HESI A2 Practice Test

This HESI A2 practice test helps you prepare for the Elsevier HESI Admission Assessment exam used by nursing schools to evaluate applicants. Schools select which sections to administer, so check with your target programs for specific requirements.

Try a free study preview

Sign-in required. The free preview includes one key idea, three notes, and one practice question. Full quiz generation requires StudySim Pro.

Generate from your own notesInstant feedback on answers

Sample HESI A2 questions

Try these practice questions to test your knowledge. Select an answer to see if you got it right.

HESI A2 Sample Questions

Practice quiz

1. A patient needs 0.75 grams of medication. The medication comes in 250 mg tablets. How many tablets should be given?

2. The medical term "tachycardia" refers to:

3. Which part of the cell contains the genetic material DNA?

4. What type of bond forms when electrons are shared between atoms?

5. Which sentence contains a grammatical error?

6. The term "subcutaneous" refers to:

7. Which organ system is primarily responsible for hormone production and regulation?

8. If 2/5 of the patients in a unit are male, what percentage is this?

9. A reading passage explains that antibiotic resistance is increasing. Which inference is most supported?

10. The mitochondria are often called the "powerhouse" of the cell because they:

11. Which chamber of the heart pumps oxygenated blood to the body?

12. A solution with a pH of 3 is considered:

0 of 12 answered

Original sample questions. Generate practice tests from your own notes inside StudySim.

Exam at a glance

The HESI A2 (Health Education Systems, Inc. Admission Assessment) is developed by Elsevier and used by nursing and health science programs. Schools choose which sections to administer from a pool of academic and personality assessments.

Detail	Information
Publisher	Elsevier
Available sections	Mathematics, Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, Grammar, Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy and Physiology, Physics
Section selection	Schools choose which sections to include
Format	Computer-based, multiple-choice

Source: Elsevier HESI · Last reviewed Oct 22, 2026

How to practice for HESI A2 with StudySim

Step 1
Gather your study materials
Upload your class notes, textbook PDFs, or lecture slides to a StudySim study space.
Step 2
Generate a practice quiz
Choose quiz settings and let StudySim create questions based on your actual course content.
Step 3
Review and repeat
Check your answers, identify weak areas, and generate new quizzes until you feel confident.

HESI A2 content areas

Mathematics

Basic math operations, fractions, decimals, percentages, ratios, proportions, and dosage calculations.

Reading Comprehension

Identifying main ideas, making inferences, and understanding vocabulary in context from written passages.

Vocabulary and General Knowledge

Medical terminology and general vocabulary used in healthcare settings.

Grammar

Sentence structure, punctuation, parts of speech, and standard written English conventions.

Anatomy and Physiology

Human body systems, organs, tissues, and physiological processes.

Biology

Cell biology, genetics, metabolism, and basic biological concepts.

Chemistry

Atomic structure, chemical reactions, the periodic table, and basic chemistry principles.

Study tips for HESI A2

Confirm required sections

Contact your nursing school to learn exactly which HESI A2 sections you need. Studying irrelevant sections wastes time.

Master medical terminology

Learn common prefixes (hyper-, hypo-, tachy-, brady-) and suffixes (-itis, -ectomy, -osis). These patterns help you decode unfamiliar terms.

Practice dosage calculations

Math questions often involve medication dosages. Practice converting between units and setting up proportions.

Review anatomy by system

Study body systems methodically: cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, nervous, endocrine. Know organs and their functions.

Use official Elsevier materials

Elsevier offers HESI study guides and practice assessments that align with actual exam content.

Clear answers

HESI A2 FAQ

How long is the HESI A2?+

The length depends on which sections your school requires. Each section has its own time limit. The full exam with all academic sections can take several hours.

Do all nursing schools require the same HESI A2 sections?+

No, schools choose which sections to administer. Common required sections include Math, Reading, Vocabulary, Grammar, and Anatomy and Physiology. Contact your target school for its specific requirements.

What is a passing score on the HESI A2?+

Each school sets its own minimum scores. Common thresholds range from 75% to 85%, but competitive programs may expect higher. Check with your target school.

How does the HESI A2 differ from the TEAS?+

Both are nursing admissions exams, but they differ in structure. The HESI A2 allows schools to select specific sections, while the TEAS has a fixed format with four sections. Different schools prefer different exams.

Can I use a calculator on the HESI A2?+

An on-screen calculator is typically provided for the math section. You generally cannot bring your own calculator.

How many times can I take the HESI A2?+

Retake policies are set by individual schools, not Elsevier. Some schools limit attempts or require waiting periods. Check with your target school for its policy.

Related study guides

Active Recall: What It Is and How to Do It (With Examples)How to Study Effectively: 6 Science-Backed Methods (2026)

Related practice tests

TEAS Practice Test CNA Practice Test NCLEX Practice Test

Ready to practice?

Generate a full HESI A2 practice test from your notes.

Upload your study materials to StudySim and create a personalized quiz that matches your course content.