C all have subjects that receive the action of the verb (passive), even though C names no agent.
English · Conventions of Standard EnglishWhich sentence forms every possessive correctly?
- A. The two hospital's shared parking garage is next to the children's ward and the women's clinic.
- B. The two hospitals' shared parking garage is next to the children's ward and the women's clinic. (correct)
- C. The two hospitals' shared parking garage is next to the childrens' ward and the women's clinic.
- D. The two hospitals' shared parking garage is next to the children's ward and the womens clinic.
A plural noun ending in -s takes only an apostrophe (hospitals'), while irregular plurals not ending in -s take 's (children's, women's). Choice C wrongly adds the apostrophe after the s in "childrens'."
English · Conventions of Standard EnglishWhich choice correctly completes the sentence? Either the pharmacy or the billing office must submit ____ report by Friday.
- A. its (correct)
- B. their
- C. them
- D. they
Two singular subjects joined by "either...or" take a singular pronoun, so "its" is correct. "Their" is tempting because two departments are named, but only one of them will submit the report.

How to approach it

Read the whole sentence before choosing: agreement errors often hide between the subject and the verb.
For punctuation, ask what each comma is doing: joining clauses (needs a conjunction), setting off extra information, or separating a list.
For vocabulary in context, substitute each choice into the sentence and keep the one that keeps its meaning.
Pace: 37 minutes for 37 questions is one minute each, the tightest section.

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Questions

How many English questions are on the TEAS?

37 questions in 37 minutes, of which 33 are scored: Conventions of Standard English 12, Knowledge of Language 11, and Using Language and Vocabulary 10 (ATI exam details).

Is spelling tested on the TEAS?

Yes, spelling is part of Conventions of Standard English, along with grammar, punctuation and capitalization.

Is English the last section?

Yes. The sections are always in this order: Reading, Math, Science, English and Language Usage (ATI Help).

Keep practicing

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Sources

Updated November 6, 2026