HESI Admission Assessment · admissions prep
HESI A2 practice built around the subjects your school requires
HESI A2 preparation should begin with your program's admissions checklist. Unlike a single fixed four-section exam, HESI A2 can be assembled from subject modules selected by the school. Study the modules you actually need, diagnose weak areas, and remediate before adding more practice volume.
HESI A2 subjects to prepare
Elsevier's current HESI Admission Assessment review covers the following academic subject areas. Your school may assign all or only some of them, so do not build your schedule until you have verified the current requirement for each program you plan to apply to.
Mathematics
Fractions, decimals, ratios, proportions, conversions, and applied calculations
Reading Comprehension
Main ideas, details, inference, purpose, and passage interpretation
Vocabulary
Meaning in context, healthcare-oriented vocabulary, and word knowledge
Grammar
Sentence structure, usage, agreement, punctuation, and standard English conventions
Biology
Cells, biological molecules, metabolism, genetics, and core biological concepts
Chemistry
Matter, atoms, periodic concepts, reactions, equations, and chemical foundations
Anatomy & Physiology
Terminology, structures, body systems, function, and integrated physiology
Step 1: get your school's exact HESI A2 module list
Do this before buying a study schedule or copying another applicant's plan. Elsevier's faculty scoring guidance treats HESI A2 subjects as separate exams and notes, for example, that anatomy and physiology, biology, and chemistry may or may not be required depending on curriculum prerequisites. Your target program is therefore the authority on which modules and score thresholds apply to your application.
Step 2: use practice as a diagnostic, not a scoreboard
- Test one required subject at a time. Small sets make the weak module obvious.
- Classify each miss. Decide whether the problem was knowledge, calculation setup, vocabulary, reading interpretation, or careless execution.
- Review the lesson that fixes that error type. Re-reading every chapter is usually less efficient than targeted remediation.
- Use unseen questions next. You want transfer of knowledge, not memory for a previous answer.
- Add timed mixed practice only after the individual modules stabilize.
Math and reading: build reliable processes
In math, identify whether errors come from fractions and decimals, ratios and proportions, unit conversion, algebraic setup, or arithmetic. In reading, practise locating the main idea, supporting detail, inference, purpose, and meaning from context rather than answering from outside knowledge.
Vocabulary and grammar: practise in context
Build vocabulary through roots, prefixes, suffixes, context clues, and repeated retrieval. For grammar, focus on sentence structure and standard usage rules, then apply them to short questions rather than memorizing isolated definitions.
Science modules: review only what your program assigns
If your program requires anatomy and physiology, biology, or chemistry, start with concept mastery and then use questions to expose weak systems or principles. If your program does not require one of those modules, do not let generic HESI study advice consume time you could spend on an assigned subject.
Not sure whether your programs use HESI A2 or TEAS?
Use the TEAS vs HESI A2 comparison to see where the exams overlap and where your study plan needs to diverge.
Verify official HESI information and your school requirements
NurseNest is independent practice. Elsevier's current HESI Admission Assessment review is the publisher source for the tested subject areas, while your nursing program determines which modules and admissions thresholds it requires. Review Elsevier's current HESI A2 review and your program's current admissions page before finalizing your study plan.
Practise the modules that actually count for your application
Start with your weakest required subject, remediate the concept behind every miss, and retest with new questions.
Start HESI A2 practiceHESI A2 practice FAQ
What subjects are on the HESI A2?
Elsevier's current HESI Admission Assessment review covers mathematics, reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, biology, chemistry, and anatomy and physiology. Your school may require only a selected set of modules, so verify its current admissions requirements.
Does every nursing school require the same HESI A2 sections?
No. Elsevier's faculty guidance describes separate subject exams and notes that science modules may or may not be assigned depending on a program's prerequisites.
How should I use HESI A2 practice questions?
Start with the exact modules your school requires. Use small diagnostic sets to identify weak subjects, review the underlying concept, then use new questions to confirm improvement before adding timed mixed practice.
Is this an official Elsevier HESI exam?
No. NurseNest is an independent study platform. Verify official HESI information with Elsevier and verify the modules and score requirements directly with your nursing program.