HESI A2 VERSION 2 EXAM
2026/2027
243 Questions + 8 Reading Passages
Complete Exam-Style Questions with Detailed Rationales
100% Verified | Graded A+
HESI A2 Version 2 Comprehensive Academic Readiness Assessment
Multi-Section Competency Evaluation for Nursing Program Admission
Elsevier Evolve / ATI Testing Standards
Core Domains: Grammar (40 MCQ), Mathematics (50 MCQ), Reading Comprehension (8 Passages),
Vocabulary & General Knowledge (50 MCQ), Biology (25 MCQ), Chemistry (25 MCQ), Anatomy &
Physiology (25 MCQ)
HESI A2 Version 2–Aligned Format
• Exact official question count: 243 multiple-choice questions (MCQ) + 8 reading passages
• All questions in MCQ format with four options (A, B, C, D), single-best-answer unless
otherwise specified as SATA
• Total testing time: Approximately 4–5 hours (computer-based, proctored format)
• Passing score: Program-dependent; typically 75–80% composite score or 70% minimum
per section
• Assessment delivery: Fixed-format objective assessment via Elsevier Evolve testing
platform
,Examination Overview
Domain Questions Key Topics Weight
Grammar 40 Parts of Speech, Sentence Structure, Punctuation, 16%
Subject-Verb Agreement, Common Errors, Medical
Terminology Grammar
Mathematics 50 Basic Math, Fractions, Decimals, Ratios, 21%
Proportions, Dosage Calculations, Algebra, Word
Problems, Conversions
Reading 8 Passages Main Idea, Inference, Vocabulary-in-Context, 3%
Comprehension Passage Analysis, Critical Thinking, Author’s
Purpose, Healthcare Texts
Vocabulary & 50 Medical Terminology, Word Roots/Prefixes/Suffixes, 21%
General Knowledge Synonyms/Antonyms, Context Clues, Academic
Vocabulary
Biology 25 Cell Structure, Photosynthesis, Cellular Respiration, 10%
Genetics, Evolution, Scientific Method, Homeostasis
Chemistry 25 Atomic Structure, Periodic Table, Chemical Bonds, 10%
Reactions, Acids/Bases, Solutions, Stoichiometry,
pH
Anatomy & 25 Body Systems, Homeostasis, Tissues, Organ 10%
Physiology Functions, Basic Pathophysiology Concepts, System
Interactions
TOTAL 243 + 8 Comprehensive Academic Readiness 100%
Passages
Introduction
This HESI A2 Version 2 Exam format for 2026/2027 reflects the standardized competency assessment
used to evaluate academic readiness for pre-licensure nursing program admission candidates. The
official examination consists of exactly 243 multiple-choice questions (MCQ) plus 8 reading passages
covering critical domains: grammar, mathematics, reading comprehension, vocabulary and general
knowledge, biology, chemistry, and anatomy & physiology. The exam measures foundational
knowledge and academic skills essential for success in rigorous nursing curricula, aligned with current
Elsevier HESI test blueprints, nursing program admission standards, and undergraduate science
competency frameworks.
Answer Format: All correct answers are presented in bold #FF007D, each question appears in bold,
and all rationales explaining academic concepts, computational methodologies, science principles, and
scenario-based reasoning are written in italic font with light lavender background #F5EDF9.
Domain Score Tracker
Domain Questions Your Score Percentage Pass/Fail
Grammar 40
Mathematics 50
Reading 8 Passages
Comprehension
Vocabulary & 50
General
Knowledge
Biology 25
Chemistry 25
Anatomy & 25
Physiology
TOTAL 243 + 8
Passages
,Section 1: Grammar
40 Questions | Parts of Speech, Sentence Structure, Punctuation, Subject-Verb Agreement, Common
Errors, Medical Terminology Grammar
1. Which word in the following sentence is a pronoun? "The nurse gave the patient his
medication."
A. nurse
B. gave
C. his
D. medication
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The word 'his' is a possessive pronoun that replaces the noun referring to the patient.
'Nurse' and 'medication' are nouns, and 'gave' is a verb. Pronouns substitute for nouns to avoid
repetition and clarify ownership, which is exactly what 'his' does in this sentence.
2. Select the word that correctly completes the sentence: "The surgical team worked
_____ to stabilize the trauma patient."
A. quick
B. quicker
C. quickly
D. quickest
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: 'Quickly' is the correct adverb form needed to modify the verb 'worked.' Adverbs
describe how an action is performed, and they typically end in '-ly' when formed from adjectives.
'Quick' is an adjective, 'quicker' is a comparative adjective, and 'quickest' is a superlative
adjective—none of which correctly modify a verb.
3. Identify the adjective in the following sentence: "The frail elderly woman was
admitted to the cardiac unit."
A. admitted
B. frail
C. woman
D. unit
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: 'Frail' is an adjective that describes the noun 'woman.' Adjectives modify nouns or
pronouns by describing qualities or characteristics. 'Admitted' is a past participle functioning as
a verb, 'woman' is a noun, and 'unit' is also a noun. 'Elderly' is also an adjective, but 'frail' is the
best single answer among the choices.
4. Which of the following words is a conjunction? "The patient was discharged, but she
returned to the emergency room the next day."
A. discharged
B. but
C. she
D. emergency
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: 'But' is a coordinating conjunction that connects two independent clauses.
Conjunctions join words, phrases, or clauses together. 'Discharged' is a past participle verb, 'she'
is a pronoun, and 'emergency' is a noun modifying 'room.' The seven coordinating conjunctions
can be remembered by the acronym FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).
, 5. What part of speech is the word 'well' in the following sentence? "The physician
documented that the patient was breathing well after the procedure."
A. Noun
B. Adjective
C. Adverb
D. Preposition
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In this sentence, 'well' functions as an adverb modifying the verb 'breathing,'
describing how the patient was breathing. While 'well' can sometimes function as an adjective
(meaning 'in good health'), here it answers the question 'how?' about the action of breathing,
which is the adverbial function. It is not a noun or preposition in this context.
6. Which underlined word in the following sentence is a preposition? "The IV line was
placed in the patient's left arm by the charge nurse."
A. was
B. in
C. left
D. charge
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: 'In' is a preposition that shows the relationship between the IV line placement and the
patient's arm, indicating location. Prepositions link nouns or pronouns to other words in the
sentence, showing relationships of time, place, or direction. 'Was' is a helping verb, 'left' is an
adjective describing 'arm,' and 'charge' is an adjective describing 'nurse.'
7. Which word in the sentence is an interjection? "Wow, that surgical procedure was
remarkably successful!"
A. Wow
B. that
C. remarkably
D. successful
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: 'Wow' is an interjection—a word or phrase that expresses strong emotion or surprise.
Interjections are grammatically independent of the rest of the sentence and are often followed by
exclamation marks or commas. 'That' is a demonstrative adjective, 'remarkably' is an adverb
modifying 'successful,' and 'successful' is an adjective describing the procedure.
8. In the sentence "The nursing students practiced their clinical skills," what is the
function of the word 'their'?
A. Demonstrative adjective
B. Possessive pronoun
C. Reflexive pronoun
D. Relative pronoun
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: 'Their' is a possessive pronoun (also called a possessive determiner) that shows
ownership by the nursing students. It indicates that the clinical skills belong to the students. A
demonstrative adjective would be 'this' or 'that,' a reflexive pronoun would be 'themselves,' and a
relative pronoun would be 'who' or 'which.' Possessive pronouns like 'their' clarify whose
something is.
2026/2027
243 Questions + 8 Reading Passages
Complete Exam-Style Questions with Detailed Rationales
100% Verified | Graded A+
HESI A2 Version 2 Comprehensive Academic Readiness Assessment
Multi-Section Competency Evaluation for Nursing Program Admission
Elsevier Evolve / ATI Testing Standards
Core Domains: Grammar (40 MCQ), Mathematics (50 MCQ), Reading Comprehension (8 Passages),
Vocabulary & General Knowledge (50 MCQ), Biology (25 MCQ), Chemistry (25 MCQ), Anatomy &
Physiology (25 MCQ)
HESI A2 Version 2–Aligned Format
• Exact official question count: 243 multiple-choice questions (MCQ) + 8 reading passages
• All questions in MCQ format with four options (A, B, C, D), single-best-answer unless
otherwise specified as SATA
• Total testing time: Approximately 4–5 hours (computer-based, proctored format)
• Passing score: Program-dependent; typically 75–80% composite score or 70% minimum
per section
• Assessment delivery: Fixed-format objective assessment via Elsevier Evolve testing
platform
,Examination Overview
Domain Questions Key Topics Weight
Grammar 40 Parts of Speech, Sentence Structure, Punctuation, 16%
Subject-Verb Agreement, Common Errors, Medical
Terminology Grammar
Mathematics 50 Basic Math, Fractions, Decimals, Ratios, 21%
Proportions, Dosage Calculations, Algebra, Word
Problems, Conversions
Reading 8 Passages Main Idea, Inference, Vocabulary-in-Context, 3%
Comprehension Passage Analysis, Critical Thinking, Author’s
Purpose, Healthcare Texts
Vocabulary & 50 Medical Terminology, Word Roots/Prefixes/Suffixes, 21%
General Knowledge Synonyms/Antonyms, Context Clues, Academic
Vocabulary
Biology 25 Cell Structure, Photosynthesis, Cellular Respiration, 10%
Genetics, Evolution, Scientific Method, Homeostasis
Chemistry 25 Atomic Structure, Periodic Table, Chemical Bonds, 10%
Reactions, Acids/Bases, Solutions, Stoichiometry,
pH
Anatomy & 25 Body Systems, Homeostasis, Tissues, Organ 10%
Physiology Functions, Basic Pathophysiology Concepts, System
Interactions
TOTAL 243 + 8 Comprehensive Academic Readiness 100%
Passages
Introduction
This HESI A2 Version 2 Exam format for 2026/2027 reflects the standardized competency assessment
used to evaluate academic readiness for pre-licensure nursing program admission candidates. The
official examination consists of exactly 243 multiple-choice questions (MCQ) plus 8 reading passages
covering critical domains: grammar, mathematics, reading comprehension, vocabulary and general
knowledge, biology, chemistry, and anatomy & physiology. The exam measures foundational
knowledge and academic skills essential for success in rigorous nursing curricula, aligned with current
Elsevier HESI test blueprints, nursing program admission standards, and undergraduate science
competency frameworks.
