Nursing school admissions · HESI A2
The HESI A2 is not one exam — it's a menu your school orders from
Elsevier's Admission Assessment (A2) is a set of separately scored subject exams. Your nursing program chooses which modules you take, what score you need, and how retakes count — and documented programs genuinely disagree on all three. Before you study anything, get your program's exact requirements in writing.
We don't sell what isn't built — there is no HESI pricing or question bank to buy here yet.
Three real programs, three different exams
All three of these module lists come from the schools' own published requirements. Notice that no two agree — on the modules, the cut-score model, or which attempt counts.
| Program | Required modules | Score requirement | Retakes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germanna CC (VA) | Reading, Vocabulary, Math, Chemistry, A&P, Critical Thinking | Set by program | Max twice, ≥14 days apart |
| SUNY Ulster (NY) | Reading, Grammar, Vocabulary, Math, A&P | 75% overall average | Twice per year — highest counts |
| UTHealth Cizik (TX) | Reading, Grammar, Vocabulary, Math, A&P, Biology, Chemistry | 85% recommended per section | Max twice — last counts |
What is consistent everywhere
- Each module is scored on its own, 0–100%, and your report collates them with a cumulative percentage. Non-academic modules (Learning Styles, Personality Profile) return a category — like “Visual” — not a score.
- You move forward only. Documented testing-center guidance: you cannot skip a question and cannot return to one you have answered. Each module is scored before the next begins.
- The calculator is provided on screen for the math module. You cannot bring your own.
- It is proctored, delivered through an Evolve account in Elsevier's secure browser. Leaving the exam mid-module can mean a proctor has to let you back in.
- Around four hours is the commonly documented overall limit, though timing structure can vary by school.
What to do with this
- Get your program's required module list, minimum scores, and retake policy from its own admissions page.
- Confirm whether the score requirement is a cumulative average or a per-section floor — they demand different study strategies.
- Ask whether your school counts the highest attempt or the most recent one before you decide to retest.
CARE is an independent exam-preparation provider. HESI® is a registered trademark of Elsevier Inc., which is not affiliated with and does not endorse CARE. School requirements above reflect those programs' published materials as of September 2026 and can change — always verify with the program.
Common questions about the HESI A2
How many sections are on the HESI A2?
There is no single answer, and that is the most important thing to know about this exam. Elsevier offers a set of subject modules — reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, mathematics, biology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology, physics, and critical thinking — and each nursing school chooses which of them its applicants must take. Two schools can both require 'the HESI A2' and mean different exams. Check your program's own admissions page for the module list it requires.
What is a passing HESI A2 score?
Elsevier publishes no national passing score. Each school sets its own required score, and schools often set different minimums for different modules or require a minimum average across the modules they selected. The requirement that matters is the one published by the program you are applying to.
Can I skip a question and come back to it?
No. The HESI A2 does not allow you to skip a question or return to an earlier one — you answer each question before moving forward. This is a meaningful difference from the ATI TEAS, which lets you move freely within a section while that section is open.
How is the HESI A2 different from the TEAS?
The TEAS is one fixed exam of 170 questions in four sections, timed section by section, reported as a single composite score. The HESI A2 is a set of modules your school selects from, timed as one overall sitting, and reported as a percentage for each module plus an average across them. They also differ on navigation: the TEAS allows movement within an open section, the HESI A2 does not.
Does the HESI A2 include a personality or learning-style section?
It can. Elsevier offers a Learning Styles assessment and a Personality Profile alongside the academic modules, and some schools include them. These report a category rather than a score and do not count toward an academic average.
Does CARE offer HESI A2 practice?
Not yet. HESI A2 preparation is in development. This page exists so applicants can find out which exam their program requires before paying for the wrong one — we would rather send you to the right exam than sell you the one we happen to have.