HESI Entrance Exam 2026

HESI Exam at a Glance

Facts verified Oct 20, 2026 against Elsevier. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.

Free HESI (ATI) Study Tools

Interactive HESI (ATI) resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:

• HESI Math Practice Exam 2 — 30 questions with instant scoring and answer explanations
• HESI (ATI) flashcards — review key terms and concepts card by card
• HESI (ATI) study guide — topic-by-topic overview of what the exam covers
• HESI (ATI) cheat sheet — one-page printable summary for last-minute review

📝 How do we prepare for the entrance test?

You can do a lot of things when preparing for the HESI A2 entrance exam. It is vital that you would be able to partake in the exam and be ready for it. No amount of studying is enough if you haven’t read and used study guides or practice tests. The HESI questions will determine whether you are ready to be enrolled in a nursing school. Practice with the free HESI (ATI) practice test on PracticeTestGeeks (30 questions with answer explanations).

The book, HESI A2  Secrets Study Guide, shows the many study strategies that you can apply when taking the test:

Candidates can also sharpen their skills with our TEAS practice test 2026, which includes hundreds of practice questions in a format similar to nursing-school entrance exams.

Many readers pair this guide with the hesi a2 study guide free printable to check their readiness before exam day.

1. You need to know everything you can about the test. You have to gather a lot of study materials and research course outlines that you can get a hold of. You need to have the right preparation so you won’t feel any kind of anxiety.
2. When you are making use of HESI books and other materials, it is crucial that you map it out. It means that you need to divide the things that you should read per day or the chapters or sections. You have to know the things that you need to go through in the material since your time is limited.
3. You need to know the study environment that you are comfortable in. Not everyone has the same study habits. Some people prefer to study alone while others need to be with a group of people to study in order to ask questions or compare notes. You need to find something that works for you. You must also free yourself from a lot of distractions. You need to avoid electronic devices and have the discipline to concentrate whenever you are studying.
4. It’s important that you study without stressing yourself out. You should avoid burnouts and instead rest when needed. You don’t need to study all the time. You can take breaks whenever you feel that you are not retaining any information well. Also, it is not healthy to sit around all day. That’s why you can take walks if you want or do things that make you feel relaxed.
5. Practice tests are the best source of study material. It is because, through them, you get to master the material and know beforehand the test format. You can make use of them by taking one untimed, and then the next one will be timed. It is so that you’ll know the pace that suits you and which type of questions you have a hard time with.

How much does it cost to take the HESI exam?

💭 HESI Questions

The cost of the HESI exams varies depending on the various colleges and universities as part of the admissions process. The costs may range from $40 to $100. You have to search first the requirements before you can start taking the tests.

What's the difference between HESI and NCLEX?

The main difference between HESI and NCLEX exams is their purpose. Many institutions use the HESI A2 admission assessment exam as either a nursing entrance exam or a preparation for the NCLEX. The NCLEX, on the other hand, tests the knowledge and experience of an applicant so that public health protection may be maintained. 

Do I have to take the HESI A2 for every nursing school that I apply to?

It is not necessary since it is a standardized test. You can use the score that you already have to apply to other nursing schools. But, it is also necessary to check their requirements. They might have different conditions. You also need to know which sections of the HESI A2 that each school requires because you are not required to take them all.

What is HESI score range?

The HESI Admission Assessment (A2) exam is scored as a percentage for each section (0-100%), not on a fixed point scale — your score report shows an individual percentage per section plus a composite score. (Note: this differs from the separate HESI Exit Exam used later in nursing programs, which uses its own conversion-score system.) Passing thresholds are set by each nursing program, so check your school's specific requirement.

Can I take the HESI exam anywhere?

The HESI A2 is typically administered on-site at the nursing or allied health program you are applying to, using Elsevier's Evolve Reach testing platform — not at third-party testing centers. Some schools also offer a remote-proctored option. Contact your specific program for its exact testing location and scheduling process.

What is HESI score conversion?

Your conversion score is a weighted percentage that takes into account the exam's average difficulty as well as the test items you answered. The conversion score may be utilized as part of your course mark depending on how your faculty uses this exam.

How many questions are on HESI grammar?

Students have 50 minutes to complete the HESI grammar test, which consists of 50 questions.

Pros and Cons at a Glance

Sample HESI (ATI) Practice Questions

Try these questions from our free HESI (ATI) practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.

1. If Angel ________________ the module like she was supposed to, she would have known what was on the exam.

   • A. shouldn’t have read
   • B. had read
   • C. will have read
   • D. would have read

Answer: B. had read

This sentence uses the third conditional structure, which describes a hypothetical situation in the past and its hypothetical result. The 'if' clause requires the past perfect tense ('had read') to indicate a condition that did not occur in the past. The main clause then uses 'would have known' to express the consequence.

Answer: A. 7 males

First, determine the proportion of male students. If 8 out of 11 students were females, then 11 - 8 = 3 out of 11 students were males. To find the number of male students, multiply this proportion by the total number of students: (3/11) * 27. This calculation yields 81/11, which is approximately 7.36. Rounding to the nearest whole number, there were 7 male students.

Answer: A. 4.5 gallons

To convert ounces to gallons, you need to know that 1 gallon is equal to 128 ounces (since 1 gallon = 4 quarts, 1 quart = 2 pints, and 1 pint = 16 ounces, so 4 * 2 * 16 = 128 ounces). To find how many gallons are in 576 ounces, divide 576 by 128. This calculation results in 4.5 gallons.

Answer: B. 35 in.

To convert a measurement from centimeters to inches, you divide the centimeter value by the conversion factor of 2.54 centimeters per inch. Therefore, 88.9 cm divided by 2.54 cm/inch equals exactly 35 inches.

Take the full HESI (ATI) practice test