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Melissa Wynne
What Is The HESI Score Range
The HESI score range is 0%-100% or 0-100 points. The scores are comprised of individual section scores as well as a cumulative score that is the average of each of your individual section scores.
If you’re not familiar with the exam yet you can learn more about it in this article detailing what the HESI A2 exam is.
What Is The HESI Passing Score
Each school has a different HESI passing score or minimum score requirement for their program. Most programs require at least a 75% on each section as a minimum score requirement.
74% or lower scores are considered below average and often indicate that the student needs remediation in that particular subject.
Scores from 75%-79% are considered satisfactory.
Scores in the 80%-89% range are considered very good, and scores of 90% and above are considered excellent and the highest scores possible.
It can get a little complicated but this HESI A2 scoring guide from the test administrator Elsevier helps explain the details.
It’s important to note that some programs will use a composite score system and others may use an individual scoring system for each section of the HESI A2 that they require for their admissions program.
What Is The Average HESI A2 Score?
Most schools will require students to score at least a 75% in each required section or to score at least a 75% or 75 point cumulative HESI A2 score.
Conversely, some programs will require a higher required score in specific areas, such as reading or math, and will accept lower scores in other areas.
For example, Laurel Ridge Community College provides benchmark HESI A2 scores and requires at least an 82% in reading and also requires at least a 69% in anatomy and physiology.
According to a recent poll in our free HESI A2 Study Group, out of 1,500+ students polled, the average student scored between 60%-69% on their first HESI A2 entrance exam attempt.
It is common for students to have to retake their HESI exam to get a competitive score, and many programs allow at least two retakes.
The HESI A2 study group is an amazing resource that will help you prepare for the test so we highly recommend joining the group.
A common mistake students make is not studying before taking their exam or using materials not aligned with the real test, resulting in a below-satisfactory grade.
What Is A Good HESI Score?
A good HESI score is scoring at least 5 points or 5% above your school’s required score to be considered competitive.
Many students only aim to score the minimum required score, so scoring just above will make your application stand out.
The best way to know if you’re ready to take the HESI exam and can score high enough to pass is by taking a realistic HESI A2 practice test.
Once you are scoring above your minimum score requirement on at least 2 different practice tests, then you know that you’re well prepared for the real test.
The HESI practice tests included in the HESI Prep Course from Smart Edition Nursing are timed and aligned to be realistic and similar to the real test. The course is guaranteed to help you pass!
The HESI prep course will help you get a good HESI score and will make studying for the HESI easy and less overwhelming. You can also check out this article that shows you how to score high on the HESI A2 exam.
How Is The HESI A2 Test Scored?
Unlike the TEAS exam, all questions on each section of the HESI A2 exam are scored and count towards your final score. Each school has a different grading system with most being straightforward, while other programs may use a more complex formula.
- Individual Percentage Per Section: Some schools require an individual minimum score per section of the HESI A2 test and will review applicants based on their scores individually.
- Cumulative or Composite Percentage: Some schools will use a cumulative score that tallies up all your scores for each section and creates a cumulative average score as a final grade.
- School-Specific Composite Formula: Some schools will use a cumulative scored approach but will weigh certain subjects as a higher overall weight.
For example, at Truett McConnell University, hopeful students are graded using three main HESI A2 scores which are:
- Math – 14% of the total grade.
- Science (biology, chemistry, and anatomy & physiology sections) – 43% of the total grade.
- English (reading, grammar, and vocabulary sections) – 43% of the total grade.
This school-specific composite system is rare, with most schools choosing one of the generalized scoring systems mentioned above, but each school has their own methodology.
If you’re applying to multiple schools requiring the HESI A2 entrance exam, ensure you’re clear on how they interpret HESI A2 scores.
How Do I Access My HESI A2 Scores?
Your HESI A2 scores are available to you at any time by logging into your Elsevier Evolve account.
Click the sign-in button and enter in your login credentials. If you do not remember your credentials, click “forgot username or password” and enter in the email address used when creating your Evolve account.
Once logged in, click “Student Access” and then click the “My Exams” tab to see all of your HESI A2 exam attempts and detailed assessment reports.
Tips For Getting A Good HESI Score
- Use good HESI practice tests to gauge how well you will score on the real test. Using realistic timed tests and taking several different tests will allow you to get a sense of what your HESI score will be for each section.
- Before you start studying, take a HESI practice test and use the diagnostic report at the end of the test to see what you need to study within each section. The Smart Edition Nursing free HESI practice test gives you a scored report detailing what you need to study to improve your score. This article provides everything you need to know for how to study for the HESI A2 exam.
- Make a study plan that does not involve any cramming or long study sessions. Researchers have found that studying more than 3 hours a day can lead to burnout, forgetting what you’ve learned, and lack of follow-through on actual studying. Check out these helpful study tips to make the most of your study time from the American Psychological Association.
- Researchers agree intertwining different subjects in your study schedule and regularly testing yourself using practice tests or practice questions is the best way to retain information and study effectively. This is why students love the SE Nursing HESI Prep Course because it includes a mobile app that makes it easy to access practice test questions in the form of a test or individualized topic banks for quick and easy studying without cramming.
Conclusion
Now that you have a better understanding of how the HESI A2 is scored you can take the first step with a free HESI A2 practice test to see how you would score if you had to take the test today.
Once you have your practice test scores it’s time to study, we recommend focusing on your weakest areas first using a resource like the Smart Edition HESI A2 online course.
If your still researching the test you’ll answer a lot of your questions in this article about how long the HESI A2 exam is.
