HESI A2 (Admission Assessment Exam) Requirements & Prerequisites
Everything you need to know before registering for the HESI A2 (Admission Assessment Exam), eligibility, cost, format, and what to expect on exam day.
Cost
$45-$75
Provider
Elsevier (HESI)
Validity
Usually 2 years
Available
USA
Education
Check official exam requirements
Experience
6-12 months of relevant experience recommended
Specific Requirements
- No formal prerequisite from Elsevier. Eligibility is set by the program you are applying to.
- An Evolve account at evolve.elsevier.com created before you book a test date, as Estrella Mountain and Baylor both require.
- A submitted application at some schools. Chamberlain only lets applicants with a paid, approved application and a student ID number schedule the exam.
- Payment of the school's exam fee, which ranged from $45 at Estrella Mountain to $75 for online proctoring at Tarrant County College.
- Your program's department code, so the official score report routes to the right admissions office.
- For remote testing, a webcam, a microphone and a private room that meets ProctorU's requirements.
- For accommodations, documentation filed with the school's disability services office well before the test date.
Number of Questions
Varies by school. Section sizes are fixed: 55 items each for Mathematics, Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary and General Knowledge and Grammar, and 30 items each for Biology and Anatomy and Physiology.
Duration
Varies by school. Chamberlain University allots 3 hours for 170 items, Estrella Mountain Community College allots 4 hours, and Tarrant County College allots 5 hours for 250 items.
Question Format
Four-option multiple choice, Reading passages with several questions attached to one scenario, Computation items with an on-screen calculator supplied for the Mathematics section, Non-scored inventory items in the optional Learning Style and Personality Profile modules
Passing Requirement
Set by each program. Maricopa Nursing requires 75 percent in Mathematics and 80 percent on the English composite. Baylor University requires 80 or better on both the Math and English composites.
How It Is Delivered
Computer-based at a campus testing centre, at a Prometric test centre, or online with live remote proctoring through ProctorU
Languages Offered
English
Rules specific to this exam
- Programs choose which sections you sit. Chamberlain requires Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary and General Knowledge, Biology and Anatomy and Physiology, and no math or chemistry.
- Tarrant County College does not offer Biology, Chemistry, Personality Profile, Learning Styles or Critical Thinking at its centre, so section availability depends on the venue as well as the program.
- Baylor states that HESI A2 scores cannot be pieced together across attempts, so a program may read one sitting as a whole rather than taking your best section from each.
- Chamberlain requires remote-proctored candidates to finish within two business days of first opening the exam, after which the attempt submits as it stands.
Visit the official Elsevier (HESI) certification page
Create an account and select your exam
Choose a test center or online proctoring option
Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
Score Scale
Percent correct within each section, reported separately, with related sections averaged into composites such as the English composite formed from Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary and Grammar
Score You Need
Set by each program. Maricopa Nursing requires 75 percent in Mathematics and 80 percent on the English composite. Baylor University requires 80 or better on both the Math and English composites.
How It Is Calculated
Each section is scored on its own as a percentage of items answered correctly, then reported individually. Chamberlain provides a score for each required exam and combines them into sub-scores by academic area. An incomplete section that returns zero still counts as an attempt at Chamberlain but produces results the committee will not accept. Programs apply their own floors to the reported percentages.
When You Get Results
Tarrant County College states results are available 48 to 72 hours after the test. Scores taken under a school's department code route automatically to that admissions office.
In raw terms: On Chamberlain's 170-item configuration, an 80 percent English composite means roughly 88 correct across the 110 English items, and an 80 percent science result means roughly 48 correct across the 60 science items.
- The 0 to 1500 HESI score with an 850 benchmark applies to HESI specialty and exit exams, not to the A2 admission assessment.
- Baylor states that HESI A2 scores cannot be superscored or pieced together across attempts.
- The Learning Style and Personality Profile modules produce descriptive output rather than a percent score.
- If your program does not require a section you sat, Tarrant County College notes that your score on it is simply disregarded.
- Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo)
- Appointment confirmation email
- For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet
What are the prerequisites for the HESI A2 (Admission Assessment Exam)?
No formal prerequisite from Elsevier. Eligibility is set by the program you are applying to.. An Evolve account at evolve.elsevier.com created before you book a test date, as Estrella Mountain and Baylor both require.. A submitted application at some schools. Chamberlain only lets applicants with a paid, approved application and a student ID number schedule the exam.. Payment of the school's exam fee, which ranged from $45 at Estrella Mountain to $75 for online proctoring at Tarrant County College.. Your program's department code, so the official score report routes to the right admissions office.. For remote testing, a webcam, a microphone and a private room that meets ProctorU's requirements.. For accommodations, documentation filed with the school's disability services office well before the test date..
How much does the HESI A2 (Admission Assessment Exam) cost?
The HESI A2 (Admission Assessment Exam) exam costs $45-$75. This includes the exam fee only, study materials are additional.
How do I register for the HESI A2 (Admission Assessment Exam)?
Visit the official Elsevier (HESI) certification page → Create an account and select your exam → Choose a test center or online proctoring option → Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
What should I bring to the HESI A2 (Admission Assessment Exam)?
Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo). Appointment confirmation email. For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet.
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