What is the HESI Exam and How Do You Prepare for it?

 

The HESI A2 is a 4-hour exam that some schools give to prospective nursing candidates. Schools may use this test to determine if the applicant qualifies for acceptance into their program. The exam also reveals information about candidates' learning styles, giving schools more information about incoming students.

Some schools customize the HESI for their program by excluding some information and determining their required passing score. If you are taking the HESI exam, contact your nursing program for more exam details.

Sections of the HESI A2 Exam

There are 326 questions on the HESI A2. The test includes eight different sections in the following subjects:

1. Reading Comprehension (47 questions, 60 minutes)

The reading section includes passages and subsequent questions about the content, main ideas, themes, and other reading concepts. It measures the student’s ability to read about medical and health situations and draw conclusions

2. Vocabulary (50 questions, 50 minutes) 

The HESI A2 A2 vocabulary portion contains questions about the meaning and use of vocabulary words, including health-related terms that should be familiar to the student.

3. Grammar (50 questions, 50 minutes) 

The HESI A2 grammar section checks for understanding of language, communication, and rules for words and sentence structure. The test covers the parts of speech, important grammar concepts, and typical grammatical errors.

4. Math ( 50 questions, 50 minutes)

The test asks questions about basic operations, decimals, ratios, fractions, military time, algebraic equations, roman numerals, measurements, and conversions. Physical calculators are not allowed, but a digital calculator is provided on-screen for math questions.

5. Biology (25 questions, 25 minutes) 

The biology section covers the plants, animals, and microorganisms. Test questions cover general biology basics, cellular respiration, photosynthesis, metabolism, biological molecules, cells, genetics, and DNA.

6. Anatomy and Physiology (25 questions, 25 minutes) 

The topics you will need to understand for this section include basic terminology, fundamental anatomy and body systems, anatomical planes and directions, and histology.

7. Physics (25 questions, 50 minutes) 

The physics section includes questions about friction, gravity, energy, Newton’s laws of motion, light, optics, and acceleration. 

8. Chemistry (25 questions, 25 minutes)

The HESI A2 chemistry section tests students on chemical equations, the periodic table, anatomic structure, chemical bonding and reactions, acids and bases, scientific notation, metric system, oxidation-reduction, and biochemistry. 

The HESI Exit Exam is a test given by nursing schools to determine if a student is prepared to pass the NCLEX as they approach graduation. Since graduates must pass the NCLEX to become licensed to practice as a nurse, schools make sure they're prepared for it by administering the HESI Exit Exam. Some schools even use it to determine whether students are eligible for graduation.

Elsevier states that the HESI Exit Exam predicts whether or not a student will pass the NCLEX exam with 98% accuracy.

HESI RN and LPN Exit Exams

There are 150 questions on the HESI RN Exit Exam. The HESI LPN Exit Exam has either 150 or 75 questions. Both exams aim to assess critical thinking and mimic their respective NCLEX.

As a similar test to the NCLEX, the HESI Exit Exam includes the following types of questions:

1. Multiple choice
2. Multiple responses
3. Fill in the blank
4. Drag/drop

HESI Exit Exam Topics

The subjects on the HESI Exit Exam are all subjects that are studied extensively in nursing school, and include:

1. The Nursing Process

• Assessment
• Nursing diagnosis
• Planning
• Implementation
• Evaluation

2. Client Needs

• Safe and effective environment
• Management of care
• Safety
• Infection control
• Health promotion 
• Psychosocial integrity
• Basic care and comfort
• Pharmaceutical and parenteral treatments

3. Specialties

• Nursing fundamentals
• Geriatrics
• OBGYN
• Medical-surgical
• Pediatrics
• Critical care
• Community health
• Mental Health

 

You must register to take any HESI exam, receive test results, register for distance exams, and make payments. To do this, you will also need to create a student account.

1. Step 1: Set up an account at https://evolve.elsevier.com/cs/ 
2. Step 2: Select “I’m a student.”
3. Step 3: On the next screen, select “Register for Distance Testing” 
4. Step 4: On the next screen, click “Register” and make the payment or provide a promotion code.

Keep in mind that your institution may have other instructions for you regarding making an Elsevier account and registering for a HESI exam. For example, some schools offer the exam online through Proctor U, and others have testing centers that allow you to take it in person.

Bottom Line: Check with your institution to see if it has any additional requirements for registration.

Studying for the HESI exam might seem like a monumental process now, but if you plan ahead and understand the details about the test, you can succeed! You will likely need to study for the HESI exam before getting into a nursing program, and again as you approach graduation. 

Here are some HESI study tips that will help you as you prepare for testing:

1. Know the Topics: Each program can decide which parts of the HESI exam it will give students. Additionally, each testable subject has a set number of questions and a time limit in which to complete them. Knowing what subjects your university tests will help you focus on areas of importance and practice completing each section in time.
   
