HESI A2 entrance exam!!

I decided to take some time out of my day and share with you how I passed my exam Nursing Students HESI Article

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I do not have my HESI grade report with me because I accidentally closed down the tab after I was done taking the exam (I have to wait 24-48 hours for results to be posted online now SO DON'T CLOSE YOUR TAB ONCE YOU'RE DONE) but I do remember my overall grade, 86.7. I took READING, MATH, VOCABULARY, GRAMMAR, ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY, AND CRITICAL THINKING. On each section, my score was above an 80%, Anatomy was a 92%, and Critical Thinking was around 860 (can't really remember)! I am so happy though, especially because it was my first time taking the exam and the school I am applying to requires a 75-80% on each section and a 750 on critical thinking.

I used the HESI ASSESSMENT EXAM REVIEW, 4TH EDITION (HAER) as a study guide for each section.

READING

For reading, I honestly just read HESI ASSESSMENT EXAM REVIEW, 4TH EDITION. I did not do anything else but read the book since I wasn't really nervous about this section. This section on the exam was pretty smooth. However, I took almost an hour on this section because I wanted to make sure I understood everything. I can't really much say of this section since it was just pretty basic.

MATH

On this section, I took my time reading the HAER book. This section is BASIC MATH. Work on each sample questions even if you think you got it, that way it sticks in your head while you're learning other materials. This section on the exam was mainly proportions and ratios (honestly), work on those two mainly!! I felt like out of the 50 questions, there were 30 of these. There was also many %'s, e.g. (NOT COMING FROM THE TEST, JUST GIVING AN EXAMPLE FROM MY HEAD --> KATIE HAS 16 FRIENDS, 2 OF THEM ARE FEMALES, WHAT IS THE % OF FEMALE FRIENDS KATIE HAS?) Not many metric questions, I think it was a total of 4, BASIC, but learn them. I did not get ONE question of degrees conversion but if I were you, I'd still learn them. Got one question of converting military time to U.S. time. Honestly, DON'T stress on this section because you have a calculator on screen.

VOCABULARY

OK! Lets get serious! Who isn't nervous about this section? Even if you are so good in vocabulary, this is just random words picked out. BUT guess what?! The HAER book was helpful (LEARN THOSE, LITERALLY LEARN THEM AND KNOW THEM, TAKE YOUR TIME ON THOSE). I cannot say more than know those words. However, I felt like those words weren't enough, I knew the test was going to bring out words that weren't covered on the book and it did. I think it was like 20-30 question words that weren't on the book, on the test BUT *TA DA!* I found a great quizlet account! This girl went out of her way and put more words down and honestly like 15 of those words were on my test! She put down the book vocabulary down on this quizlet and added more words. If I were you, I'd go over the book first to just focus on those words and then go over her quizlet to review not only the same words that are on the book but new words that CAN be on your exam.

GRAMMAR

Some people tend to be so nervous on this section (I was) but honestly it was not so bad! I took my time on reading the HAER book and used a helpful website..

Grammar Bytes! Grammar Instruction with Attitude

This section was mainly on (pick the noun or phrase that is NOT used correctly), but A LOT of subject-verb agreement. Get the hang on S-VA. OK, I am feeling a little too happy so I am going to break down the subject-verb agreement for you guys!!

If your subject is singular then your verb will have an "s" on the end.

E.g. -> SHE (singular) plays.

If your subject is plural then your verb will not have a "s" on then end.

E.g. -> THEY (plural) play .

MULTIPLE SUBJECTS: OR/EITHER/NOR/NEITHER/AND

  • This AND that ---> plural verb
  • This AND those --> plural verb
  • This OR those ---> plural verb
  • Those OR this ----> Singular verb

How to choose if its singular or plural? GO BY CLOSEST TO THE VERB.

ANYONE, EVERYONE, SOMEONE, SOMEBODY, NO ONE, NOBODY, EACH, AND EVERYBODY WILL ALWAYS BE SINGULAR.

ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

HAER book!! Go over it and KNOW IT ALL, in depth. I also used these two helpful websites..

1. HESI Flashcards | Quizlet --> This Quizlet account basically broke down the book so go over this!! It will make you understand the book more.

2. Anatomy & Physiology --> Go over each chapter!! Go over the power points, SO HELPFUL. Literally. This is why I got an A on this section because questions that didn't come from the book, somewhat came from these power points!

I can't really tell you what was really on this section but questions derived from the book and power points.

CRITICAL THINKING

OK! Obviously this one is not in the book but this section was more like scenarios. All answers are correct, they just want to know (as a nurse) what would you do given the scenario. The better choice you pick, the more points you get.

EX: ONE PATIENT, 45 YEAR OLD MALE, E-MAILS YOU TO HANG OUT, WHAT WILL YOU DO??

OBVIOUSLY, PICK THE "KEEP THINGS PROFESSIONAL."

