An Overview of the HESI Exam for Nurses

What Is the HESI Exam? 

The HESI Exam, or Health Education Systems Incorporated Exam, is a standardized, online test that assesses your academic readiness for nursing programs and finishing nursing school. The HESI exam for nurses is actually two separate assessments. The HESI A2 (Admissions Assessment) serves as an entrance exam to screen nursing school applicants. The HESI Exit Exam evaluates how prepared students are for the NCLEX exam, the final step to becoming a licensed nurse. 

Understanding the HESI Entrance exam or the HESI A2 exam 

The HESI entrance exam, or HESI A2, is a computer-based test used by many nursing schools as an admissions test or as an exit exam to measure a student's readiness for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). The HESI A2 Exam’s principal purpose is to ensure that prospective nursing students have the necessary foundation to succeed in their education and ultimately in their nursing careers. 

The exam is comprehensive, divided into sections, and evaluates your knowledge and skills in various academic areas:  

• Reading comprehension 
• Vocabulary 
• Chemistry 
• Biology 
• Anatomy and physiology 
• Grammar 
• Basic math skills 

The HESI A2 also includes additional sections, such as critical thinking and a personality profile, which are important for assessing your potential success in a nursing program.  Though not all schools require new students to have taken the HESI A2 as part of the admissions process, it’s becoming more common. 

Some basic information regarding the HESI A2:

• Time limits vary by institution, but most give students anywhere from three to five hours to complete the exam. Each section of the exam has its own time limit.  
• Each section has anywhere from 25-50 questions, totaling around 330 questions. 
• You can take the HESI A2 once every 60 days but only three times every 12 months.  
• HESI A2 scores are only valid for two years. 
• The cost to take the HESI A2 varies but ranges from $35 to over $100. 

Understanding the HESI exit exam 

The HESI Exit Exam gauges a nursing student’s readiness to take the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN exams. Students will take either the HESI -RN Exit Exam or the HESI-PN Exit Exam depending on their path. The HESI Exit Exam is usually given during the last semester of nursing school, and the results can reveal those areas where a student may need remediation. It consists of between 75-150 questions divided across various subjects, depending on which version of the exam is given by the school. Though the HESI Exit Exam is not a pass/fail assessment, different schools require different scores to move forward. If you don’t pass, you’ll be able to retake it. You’ll need to check your school’s retake policy and waiting periods before you start planning your remediation strategy. It may not be necessary to retake the entire test and instead only retake certain sections. 

It’s important to know that the HESI Exit Exam covers the entire nursing school curriculum across three main subject areas: 

• Nursing process 
• Client needs 
• Specialty care 

Each of these subject areas are broken down into many subtopics, all of which you’ll have covered during your studies. It’s crucial to adequately study and prepare to maximize your chances of success and ultimately pass the NCLEX. 

Essential HESI exam study guide resources 

Preparing for the HESI exam requires a strategic approach, dedication, and the right resources. Here are some of the best study guide resources to help you master the HESI exam: 

• HESI Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN Examination: This review book by Elsevier provides a comprehensive overview of core nursing content areas. It includes practice questions and rationales for correct and incorrect answers to help students understand the concepts more thoroughly. 
• HESI A2 Study Guide: This guide by Trivium Test Prep offers a detailed content review, practice test questions, test-taking strategies, and step-by-step tutorials. It also includes a full practice test that simulates the real examination. 
• Mometrix Test Preparation: Mometrix offers a comprehensive HESI A2 study guide, flashcards, and practice test questions to help students prepare for the exam. The flashcards are particularly useful for visual learners. 
• Nursing School Study Groups: Collaborative learning can also be a useful tool. Joining a study group with peers can offer opportunities to discuss complex topics, share study strategies, and test each other on the course material. 

Don’t forget to also practice time management and test-taking strategies to ensure that you can complete the exam within the allotted time. 

Where to take the HESI exam 

The HESI exams are usually administered by the nursing schools themselves. However, if your school does not offer the HESI exam, you can take it at a Prometric testing center. Prometric is a trusted provider of technology-enabled testing and assessment solutions. They have testing centers across the United States and in other countries. Visit the Prometric website to find a testing center near you. Elsevier and Prometric have introduced a remote proctoring option called ProProctor, which allows students to take the HESI exams from the comfort of their homes while maintaining the integrity of the testing environment. 

The HESI Exam is a crucial step in your nursing journey and requires adequate preparation and study. By following these tips, you can improve your chances of passing and launching a promising nursing career.