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HESI A2 practice questions that explain why.

The HESI A2 (Admission Assessment) is Elsevier's entrance test. Schools choose the sections they require, most often Math, Reading, Vocabulary and Grammar, sometimes Biology, Chemistry and Anatomy and Physiology. Four options, no penalty.

Last reviewed: October 12, 2026

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4,900+HESI A2 questions with explanations

901Mathematics

841Reading Comprehension

912Vocabulary and General Knowledge

896Grammar

448Biology

448Chemistry

470Anatomy and Physiology

Blueprint

What the HESI A2 looks like

Section	Items	Minutes	What it covers
Mathematics	50	50	Fractions, decimals, ratios, percentages, conversions, dosage basics
Reading Comprehension	47	60	Main idea, details, inference, author purpose, word meaning in context
Vocabulary and General Knowledge	50	50	Health care and academic vocabulary in context
Grammar	50	50	Parts of speech, agreement, pronouns, commonly confused words
Biology	25	25	Cells, respiration, photosynthesis, genetics, macromolecules
Chemistry	25	25	Atomic structure, bonding, reactions, acids and bases
Anatomy and Physiology	25	25	Body systems, homeostasis, tissues and terminology
Total	sections chosen by your school · about 4 hours if all are required		Four options per item, no penalty for wrong answers

Tip 1

Check which sections your program requires before you plan; do not study all seven if only four count.

Tip 2

Math is the section most schools weigh; conversions and dosage-style ratios come up constantly.

Tip 3

Vocabulary and Grammar are fast points: short daily sets beat long weekly sessions.

Blueprint numbers follow the publicly available test descriptions and may change; confirm current details with the test maker and your school.

Sample items from our pool

Two practice questions, with the explanation you get on every item

Vocabulary and General KnowledgeSample

Because the young patient's bones were still malleable, the fracture was expected to heal with fewer complications than an adult's would. What does 'malleable' most nearly mean as used in this sentence?

Aeasily shaped or influenced

Brigid and inflexible

Cunusually strong

Dfragile and brittle

Show the explanation

Malleable means easily shaped or influenced. A child's bones are more flexible and still growing, so a fracture is expected to heal and remodel with fewer complications.

Why the other options are wrong:
B: Rigid and inflexible is the opposite of malleable and would not explain easier healing.
C: Unusually strong describes strength, not the ability to bend or be shaped.
D: Fragile and brittle bones break easily, which would not explain smoother healing.

MathematicsSample

A medication order reads: 'Give 0.5 mg per kg of body weight.' The patient weighs 154 lb. How many milligrams should the nurse administer? (Round to the nearest whole number.)

A140 mg

B70 mg

C35 mg

D350 mg

Show the explanation

Convert pounds to kilograms: 154 lb ÷ 2.2 = 70 kg. Then multiply by dose: 0.5 mg/kg × 70 kg = 35 mg.

Why the other options are wrong:
A: 140 mg results from using the weight in pounds (154) and multiplying by 0.5 then rounding? 154×0.5=77, not 140. Alternatively, 140 is 2×70, so it might come from forgetting to divide by 2.2 and then multiplying by 2?
B: 70 mg results from using pounds as kilograms (154 × 0.5 = 77, but 70 is close to 77? Actually 154×0.5=77, not 70. This option might be chosen if one forgets to convert and uses 70 as kg? No, 70 is the kg weight, so 70 mg would be 1 mg/kg, not 0.5. The distractor is plausible if one multiplies 0.5 by 140 (2×70) incorrectly.
D: 350 mg results from multiplying 70 kg by 5 (instead of 0.5).

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HESI is a registered trademark of Elsevier Inc. AdmitNurse is not affiliated with or endorsed by the test maker. Items are original practice questions, not actual exam content.

FAQ

Questions people ask about the HESI A2

How many questions are on the HESI A2?

There is no single answer, because the HESI A2 is a set of eight subject exams and your nursing program chooses which ones you sit. Individual subject exams typically run from about 25 items for the science subjects up to about 50 for Math, Vocabulary and Grammar.

Which sections will my school require?

That is set by the program, not by Elsevier. Most programs require between four and six subject exams, and the usual core is Math, Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary and General Knowledge, and Grammar, often with one or more of Biology, Chemistry and Anatomy and Physiology.

How long is the HESI A2?

Each subject exam is timed separately and most take 25 to 50 minutes, so the total depends on your combination of sections. Programs commonly allow up to about four hours for a full sitting.

What score do I need to pass the HESI A2?

Elsevier does not set a passing score. Each nursing program sets its own minimum, usually as a cumulative percentage across the sections it requires, and some add a separate minimum for Math or Reading.

Is there a penalty for guessing on the HESI A2?

No. Wrong answers do not subtract points, so answer every question.

Can I use a calculator on the HESI A2?

An on-screen calculator is available for the Math section. Personal calculators are not permitted.

How many options does each HESI A2 question have?

Four. There is one correct answer per item.

Does the HESI A2 include a personality profile?

Many administrations include a learning style and personality profile alongside the academic sections. It is not scored as a pass or fail and does not change your cumulative score.

How many times can I take the HESI A2?

The retake rule comes from your nursing program rather than from Elsevier. Programs commonly limit attempts per admission cycle and require a waiting period between them.

When do I get my HESI A2 results?

The exam is computer based, so the score report is normally available immediately after you finish.