HESI stands for Health Education Systems Incorporated exam which is conducted by nursing schools. Nursing students have to go through a series of different tests in order to become a licensed nurse. HESI test (also known as HESI A2 exam) is a great solution for those nursing candidates who want to prepare for their licensure exams such as NCLEX.

HESI exam scores are considered to be very important if you want to pass your professional exams and go to a nursing school of your choice. Prepaway HESI test will also help you in assessing if you are capable enough to manage the nursing school study. You may be required to take the exam during your course period or even as a prerequisite for NCLEX exams as you go further into the nursing field.

Eligibility Criteria for the Exam

Depending on the nursing schools, the eligibility criteria may differ for HESI exam. Some schools may ask the candidates to complete a particular course or pass any extra exam. In other cases, candidates are asked to attain a particular GPA (Grade Point Average) for the exam. For competitive results, the exam is timed for individuals to perform well.

How to register for the exam?

In order to register for the exam, you need to create an account on the Elsevier website. Elsevier company is the official exam provider. After the registration, you will be able to choose the date for the exam and pay the fee for your HESI exam. The exam is available for many nursing schools and community schools. Different test locations appear every few weeks. You can contact the nursing school of your choice to get the latest exam dates and locations.

On the day of HESI exam, you have to bring your account information to the center. You are also required to have your Evolve account ID along with its password. Furthermore, you have to carry a valid identity proof to the exam center for validation.

HESI Exam Structure

The questions which come in HESI exam focus on the critical-thinking level of students. It is the same kind of questions which they will face in their nursing board exam. The questions on the exam are really tough as compared to any of the material in the study curriculum. HESI exam is basically a practice test which will enhance the individual's skill set in the nursing field. The exam helps in identifying and analyzing the student's knowledge, personality and even the learning style in the specified field. It focuses on a number of different subjects which include:

·      Reading Comprehension

·      Chemistry

·      General Knowledge and Vocabulary

·      Biology and Physics

·      Math

·      Grammar

·      Anatomy and Physiology

Each of the test sections will offer a clear view of the individual's strength in the particular school course. You will be provided with the on-screen calculator during the exam so you don’t need to bring your own to the testing center.

The content areas include the general terminology and anatomical structures which is essential throughout the nursing career. HESI also includes a personality test which goes over the introversion and extroversion characteristic of the candidates to assess their personalities. The preferred learning style of the student is also assessed through a section of the exam. On the path to becoming a professional nurse, candidates will be evaluated based on several health care tasks which include the analysis and interpretation of records to make critical decisions. Essentially, the test helps students to gain a better perspective of their preparation level.

The exam consists of 326 questions which are of multiple-choice type (25-50 questions in each section). Candidates applying to certain nursing schools may be required to attend all the sections in HESI exam. At the same time, there may be some nursing programs which would not require for you to attend all the sections of the exam. Therefore, it's essential for you to make a proper analysis of the requirements of the nursing program that you want to enroll. This will give you a proper head start on preparing smartly for HESI exam.

Duration

The duration of the exam varies depending on the number of sections that you attend. However, the entire exam process can last up to 4 hours. This gives you a proper chance to spend a good time on an individual question without having to worry about the time limit. You also have the privilege to go back to previous questions to check your solution. There is no specific order for the individual question that you have to answer. You are allowed to choose any section that you want without any hassle. It’s wiser to solve the easier sections first and leave the harder sections for later.

Fees

The total cost for taking HESI exam can lie anywhere between $35 to $70. The price may vary depending on the administering institution. There are additional costs in case you want to retake the exam. If you prepare well for the exam, you can save some significant amount of money.

In conclusion: Passing Score

HESI exam score scale ranges from 750 to 900. There is no pass or fail in this exam as every nursing school will have their own passing score criteria. There may be subtests which will be required for you to get admitted into the specific program.

At the end of the exam, your results will be provided by the proctor and you can retake the exam if you want to improve your scores. Candidates willing to retake the exam can do so 30-60 days after the previous attempt. The annual limit of giving the exam is just 2-3 times which depends on the school rules.