Naxlex HESI A2 Guide: Pass the HESI Admission Assessment
Nurseclex Editorial Team · Updated · 9 min read · Written around the NCSBN test plan
Short answer
The HESI A2 is an entrance exam many nursing schools use instead of the TEAS. Schools choose which sections you take — commonly math, reading comprehension, vocabulary and general knowledge, grammar, and anatomy and physiology. Find out your school's required sections first, then study each one with timed practice.
Key takeaways
- Your school decides which HESI A2 sections you take.
- Vocabulary includes many medical and health-care terms.
- Math focuses on fractions, ratios, conversions and dosage-style problems.
- Many schools look for scores of 75–80% or higher per section.
HESI A2 sections
Academic sections can include Mathematics, Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary and General Knowledge, Grammar, Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy and Physiology, and Physics. There is also an unscored learning-style and personality profile.
Because sections vary by school, confirm the list with your admissions office before you build a plan.
How to study for the HESI A2
Vocabulary is the easiest section to raise quickly: learn 10 to 15 health-care words a day, such as 'lateral', 'distended', 'impending' and 'exacerbate'.
For math, practice military time, household-to-metric conversions and ratio problems until you can do them without a calculator.
- Confirm required sections
- Daily vocabulary flashcards
- Timed math drills
- One full practice test per week
Practice questions
1. Which word best describes a wound that is 'distended'?
Answer and rationale
Correct: A. Distended means swollen or enlarged from internal pressure — a common HESI A2 vocabulary term.
2. Convert 1830 military time to standard time.
Answer and rationale
Correct: C. Subtract 1200 from times after noon: 1830 − 1200 = 6:30 p.m.
Frequently asked questions
Is the HESI A2 harder than the TEAS?
They test similar skills. HESI A2 includes more vocabulary and lets schools choose sections; TEAS has a heavier science section.
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Sources
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