HONESTLY, DO NOT GET NERVOUS! I THINK THE BEST ADVICE I CAN GIVE YOU IS TO NOT BE NERVOUS, IS EITHER YOU KNOW IT OR YOU don't!

P.S. I ALSO USED "HESI A2 EXAM PREP 2016 EDITION- POCKET PREP, INC." APP, IT LOOKS PURPLE. I THINK IT WAS $12.00 BUT SO HELPFUL!! BUY IT!

That's all. Hope this helps!!!

HopefulNurseHeather said:
Hi!

Just took the HESI today! There is a basic calculator. Also, the is a 4.5 hr time limit (there is a count down timer on the test). It took me about 2.5 hrs, here are the sections I took:

96.8 overall

Math 100 - lots of fractions, percents. A few solve for 'x', ratios, and basic conversions (cm to m, m to kilometers)

Biology - 100 - seemed pretty straight forward. I haven't taken bio in 20 years... Studied with the 4th edition hesi book by Elsevier and that seemed good.

chemistry - 100- a few questions that I had to guess on - didn't have a periodic table and wanted one. But either I guess right, or those were the questions that are trial questions that aren't counted!

A&P - 92 - missed 2 questions one on bone calcification that I was second guessing myself, and didn't want to change my answer (guess I should have!) I've only taken a&p 1, so I reviewed the body systems using my medical terminology book and that was good.

vocab - 98 not hard. Everything was in a sentence format - so you could figure out the context even if you didn't know the word.

Grammer - 98 know it's vs. it's. Subject/verb agreement. Dependant/independent clause.

reading comprehension 90 this was my worst one! I took it last, and I was tired. Tricky questions about conclusions you could make... Some weird stuff. I knew this wasn't going to be as great for me, but still did find. The questions (for me) we either obvious or really weird!

I pretty much used the Elsevier 4 th edition book, and the pocket prep ap to study. I did as many questions online as I could find, studied for a little bit a day for a few weeks. Also reviewed material from my med terminology course, and a&p.

What type of medical terminology stuff did you review? I am extremely nervous about a&p/vocab section and didn't know if you could help anymore?!? Thank you!!!

mjwalsh12 said:
What type of medical terminology stuff did you review? I am extremely nervous about a&p/vocab section and didn't know if you could help anymore?!? Thank you!!!

I reviewed body region terminology, and system terminology (digestive system basics, endocrine, etc). I wasn't down in the weeds on random terminology. Good luck! I was using my med term book because it went over the systems in higher level detail... Not crazy specifics like anatomy. And I am just now in a&p 2... So I hadn't learned all the systems when I took the test.

HI i am sechudled to take HESI exam next month and for my school i don't i have to take physicas and chemistry part. I want to know that for Math part are you allowed to use caculator? plus the test is timed? how much time do you have for each section? what are the other source to practice quesions. I am working through right now HESI admiision assessment. Please someone let me know. Thank.

Got a 92% today with 5 days of study time. This thread delivers.

Hi how did you study? please let me know i have exam coming up?

I followed what the OP recommended. The HAER book has everything you need except for A&P. You will need a further in depth source. I used my textbook from my A&P classes.

I also purchased that pocket app; which I too highly recommend.

I almost forgot, there is a 3 1/2 hour long series of English courses from Mometrix that I used from YouTube.

Hey thanks for the respond .What is HEAR book i try search couldn't find anything . wher did you bought it can you send me link? Alsoi got pocket app for free on iphone its purple color right called pocket prep HESI A2? I have more issue with grammer and reading part english is second lagnuage. I am good with Physiology and antomy.

Sameraabid said:
Hey thanks for the respond .What is HEAR book i try search couldn't find anything . wher did you bought it can you send me link? Alsoi got pocket app for free on iphone its purple color right called pocket prep HESI A2? I have more issue with grammer and reading part english is second lagnuage. I am good with Physiology and antomy.

HESI ASSESSMENT EXAM REVIEW, 4TH EDITION (HAER)

And pay for the full version of the app. It should be $14.99. Well worth it.

Ramcharger310 said:
Got a 92% today with 5 days of study time. This thread delivers.

Would you mind I asked you a few quick questions--I take my test Thursday.

Do you remember much about Urinary system, Reproductive system, Cardiovascular system, or endocrine system on test? (You don't have to go into specifics just wanted a general idea)

Also, what about the muscular system?

For vocab--was the HAER book good enough? Or was it pretty easy to pick which word fit correctly?

how was the grammar and reading portion for you?!

thanks in advance!

Hey thank you i have HAER 4th adition , yes i paid for pocket prep app.. yes do you remeber the question or any info coz u just took test. we will appericate. Also i really stuggle with grammer part how did you study for that part ? how was on the exam?

Thank you guys for this thread. I just passed mine on Monday!

Hahaha grammar bytes is such a cool (and funny site)! Such detailed information!