HESI-A2 Test Advice!!

Published

Hello all, thank you for taking the time to read this! I am hoping to be a Nursing student in the Spring of 2017 and the last thing I need to do before applying is to take my HESI-A2 test! I need some advice from some of you all who have already taken the test and can help alleviate some of my fears.

1. What is the testing environment like? I understand it is taken on the computer, but how was the place you took it at? Did you take the test at the same time as other people, or were you on your own? Was the proctor looking over your shoulder the whole time, or much more relaxed and leaving you to focus?

2. The schools I'm appplying to do not require the Physics, Biology, or Chemistry sections for admission. Do I still have to complete those sections on the test? Or can I skip them, since my schools do not require those three sections?

3. Did you feel rushed? I have done some practice tests and keep finishing quite early.. I am worried that the real test will feel much quicker, is that true?

4. Is is true that the anatomy sections this year contain a lot more questions about hormones and the endocrine system? MY A&P prof told me that, but I wanted to get a second opinion.

Thanks!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I recently took the HESI so I can talk about my experience with it. I got an 86 in my first try. I could have done better if I had left reading portion for last because I was low on sleep and the was an energy draining portion because I have the tendency to want to read word for word.

1) The testing environment for me was a computer lab and you had to login with an access code. The instructors would randomly come in and out of the room, but it was not distracting whatsoever, they were very quiet about it.

2) the access code they will give you was like the already modified Hesi for the sections that I was needed. The sections not required did not show up. I also did not have to take Physics and Chemistry. So basically you have a work list type of situation and you take the test in whatever manner you are most comfortable in. Will you be taking your Hesi at the school affiliated with the nursing school? if so, they pre-filters all the sections you do not need. There is also some personality/ learning type sections that are like scenarios on how you would handle situations but those arent graded.

3) Yes, The test can be finished earlier. We were given 5.5 hours to complete the exam, I finished in 2.5 hours.

4) The A&P section is very superficial information. I do not think they ever went into detail. I think the most they asked were about joint classifications.. To prepare for A&P I just watched the A&P portion of the CrashCourse youtube videos and I stopped at the Nervous System. There was no other questions beyond this point, if there were, I was able to narrow down the answers from previous knowledge. Seriously don't stress a whole lot over it. Just know overall information. --- What I would say to focus on are Basic Biology concepts ( K+/Na+ pumps, Aerobic Respiration, know about the Phospholipid Bilayer, etc), review Vocab for the reading/grammar portion, and know how to do basic proportions, and simple A&P concepts -- there is only 25 questions for A&P section

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hello!

First let me start by saying don't stress! It is literally stuff you learned in grade school, middle school, and high school. You will be fine! I used the HESI-A2 study book found on Amazon. It prepared me very well for the exam and I earned a score somewhere in the 90s!

1. Testing environment: I was in a room with several other potential nursing students. I checked in with my ID and sat at a computer. The proctor wasn't looking over my shoulder. She actually sat at the front desk and occasionally walked around but I didn't feel like she was hovering. I was very relaxed but I also don't have test anxiety either.

2. Our school also did not require Physics, Biology, or Chemistry. They will set the exam up so you only take the sections required. You won't even see the sections you don't need to take (at least I didn't).

3. I did not feel rushed. I took my time and finished much earlier than a lot of people. It went by fast but when I looked up, nearly 3 hours had passed.

4. I did not have to take anatomy for my A2 but again, if you study the HESI-A2 sections in the study book, you will do just fine!

Good luck. You got this!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

1. What is the testing environment like? I understand it is taken on the computer, but how was the place you took it at? Did you take the test at the same time as other people, or were you on your own? Was the proctor looking over your shoulder the whole time, or much more relaxed and leaving you to focus?

I took the test with ~50 other people. There was 1 teacher's aide monitoring us.

2. The schools I'm applying to do not require the Physics, Biology, or Chemistry sections for admission. Do I still have to complete those sections on the test? Or can I skip them, since my schools do not require those three sections?

You can skip them.

3. Did you feel rushed? I have done some practice tests and keep finishing quite early... I am worried that the real test will feel much quicker, is that true?

Didn't feel rushed at all. I finished with ~30 minutes left (we were given 4 hrs). Math was definitely the most time consuming section. There were a bunch of long division and multiplication problems and we weren't allowed calculators.

4. Is is true that the anatomy sections this year contain a lot more questions about hormones and the endocrine system? MY A&P prof told me that, but I wanted to get a second opinion.

No, there didn't seem to be a focus on hormones or the endocrine system.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion