Before week 1: set the target
Write down your school's required sections and minimums (the sections guide shows where to find them) and book a test date that leaves room for a retake before the application deadline if your school allows one.
The six weeks
| Week | Focus | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baseline | Take your school's sections under time. Log every miss by topic and cause. Rank sections by distance below the cutoff. |
| 2 | Weakest section | Work its weakest topics: cheat sheet, then questions from memory. Ten minutes a day of vocabulary from week 2 on. |
| 3 | Second-weakest | Same loop. Twice this week, revisit week 2's topics with mixed questions. |
| 4 | Remaining gaps | The rest of your error log. End the week with a timed test of your two weakest sections. |
| 5 | Mixed and timed | Mixed questions across all required sections every day. One timed section test every other day. |
| 6 | Rehearse and taper | A full timed rehearsal early in the week. Then review only your own misses. Light day before the test. |
A day in the plan
- 10 minutes: recall yesterday's rules from your error log without looking.
- 30–50 minutes: the week's focus: a short explanation, then questions from memory.
- 10 minutes: vocabulary, or mixed questions from earlier weeks.
The method behind the plan (practice from memory, spaced over days, mixed once familiar) is explained in how to study for the HESI A2.
Adjust it to your sections
- Three sections (Math, Reading, Vocabulary): give each a repair week; use week 4 for whichever is still lowest.
- Five sections with A&P: A&P has a lot of content per question, so start it in week 2 alongside your weakest section, 20 minutes a day.
- Biology, Chemistry, or Physics added: add a week, or start two weeks earlier, if you have not taken that science recently.
Check your test length
Tick your school's sections to see how long your rehearsal in week 6 should be.
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 testHESI and HESI A2 are registered trademarks of Elsevier. NurseSavvy is not affiliated with or endorsed by Elsevier.
Common questions
Is 6 weeks enough to study for the HESI A2?
For four or five sections, six weeks of steady study (about an hour most days) is a reasonable plan. Give yourself more time if your baseline is far below a cutoff or you need a science you have not taken.
Can I study for the HESI A2 in 2 weeks?
You can improve in two weeks if you are close to your cutoffs: take a baseline, spend most of the time on the weakest required section, and do one timed rehearsal. If you are far below, consider a later test date if your deadline allows.
How many hours a day should I study for the HESI A2?
About 45 to 90 focused minutes on most days works better than occasional long sessions. Adjust to your baseline, your cutoffs, and your test date.
What order should I study the HESI A2 sections in?
Start with the required section furthest below your school’s minimum, then the next. Keep the stronger sections warm with short mixed practice so they do not slip.