What is the point of HESI?

1. What is the purpose of the HESI exam?

The HESI (Health Education Systems, Inc.) exam serves as both an entrance assessment for nursing programs and a predictor of a student’s success in those programs. It evaluates candidates’ knowledge and skills across several subject areas to determine their readiness for the rigors of nursing education and their potential to pass licensure exams such as the NCLEX.

2. What are the different types of HESI exams?

There are primarily two types of HESI exams:

• HESI A2 (Admission Assessment): Used by nursing schools to evaluate the academic readiness of prospective students. It covers a wide range of subjects including math, reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, biology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology, and physics  .
• HESI Exit Exam: Administered towards the end of a nursing program to assess whether students are prepared to take and pass the NCLEX. This exam mirrors the content and format of the NCLEX to provide a realistic assessment.

3. Why do nursing programs use the HESI exam?

Nursing programs use the HESI exams to:

• Predict Student Success: The HESI exams are designed to predict a student’s performance in nursing school and their likelihood of passing the NCLEX.
• Assess Academic Readiness: The exams help schools determine whether applicants have the necessary academic foundation to succeed in their nursing programs.
• Identify Areas for Improvement: By identifying students’ strengths and weaknesses, the HESI exams can guide targeted remediation to help students succeed academically and professionally.

4. What subjects are covered in the HESI A2 exam?

The HESI A2 exam includes the following subjects:

• Mathematics
• Reading Comprehension
• Vocabulary and General Knowledge
• Grammar
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Anatomy and Physiology
• Physics (optional for some programs)

Additionally, it includes non-scored components like the Learning Style and Personality Profile sections, which help schools understand students’ learning preferences and personal characteristics.

5. How is the HESI exam scored and used?

Each section of the HESI exam is scored individually, usually on a percentage scale. There is no universal passing score; each nursing program sets its own benchmarks for what constitutes a passing score. Generally, scores below 75% are seen as needing significant improvement, while scores above 90% are considered excellent and indicative of strong readiness for nursing school and licensure exams.

For more detailed information and resources, visit Elsevier’s HESI page, Mometrix Test Preparation, and Union Test Prep.

---

Choose your Preferred Package

HESI A2 Packages Pricing. Save – Up to 70%+ Discount