HESI FAQ+Advice

1) What exactly is the HESI?

The HESI A2 is a nursing entrance exam some programs require. It includes a total of 8 sections such as Math, Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary and General Knowledge, Grammar, Chemistry, Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, and Physics. You are not required to take all of them since each school requires different sections depending on their program.

2) What sections are on the HESI?

Math: dosage calculations, metric conversions, ratios/proportions, fractions/decimals/percents, word problems

Reading Comprehension: main idea, author’s purpose/tone, inferences, context clues, finding details, conclusions

Vocabulary & General Knowledge: common vocabulary + context-based meaning, synonyms/antonyms, basic “everyday” science/health terms, general facts some questions assume you know

Grammar: parts of speech, sentence structure, pronouns, punctuation, subject–verb agreement, spelling

Chemistry: basic chemistry, balancing simple equations, mixtures/solutions, acids vs bases, molecular masses

Biology: cells (organelles + function), cellular respiration/photosynthesis basics, genetics (Punnett squares), basic ecology

Anatomy & Physiology: body systems + functions, major organs, bones/muscles, planes/directions, homeostasis, diffusion/osmosis/transport

Physics: motion/forces, energy, basic electricity, simple formulas/units (more concepts than hard math)

3) How long is the HESI?

The total duration of the test is around 5.5 hours, but your time depends on how many sections you take. Each section is timed separately, and you have to complete an entire section before you can move to the next one. For the common sections such as Grammar, Reading, Vocabulary, and Math, you get around 50-60 minutes for a range of 45-55 questions. A&P, Chemistry, Biology, and Physics allow around 25-55 minutes for a range of 25-35 questions. FAN members encourage future test takers to plan your day around the exam and make sure to eat beforehand + take things slow.

4) When do I see my score?

You should receive your scores immediately upon finishing each section, but your report may take 48 hours to appear in your Evolve account.

5) Can I go back and forth between questions?

No! You cannot see your past answers in each section. Once you click next on a question, you are unable to backtrack. You are allowed to pick which sections you take first though.

6) How do I register for the HESI?

Each school requires a different type of registration. Check on the school's website you plan to apply to for what they want. Some require you take the HESI through their school, while other's are okay with you taking it through another school and sending a score report later. For either method, you are required to make an Evolve account to get your results and transcripts.

7) How much does it cost?

The cost of the exam depends on where you take it from, but it can vary from $35 to $100, often around $45 to $85.

8) What score do I need?

It depends on the school. Check your planned school's websites for their minimum requirements. The range can vary from 75% to 90%.

9) When should I take the HESI relative to application dates?

It's recommended to take the exam early if possible! Some people take it a few months or weeks earlier than the final application deadline. Don't wait until the last minute to take it, since sending scores and transcripts can be delayed closer to the deadline, and you may need to retake it if needed. Remember you are only allowed 2 attempts at an entrance exam, and some schools count 1 TEAS and 1 HESI attempt as the maximum of 2 attempts! FAN members suggest taking your final attempt a maximum of a 2-3 weeks before the final deadline!

10) What resources can I use to study?

NurseHub is the most widely used resource! Many of the practice questions and lessons are identical to the exam and are a good method to measure how much you need to study. Other resources include Quizlet, Nurse Shai and Cheung on YouTube, the HESI A2 textbook, Khan Academy, Reddit, and TikTok for specific concepts.

11) What other advice do FAN members have for me?

We suggest bringing your ID and a jacket to the testing center, since it can get chilly!
Don't wear jewelry since they can be strict, and know where to park ahead of time. You want to save as much time as possible so you are on time, and reduce your stress load the day of.
Plan to arrive 30 minutes early if possible.
If you are taking both the TEAS and HESI, plan to take them close to one another! Many of the concepts overlap and will make studying for them so much easier.
Make sure you are signing up for the correct exam for each school! The HESI exam sections vary per school, so it's a good idea to double check each school's exam requirements before registering. Be mindful of which attempt you click too! There is a version 1 and 2 of the exam for first-time test takers versus retakers.
There will be questions you may not know the answer to, and you should expect that. They are meant to be there to test your knowledge, and missing a few questions is normal!
For Math, study how to do conversions and conversion rates. You also get a whiteboard to write your work on! Just make sure to not erase anything since they are strict about that!
Look up common words to know for the Vocabulary section.
For Chemistry, make sure to glance over the periodic table and know general names of elements along with their masses. You will be asked to calculate molecular masses of compounds without a periodic table!
Do the sections that are easier for you first.
Don't brush over concepts you are good at since you may underestimate them on the day of the exam.
You do not need to complete A&P 1 and 2 before taking the A&P section on the exam! Some members suggest taking A&P 1 to get the basic concepts down, and using NurseHub to review the rest from A&P 2.
If you are applying to multiple schools or plan to if you don't get in the first cycle, take the exam for the school that requires the most sections! Many make that mistake of only taking TAMU CON's exam and not getting in, and then having to retake the HESI with more sections the second time around. If you do it in one go, you may be able to reuse your original score for the second cycle!
Some people study for a few days before their exam, while others spend months. Everyone's timeline is different so do what works best for you. Space it out and be intentional with your studying. Make sure to have a study plan and prepare ahead of time so you aren't cramming last minute. You got this!

HESI FAQ+Advice

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You should receive your scores immediately upon finishing each section, but your report may take 48 hours to appear in your Evolve account.

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No! You cannot see your past answers in each section. Once you click next on a question, you are unable to backtrack. You are allowed to pick which sections you take first though.

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The cost of the exam depends on where you take it from, but it can vary from $35 to $100, often around $45 to $85.

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It depends on the school. Check your planned school's websites for their minimum requirements. The range can vary from 75% to 90%.

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We suggest bringing your ID and a jacket to the testing center, since it can get chilly!

Don't wear jewelry since they can be strict, and know where to park ahead of time. You want to save as much time as possible so you are on time, and reduce your stress load the day of.

Plan to arrive 30 minutes early if possible.

If you are taking both the TEAS and HESI, plan to take them close to one another! Many of the concepts overlap and will make studying for them so much easier.

There will be questions you may not know the answer to, and you should expect that. They are meant to be there to test your knowledge, and missing a few questions is normal!

For Math, study how to do conversions and conversion rates. You also get a whiteboard to write your work on! Just make sure to not erase anything since they are strict about that!

Look up common words to know for the Vocabulary section.

For Chemistry, make sure to glance over the periodic table and know general names of elements along with their masses. You will be asked to calculate molecular masses of compounds without a periodic table!

Do the sections that are easier for you first.

Don't brush over concepts you are good at since you may underestimate them on the day of the exam.

You do not need to complete A&P 1 and 2 before taking the A&P section on the exam! Some members suggest taking A&P 1 to get the basic concepts down, and using NurseHub to review the rest from A&P 2.

Have more questions? Contact our officers with the emails listed under the "Officers" tab! Have more questions or advice? Fill this form out

Have more questions? Contact our officers with the emails listed under the "Officers" tab!
Have more questions or advice? Fill this form out