caringandhonest

So before I begin to explain the title of my thread, I would first like to state I received an overall score of an 88.86% on the exam, which I do not think is half bad considering the circumstances. The school I am applying for was only looking for a 70% cumulative. I was tested on 7 sections: 1) Math 2) Vocabulary and General Knowledge 3) Grammar 4) Chemistry 5) Biology 6) Reading Comprehension 7) Anatomy and Physiology I took the test on February 28,2015. The test was not "hard", but it definitely can be challenging if you have not taken any A&P classes or chemistry. Those were the ones I struggled with the most. Just like most people will tell you, I recommend the Elsevier Admission Assessment Exam Review, 3rd Edition. This book helped me a lot in the categories of math, which I received 94%. The book goes into great detail about how to solve the math problems and takes you step-by-step to solving the problem. There are A LOT of fraction problems and a TON of word problems and conversion problems in the math section of the exam, but if you do all of the problems provided in the book and the practice test at the end of the book, I promise you will be just fine! They are all problems straight from the book! As for the vocabulary (84%) and grammar (92%) section, the book was also very useful. Memorize all of the vocabulary words provided in the book, and you are good to go! If English is your first language, the grammar section will be a BREEZE. If you need a little refreshing about the rules of grammar definitely use this book. You do not have to go any further than that. To study for the reading comprehension (88%) section, I still utilized the book and did all of the practice problems at the end of the chapter and also the practice test at the end of the book. I kept retaking the tests until I got every question right and understood WHY that was the correct answer. The biology section (100%), was obviously the easiest section for me. It was really basic things that is taught from high school all the way to college. The book helps somewhat, but you are better off using cliff notes to review. Cliff notes does a better job of going more into depth about what you need to know. CHEMISTRY! Study your notes from class, study your chemistry book. The review book literally skims the details you need to know. So please if chemistry is not your strongest subject, STUDY! I received an 84% on this subject, which I believe was pure luck! Lastly, the A&P (80%) section, dig into this also! The book does not really help, but still review everything in the book. Some of the HESI hints may be really useful to you. With ALL of the science sections in the book, I recommend you read the book, but also use cliff notes or something else that goes deeper into the subjects. Especially with A&P. Basically if you know where all the muscles/bones/organs are located, then you are going to do wonderful! But for anyone like me, where A&P was never their strongest subject, study hard! The reason I said there were some things I wish I would have known is because while I was trying to find the best ways to study for the HESI, I would look on websites like this one and also on YouTube. Unlike me, a lot of people only has to take 4 out of the 7 sections I had to take so I never got a full understanding of how to study and for the sections that were never mentioned I just "winged" it during the test. I studied seriously for the test for about a month before the test. I personally recommend to start studying a little earlier than that so you can have more than enough time to know what you need to know without cramming anything. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE if you have any questions because I did not explain it well enough or you just have questions more about the test and my experience... just ask! I will reply as fast as possible! Best wishes!