If you’re considering a career in the health sciences, you’ve probably heard of the HESI and HESI A2 tests. Admission to nursing school typically requires passing these tests. If you wish to enroll in the nursing program of your choice, you must be able to pass these exams.
In order to help you distinguish between the two tests and properly prepare for them, we will explain what is difference between HESI and HESI A2 in this post.
Let’s get started with our free HESI A2 practice test so you can ace the exam if you want to take the HESI A2.
What Is Difference Between HESI and HESI A2?
The Evolve Reach A2 and the HESI are different names for the Health Education Systems, Inc. Admissions Assessment (HESI A2). Individuals may be confused by this because there is another HESI test called the HESI Exit Exam that is notably different from the HESI A2.
| HESI A2 | HESI Exit Exam | |
|---|---|---|
| When is the test taken? | When applying to postsecondary nursing programs | Before or after graduating from a postsecondary nursing program |
| Purpose | Determine if the applicant meets the requirements for admission to a postsecondary nursing program. | Indicate the possibility of an individual passing the NCLEX licensing exams. May be used to decide whether or not a person is eligible to graduate from a nursing program. |
| Who takes the test | Colleges and universities | Individuals preparing for NCLEX May also be used by colleges and universities |
Now we will take a look at the details of each exam in the next paragraphs.
What Is The HESI A2?
Nursing schools utilize the HESI A2 test to assess applicants for admission to nursing programs. The HESI A2 is a multiple-choice examination with five scored exam subjects and one unscored personality evaluation. It is also known as the Evolve Reach Admission Assessment. Exam takers have a maximum of five hours and fifteen minutes to finish the exam.
The HESI A2 is divided into two sections: academic and personality. The academic section of the exam consists of eight subtests: math, reading, vocabulary, grammar, biology, physics, anatomy and physiology, and chemistry. The Learning Style Assessment and the Personality Profile are the two elements of the personality section of the test. Not all nursing schools require candidates to complete all components of the test. In addition, each school has its own admissions procedures and minimum score requirements.
HESI A2 content
The following are the HESI A2 content exams:
Reading Comprehension: Questions on the reading test assess a student’s ability to grasp health-related material. There are 47 questions to answer, and pupils have one hour to do so. Students must be able to understand word meanings, recognize major themes, make logical inferences, and comprehend texts.
Vocabulary and general knowledge: Students are given a list of vocabulary terms and are supposed to figure out what they mean. A lot of the vocabulary terms have to do with health. Students have 50 minutes to respond to 50 questions.
Grammatical: Students must demonstrate their understanding of fundamental grammar ideas. Students must demonstrate their understanding of parts of speech, common grammar mistakes, and key grammatical concepts. Students have 50 minutes to take the HESI grammar test, which consists of 50 questions.
Math: HESI math questions assess a candidate’s understanding of fundamental mathematical ideas. Math abilities are frequently assessed in regard to health-related events. The following arithmetic abilities are expected of students: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, proportions, ratios, and decimals. Questions on roman numerals, calculating doses, domestic measurements, and conversions will also be provided. The exam lasts 50 minutes and includes 50 questions.
Physics: General physics topics such as rotation, friction, gravity, energy, average speed, Newton’s Laws of Motion, projectile motion, light, optics, and acceleration will be covered in the physics test. Test takers get 50 minutes to complete a 25-question survey. Physics tests are generally only necessary for nursing schools that require Physics as a prerequisite.
Biology: The biology questions cover topics such as biology fundamentals, cellular respiration, photosynthesis, metabolism, biological molecules, and cells. Students have 25 minutes to finish the HESI biology test, which consists of 25 questions. All nursing programs do not require the biology exam.
Anatomy and Physiology (A&P): The A&P exam is short for Anatomy and Physiology. The A&P test assesses a student’s knowledge of basic Anatomy and Physiology concepts such as anatomical systems, structures, and nomenclature. Students have 25 minutes to answer all 25 questions. All nursing programs do not require the A&P test.
Chemistry: Students’ understanding of basic chemistry principles is tested. The periodic table, chemical equations, atomic structure, chemical bonding, nuclear chemistry, and chemical reactions are among the topics on which students are tested. The exam lasts 25 minutes and has a total of 25 questions. Only nursing schools that require chemistry as a prerequisite normally require the chemistry test.
