About the Exam
Prospective students taking the HESI entrance exam will cover three areas: Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary and General Knowledge, and Grammar. It will take approximately three hours to complete all three sections. Prospective students must pass the exam and meet all other admissions requirements to be accepted.
- Direct Entry option into the Associate Degree in Nursing applicants require a cumulative score of 75% or higher.
- Practical Nursing program applicants must achieve a score of 70% or higher to successfully pass the exam.
- Medical Assisting program applicants need a score of 60% or higher to be admitted into the program.
Preparing for the Exam
To prepare for the HESI exam, refresh your knowledge on the following topics:
- Reading comprehension: multiple questions over a number of short readings
- Vocabulary: meaning and synonyms of English words, not medical terminology
- Grammar: correcting sentences, identifying correct/incorrect usage of words
Study Resources
- Textbook: HESI Admission Assessment Exam Review (4th Edition, Chapters 1-4)
- Websites
- www.HESIa2practicetest.com (similar to HESI testing interface)
- www.Test-Guide.com (select HESI from list of tests provided)
- www.KhanAcademy.org (great resource for any topic)
- Apps: HESI A2 Pocket Prep, Evolve Reach (by McGraw Hill)
Important Information about the Entrance Exam
- Arrive at HCN or the designated testing facility 15 minutes before your scheduled test time.
- Bring a valid photo ID.
- A calculator will be available on your computer screen for portions of the QAS exam.
- Scrap paper will be provided for you.