What is on the Science section
The TEAS 7 has 170 questions in total, 150 of which are scored — the other 20 are unscored pretest items mixed in, and you cannot tell which is which. The Science section contributes 44 of those scored questions.
How to approach the section
Pacing. About 72 seconds per question.
Science is the largest section and carries the most scored questions, so it moves your overall score more than any other. Human Anatomy and Physiology is the biggest part of it by some distance — if your study time is limited, that is where it should go first. The content is broad but the questions are mostly recall and straightforward application rather than multi-step reasoning.
The mistake that costs the most marks
Studying the systems evenly. Anatomy and physiology substantially outweighs biology, chemistry and scientific reasoning here, and students who split their time equally across the four tend to underperform on the part that matters most.
Sample Science questions
A short mixed set from across the section. Each sub-area page above has ten more.
- Question 1
Filtration of blood in the nephron occurs at which structure?
Correct answer: C. The glomerulus is a tuft of capillaries located within Bowman's capsule. Blood pressure forces water, electrolytes, glucose, amino acids, and waste products out of the blood and into Bowman's capsule. This filtrate then travels through the rest of the nephron, where selective reabsorption and secretion occur.
- A. The loop of Henle is primarily responsible for creating a concentration gradient in the kidney medulla, which allows for water reabsorption and urine concentration. It does not perform initial filtration.
- B. The proximal convoluted tubule reabsorbs approximately 65% of filtered water, sodium, glucose, and amino acids back into the blood. It performs reabsorption, not initial filtration.
- D. The distal convoluted tubule is involved in regulated reabsorption of sodium and water and secretion of potassium and hydrogen ions, controlled by hormones like aldosterone.
- Question 2
Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) acts on the kidneys to produce which effect?
Correct answer: A. ADH (also called vasopressin) is released by the posterior pituitary gland when the body is dehydrated or blood osmolarity is high. It acts on the collecting ducts of the kidneys, making them more permeable to water. This increases water reabsorption back into the blood, resulting in smaller volumes of concentrated urine and helping to maintain fluid balance.
- B. This describes the opposite of ADH's action. Without ADH (as in diabetes insipidus), the kidneys cannot reabsorb water, resulting in large volumes of dilute urine.
- C. Sodium excretion is primarily regulated by aldosterone (from the adrenal cortex) and atrial natriuretic peptide (from the heart), not by ADH.
- D. Potassium balance is regulated mainly by aldosterone, which promotes potassium secretion in the distal tubule. ADH does not directly regulate potassium.
- Question 3
Which part of the brain is responsible for coordinating voluntary muscle movements and maintaining balance?
Correct answer: B. The cerebellum, located at the posterior base of the brain, coordinates voluntary movements, maintains posture and balance, and ensures smooth, accurate motor activity. It does not initiate movement (that is the cerebrum's role) but fine-tunes it. Damage to the cerebellum results in ataxia — uncoordinated, clumsy movements.
- A. The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain and is responsible for conscious thought, reasoning, memory, and initiating voluntary movement via the motor cortex. It does not coordinate movement — that is the cerebellum's role.
- C. The medulla oblongata, part of the brainstem, controls involuntary vital functions such as heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure. It does not coordinate voluntary muscle movements.
- D. The hypothalamus regulates homeostasis, including body temperature, hunger, thirst, sleep cycles, and hormone release from the pituitary gland. It does not coordinate voluntary movement.
- Question 4
A patient suffers a stroke affecting the left frontal lobe of the cerebrum. Which function is most likely to be impaired?
Correct answer: B. The primary motor cortex is located in the frontal lobe. Motor pathways cross over (decussate) at the medulla oblongata, so the left motor cortex controls voluntary movement on the right side of the body. Damage to the left frontal lobe would therefore cause weakness or paralysis on the right side (right hemiparesis or hemiplegia).
- A. Vision is processed in the occipital lobe at the back of the brain, not the frontal lobe.
- C. Auditory processing occurs in the temporal lobes. Additionally, each ear sends signals to both temporal lobes, so a unilateral lesion typically does not cause deafness in one ear.
- D. While the olfactory cortex is located near the frontal lobe, the primary motor cortex deficit would be the most prominent clinical finding after a frontal lobe stroke.
- Question 5
Which division of the autonomic nervous system is responsible for the 'fight or flight' response?
Correct answer: C. The sympathetic nervous system activates the 'fight or flight' response during perceived threats or stress. It increases heart rate, dilates bronchioles, dilates pupils, redirects blood to skeletal muscles, and inhibits digestion — preparing the body for rapid physical action.
- A. The somatic nervous system controls voluntary skeletal muscle movements and transmits sensory information to the CNS. It is not part of the autonomic nervous system.
- B. The parasympathetic nervous system promotes the 'rest and digest' response. It slows heart rate, constricts pupils, stimulates digestion, and conserves energy — the opposite of fight or flight.
- D. The central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) is the processing center of the nervous system. It is not a division of the autonomic nervous system.
Keep going
The full bank has 430 science questions, plus timed exams that match the real section length.
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