Testing requirements
Testing requirements differ from one school to the next. Although there are nine HESI A2 examinations in total, some institutions only need students to take four of them, while others demand them to finish seven or more. The number of questions that a test-taker will be required to answer can vary widely, and schools may allot different amounts of time for test-takers, so each applicant for a nursing school should verify the specific requirements for the college or university where they will take the exam.
Requirements for scoring
Specific scoring requirements differ from one school to the next. Some schools want students to get certain test scores on individual assessments. Others are more concerned with composite scores, which represent the test-overall taker’s average score across all of the examinations. Others require both individual and composite scores. Some colleges, such as Miami Dade College in Florida, would only examine candidates with a composite score of 65% or above. In comparison, Phoenix College in Arizona requires candidates to have an English composite score of 80%, as well as a minimum of 75% on the math exam. Read more about HESI scores at How is the HESI A2 Exam Scored?
Test resources
The 109 lessons that make up the HESI Admission Assessment Exam Course are available to those studying for the HESI A2. Individuals can study through appropriate review material online before taking the HESI A2 tests in this self-paced course.
What Is the HESI Exit Exam?
The HESI Exit Exams are designed by many Nursing schools to assess a student’s preparation for the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN exams. Elsevier created the HESI Exit Exams, which are designed to correspond to the most current NCLEX test plans. Exams are usually given during the last semester of a PN or RN program. The HESI test results are utilized by both the school and the student to determine strengths and weaknesses, as well as any remedial requirements. Before graduating from most nursing programs, students must pass the HESI Exit Exam. Success on the HESI Exit Exam is an accurate predictor (up to 98%) of success on the NCLEX exam, according to many studies.
The HESI Exit Exams are intended to assess a student’s knowledge of the full Nursing program. There are 150 questions on the HESI RN Exit Exam. Either 150 or 75 questions can be found on the HESI LPN Exit Exam. HESI questions are designed to imitate the sorts of questions encountered on NCLEX tests and are generally focused on critical thinking. Multiple choice, multiple answers, fill in the blank, hot spots, charts, and drag-and-drop questions can all be found on the exit exam.
HESI exit exams contents
The HESI Exit Exams are a comprehensive assessment of the Nursing program. The following are the main areas that were put to the test:
Nursing Process: Assessment, Analysis, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation.
Client Needs: A Safe/Effective Environment, Care Management, Safety, and Infection Control, Psychosocial Integrity, Physiological Integrity, Health Promotion and Maintenance, Basic Care and Comfort, Pharmaceutical and Parenteral Therapy, Risk Reduction Potential, Physio Adaption.
Specialty Area: Community Health, Geriatrics, Maternity, Medical-Surgical, Pathophysiology, Critical Care, Fundamentals, Pediatrics, Professional Issues, Psychiatric/Mental Health.
Testing requirements
The HESI Exit Exams are divided into two categories. Which one a person chooses is determined by the sort of nursing program they are enrolled in. Individuals enrolled in a registered nursing program should take the HESI RN Exit Exam. The HESI LPN Exit Exam is taken by students preparing to become licensed practical nurses. The number of questions ranges from one to the next. The HESI Exit Exam for RNs always comprises 150 questions; however, the LPN Exit Exam has two versions. The first has 75 questions, while the second has 150.
Requirements for scoring
Individuals who are required to take the HESI Exit Exams as part of a college or university program must achieve their school’s specific score standards. Galveston College in Texas, for example, wants prospective graduates to get a 900 on the exit test.
Because the HESI Exit Exam is not a formal requirement, individuals who choose to take it to see whether they are ready to take the NCLEX do not need to achieve a set score; nonetheless, a minimum score of 900 is considered a strong signal that the person is ready to take and pass the NCLEX.
Test resources
Preparing for the NCLEX exams before taking the HESI Exit Exams will assist guarantee individuals to pass the Exit Exams since they reflect how prepared an individual is to take their NCLEX licensure exam. The NCLEX-PN Practice & Study Guide and NCLEX-RN Practice & Study Guide are meant to assist students in working through dozens of courses that cover information that will be covered on these tests prior to their test day. So studying for both the HESI vs NCLEX at the same time is an excellent way to pass both.
The Bottom Line
Before taking any exam, it’s critical to understand what will be covered and to clear up any questions you may have. There will undoubtedly be a number of people curious about what is difference between HESI and HESI A2.
In this case, we did the work for you. All the key distinctions between the HESI and HESI A2 tests that you need are covered in the aforementioned post. We appreciate you reading.