   
2. Understand the Scoring System: HESI exams are scored from 100 to 1,000. The higher the score, the better. However, each nursing program may have its own criteria for passing the test. Talk to administrators in your program for more details.
   
   
3. Start with a Practice Test: HESI practice exams give you a feel for what the real test looks like and the types of questions you will see. After your practice exam, you should review the results to identify your strengths and weaknesses and figure out exactly what you should focus on to improve your score.
   
   
4. Follow a Study Schedule: This is not a test that you want to wait until the last minute to study for. Planning out your study time is going to allow you to take your time with the material and not rush at the last minute. It will also leave you less stressed when it is time for you to take your exam.
   
   
5. Develop Your Ideal Study Strategy: Several study methods exist to help you achieve a passing HESI score, including study guides, flashcards, written lessons, videos, and practice questions. Selecting the best method or methods that help you retain knowledge will optimize your study routine.
   
   
6. Take Your Exam Believing You Will Pass: Now that you have fully prepared yourself to pass this exam, be confident about it! Make sure to get a good night's rest and eat a healthy breakfast before you go to your exam. You got this! 

HESI offers its own “assignable and gradable” quizzes for self-practice. Self-quizzing throughout your nursing program will best prepare you for answering questions on your licensure exam. It also provides you with details on the subject areas you are underperforming in.

Several other companies also offer HESI prep courses online. Some of the most popular courses include:

1. Mometrics
2. Nursing.com*
3. Pocket Prep
4. Nursehub

Prep courses are an excellent way to prepare yourself for the NCLEX throughout your program. You can also focus your energy on taking practice tests that align with the coursework you are currently studying.

Prep courses allow you to answer thousands of potential test questions in the same topics you will be tested on during the HESI and NCLEX exams.

How Long Does it Take to Get Results?

You will receive your HESI score shortly after your exam. Your score and a remediation plan are sent to you within two weeks of completing the exam. 

What Happens if You Fail the HESI Exam? 

The HESI exam is not a traditional pass/fail exam. It gives you a numerical score between 100-1000. The higher the number, the better you performed on the exam. 

Your nursing institution may have a score that you must meet for program acceptance. You need to speak with your administrators to see what the minimum accepted score is. 

Most nursing schools require that students take the HESI before graduation to ensure they are ready to take the NCLEX. Many nursing programs require a score of 850 or higher because that indicates you will most likely pass the NCLEX.

If your score is too low, you will need to retake the exam. Before you do, make sure that you study with HESI prep courses that will help you perform better the next time. 

No matter what nursing program you go to, you will need to study to pass your courses and licensure exams. The HESI exams are a great tool to ensure that you have the necessary knowledge to earn licensure and perform as a nurse. The testing may seem daunting, but you will succeed if you study hard, focus, and use preparation courses.

HESI Exam FAQs

• How Many Questions Are on the HESI?
  

  • There are 326 questions on the HESI A2. Students may have up to 4 hours to complete the exam, depending on the nursing program. The HESI RN Exit Exam has 150 questions, and the HESI LPN Exit Exam has either 150 or 75 questions.

• How Many Times Can You Take the HESI Exam?
  

  • Students may take the HESI admission exam once every 60 days. However, there is a limit of 3 times per 12 months. Scores are valid for two years.

• Can You Use a Calculator for the HESI Exam?
  

  • You may not bring your own calculator. You are only allowed to use the calculator provided on your computer screen at exam time. 

• What is a Passing Score for the HESI Exam?
  

  • Passing scores for the HESI A2 are dependent on your nursing school program. Check with your program to see what passing requirements are. HESI Exit Exam scores provide the test taker with a prediction of how they will perform on the NCLEX. Nursing schools may also have their own passing score that students must achieve before graduation. In addition, some schools may only allow students to take the test a certain number of times, most commonly twice. 

• How Much Does the HESI Exam Cost?
  

  • HESI exam costs depend on the institution offering the exam. However, they usually range between $40 to $100 or more.

• Why Do You Need to Take the HESI Exam?
  

  • Many schools require applicants to take the HESI A2 exam as part of their admissions process. As students near graduation, the HESI Exit exam is a way to predict success on the NCLEX exam. The HESI exam also helps students find the areas where they need to improve before taking the NCLEX exam.

• Is Scratch Paper Allowed on the HESI?

  • Yes, typically you will get one piece of scratch paper. At home testing also allows you to have scratch paper. Make sure to show your online proctor that you have scrap paper and how much scrap paper that you have.

• Can I Return to Previous Questions?

  • No, HESI does not allow test-takers to return to previous questions once answered.