Elsevier says programs can give all seven HESI A2 academic exams or choose fewer, so two students applying to different schools can sit very different tests. Ask your program which exams it requires before you start studying.
Scored questions and time for each exam
These numbers come from Elsevier’s 2022 research paper on the A2, which lists the scored questions and an estimated time to finish each exam.
| Exam | Scored questions | Estimated minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Reading comprehension | 50 | 60 |
| Vocabulary and general knowledge | 50 | 50 |
| Grammar | 50 | 50 |
| Basic math skills | 50 | 50 |
| Anatomy and physiology | 25 | 25 |
| Biology | 25 | 25 |
| Chemistry | 25 | 25 |
If your school gives all seven, that adds up to 275 scored questions and about 285 minutes of estimated time.
TODO: Elsevier doesn’t publish a current candidate guide with total question counts, unscored questions or an official time limit. The paper says new items are pilot tested, so the exam you sit likely has more questions than the scored count. Confirm with a school testing center before launch.
Where you take it
You take the HESI A2 at your school, at a Prometric test center or online with Prometric’s remote proctoring, depending on what your program offers.
Other sections you may hear about
If your registration lists any section beyond these seven, ask your program how it’s used. TODO: some school pages list learning style and personality profile sections. Elsevier’s current pages don’t mention them, so verify before saying anything about them.
Sources
- Elsevier, Scientific evidence for the HESI Admission Assessment (A2) (2022). The seven academic exams, scored questions and estimated minutes for each, schools choose the exams. Checked October 15, 2026.
- Elsevier, Admission Assessment Exam Review, 6th edition. The same seven subjects in Elsevier’s current review book. Checked October 15, 2026.
- Elsevier Support Center, HESI Admission Assessment testing options. Testing at a Prometric center or by Prometric remote proctoring. Checked October 15, 2026.