How I passed the HESI A2 entrance exam :)

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Hello everyone!!! So I decided to take some time out of my day and share with you how I passed my exam. 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 DONT 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.

HESI A2 words Flashcards | Quizlet

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 DONT!!!

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!!!!! :)

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Moved to the HESI forum

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All of this info helped out so much! Thank you for that! I now have a better understanding of how the critical thinking section is graded! Do you happen to know how to view the critical thinking score because I cannot seem to find it. It wasn't on my grade report sheet. Also, I am not sure if I should retake my HESI?

My scores are:

Reading Comprehension: 88%

Grammar: 86%

Vocabulary & General Knowledge: 74% (Missed the recommended score by 1%)

A&P: 80%

Math: 80%

Overall score: 81.60%

Please give me your best advice!

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Thanks for the helpful information. I am taking the Hesi exam in Sept. So, you just studyed the Hesi Admission Assessment Exam 4th Edition.

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HEY GUYS!!!! the first link under Anatomy and physiology was wrong.

the QUIZLET LINK FOR ANATOMY IS

HESI Anatomy and physiology Flashcards | Quizlet

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Critical thinking does not show on the assessment report for some reason, have no idea why but some schools close down the score right after so you wont see them. You can request to get score but I think is $15, the only time you can really see that score is right after you just finished taking that section.

Well, when is your deadline? How many times have you taken the HESI? Is your school very strict with scores? Do you feel like your application is a competitive one?

I tend to ask myself questions like this, especially when I wasn't happy about my TEAS V score. I decided to retake it but that was because I didn't meet the requirement. Maybe since your score is a recommended one, I wouldn't much worry. All your other scores are on point. If your GPA score is also really high, I wouldn't worry but ask yourself these questions and if you still need me to help, you can reply with further details.

I am applying for UT Health and their scores are a requirement so I wanted to score higher than their requirement and I did.

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Thanks for the helpful information. I am taking the Hesi exam in Sept. So, you just studyed the Hesi Admission Assessment Exam 4th Edition.

I used the book, the links I provided, and the app I recommended at the end of the post. All of them helped so much.

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FOR GRAMMAR, ALSO USED --> Grammar Quizzes

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Hey, Jennifer! Just wanted to take a moment and say THANK YOU! :D I appreciate you breaking down the exam piece by piece because it gave me a much better idea of what to look forward to. I was honestly so freaked out about taking the HESI exam, but I took it just last week and it wasn't actually that bad. I never got any sort of book, there was just this review packet available on the computers at my current college campus which contained most of the anatomy/phys info to review. The rest, however, I was completely clueless about. The links you provided really helped though :) Most of the vocab on the vocabulary link was on the exam, and the grammar quizzes link also helped immensely! I got a 94% on the Reading section, 96% on Grammar, and 80% on Vocab. Math was also pretty straight forward...mainly just proportions and percentages and the occasional conversion problem; I scored a 92%. On the Anatomy/Physiology section I scored 88% and I got an 860 on Critical Thinking (I only remember because I looked at the score page before it closed out). I am content with my scores-- especially since I only reviewed for only about a week before the test with just my packet and these links...no book! I am also applying to UT Health...best of luck!

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Specializes in ICU.

I just wanted to add to your math portion, know mixed numbers to improper fractions. I had a ton of questions where I had to do that a super easy thing to do but just an fyi for everyone! I agree though I wouldn't stress about that section. I was afraid there were going to be a lot of conversion questions but it ended up being not as bad as I thought and I got a 98 on that section. Thanks so much for all your advice because I did well in all my sections based on those tips!

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Found out how to review crtical thinking score, theres a plus sign on the left side of "admission assessment report"

all of this info helped out so much! Thank you for that! I now have a better understanding of how the critical thinking section is graded! Do you happen to know how to view the critical thinking score because i cannot seem to find it. It wasn't on my grade report sheet. Also, i am not sure if i should retake my hesi?

My scores are:

Reading comprehension: 88%

grammar: 86%

vocabulary & general knowledge: 74% (missed the recommended score by 1%)

a&p: 80%

math: 80%

overall score: 81.60%

please give me your best advice!

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For anyone starting to study for the HESI check out Nurse Academy | Test Prep Videos for Nurses it is an awesome resource. They seem to be just starting out, but are uploading free review videos all the time. So far, they have released a bunch of chemistry review videos and have starting releasing math review also!

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