The eight sections at a glance
Elsevier publishes no public blueprint, so these are the counts and times school testing centers most often list (for example TSTC and Western Technical College). Your testing center may set its own.
| Section | Questions (scored) | Usual time | Schools require it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Math | 55 (50) | 50 min | almost always |
| Reading Comprehension | 55 (50) | 60 min | almost always |
| Vocabulary & General Knowledge | 55 (50) | 50 min | almost always |
| Grammar | 55 (50) | 50 min | often |
| Anatomy & Physiology | 30 (25) | 25 min | often |
| Biology | 30 (25) | 25 min | sometimes |
| Chemistry | 30 (25) | 25 min | sometimes |
| Physics | 30 (25) | 50 min | rarely |
Build your test
Tick the sections on your school's list to see how long your test is. You can also check a practice score against the school's minimums.
HESI A2 score calculator
Pick your school's sections, then check a score against its cutoffs
Counts and times are the usual ones; your school may set its own.
No scores yet? Take exactly these sections as a free practice test.
Take a free HESI A2 testWhat each section tests
Math
Arithmetic for health care: whole numbers, fractions, decimals, percents, ratios and proportions, household and metric conversions, temperature, Roman numerals, military time, and basic algebra. There is usually an on-screen calculator, but schools can switch it off. See the math guide.
Reading Comprehension
Passages followed by questions on the main idea, supporting details, inferences, the author's purpose and tone, fact vs opinion, and word meaning in context. School guides such as Sandhills Community College's describe the passages as general reading, not health-care texts.
Vocabulary & General Knowledge
Word meanings, mostly words common in health care, plus general academic vocabulary. See the vocabulary list.
Grammar
Parts of speech, subject-verb and pronoun agreement, pronoun case, verb tense, commonly confused words, and punctuation. See the grammar guide.
Anatomy & Physiology
Body terminology, cells and tissues, and the major systems. It is the science section schools ask for most. See the A&P guide.
Biology and Chemistry
Biology covers biological molecules, cells, metabolism, cellular respiration, photosynthesis, and genetics. Chemistry covers atoms, the periodic table, bonding, reactions, the mole, and acids and bases. Fewer programs require them. Among the programs we checked, East Carolina University and the University of Arizona count Biology, and UNM–Valencia counts both Biology and Chemistry. Some testing centers do not even offer them: Tarrant County College gives only Reading, Vocabulary, Grammar, Math, and A&P.
Physics
Motion, Newton's laws, energy, waves, light, and electricity. None of the 15 nursing programs we checked required it, and Elsevier's own review book (6th edition) has no Physics chapter. Do not study it unless your school lists it.
Extras: Critical Thinking, Learning Style, Personality
A few programs add a separate Critical Thinking exam, scored on its own scale rather than as a percent. Lone Star College, for example, asks for 750 for its ADN program. Some schools also give an unscored Learning Style assessment and Personality Profile; they do not count toward admission, though a school may still require you to complete them. Try our free learning style and personality quiz to see the format.
How to find your school's list
- Open the nursing program's admission requirements page, not the college's general testing page.
- Write down the sections, the minimum score for each, any cumulative minimum, and the attempt rules.
- If the page is unclear, email admissions and ask exactly those questions.
- Applying to several programs? Prepare for the union of their sections.
Then take a timed practice test of exactly those sections. Start with a free HESI A2 practice test.
HESI and HESI A2 are registered trademarks of Elsevier. NurseSavvy is not affiliated with or endorsed by Elsevier.
Common questions
How many sections are on the HESI A2?
There are eight academic sections: Math, Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary & General Knowledge, Grammar, Anatomy & Physiology, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Some schools add an unscored Learning Style assessment and Personality Profile.
Which HESI A2 sections are required?
Your school decides. Math, Reading Comprehension, and Vocabulary are almost always required, Grammar and Anatomy & Physiology often, Biology and Chemistry sometimes, and Physics rarely. A few programs add a Critical Thinking exam.
Is Physics on the HESI A2?
Physics is one of the eight sections, but none of the 15 nursing programs we checked required it, and Elsevier’s official review book has no Physics chapter. Study it only if your school lists it.
Can I take only some HESI A2 sections?
You take the sections your program requires. Testing centers usually set up the exam with the school’s list, so confirm it with the program or testing center when you register.