Answer Format: All correct answers are presented in bold #FF007D, each question appears in bold,
and all rationales explaining academic concepts, computational methodologies, science principles, and
scenario-based reasoning are written in italic font with light lavender background #F5EDF9.
Domain Score Tracker
Domain Questions Your Score Percentage Pass/Fail
Grammar 40
Mathematics 50
Reading 8 Passages
Comprehension
Vocabulary & 50
General
Knowledge
Biology 25
Chemistry 25
Anatomy & 25
Physiology
TOTAL 243 + 8
Passages
,Section 1: Grammar
40 Questions | Parts of Speech, Sentence Structure, Punctuation, Subject-Verb Agreement, Common
Errors, Medical Terminology Grammar
1. Which word in the following sentence is a pronoun? "The nurse gave the patient his
medication."
A. nurse
B. gave
C. his
D. medication
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The word 'his' is a possessive pronoun that replaces the noun referring to the patient.
'Nurse' and 'medication' are nouns, and 'gave' is a verb. Pronouns substitute for nouns to avoid
repetition and clarify ownership, which is exactly what 'his' does in this sentence.
2. Select the word that correctly completes the sentence: "The surgical team worked
_____ to stabilize the trauma patient."
A. quick
B. quicker
C. quickly
D. quickest
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: 'Quickly' is the correct adverb form needed to modify the verb 'worked.' Adverbs
describe how an action is performed, and they typically end in '-ly' when formed from adjectives.
'Quick' is an adjective, 'quicker' is a comparative adjective, and 'quickest' is a superlative
adjective—none of which correctly modify a verb.
3. Identify the adjective in the following sentence: "The frail elderly woman was
admitted to the cardiac unit."
A. admitted
B. frail
C. woman
D. unit
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: 'Frail' is an adjective that describes the noun 'woman.' Adjectives modify nouns or
pronouns by describing qualities or characteristics. 'Admitted' is a past participle functioning as
a verb, 'woman' is a noun, and 'unit' is also a noun. 'Elderly' is also an adjective, but 'frail' is the
best single answer among the choices.
4. Which of the following words is a conjunction? "The patient was discharged, but she
returned to the emergency room the next day."
A. discharged
B. but
C. she
D. emergency
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: 'But' is a coordinating conjunction that connects two independent clauses.
Conjunctions join words, phrases, or clauses together. 'Discharged' is a past participle verb, 'she'
is a pronoun, and 'emergency' is a noun modifying 'room.' The seven coordinating conjunctions
can be remembered by the acronym FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).
, 5. What part of speech is the word 'well' in the following sentence? "The physician
documented that the patient was breathing well after the procedure."
A. Noun
B. Adjective
C. Adverb
D. Preposition
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In this sentence, 'well' functions as an adverb modifying the verb 'breathing,'
describing how the patient was breathing. While 'well' can sometimes function as an adjective
(meaning 'in good health'), here it answers the question 'how?' about the action of breathing,
which is the adverbial function. It is not a noun or preposition in this context.
6. Which underlined word in the following sentence is a preposition? "The IV line was
placed in the patient's left arm by the charge nurse."
A. was
B. in
C. left
D. charge
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: 'In' is a preposition that shows the relationship between the IV line placement and the
patient's arm, indicating location. Prepositions link nouns or pronouns to other words in the
sentence, showing relationships of time, place, or direction. 'Was' is a helping verb, 'left' is an
adjective describing 'arm,' and 'charge' is an adjective describing 'nurse.'
7. Which word in the sentence is an interjection? "Wow, that surgical procedure was
remarkably successful!"
A. Wow
B. that
C. remarkably
D. successful
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: 'Wow' is an interjection—a word or phrase that expresses strong emotion or surprise.
Interjections are grammatically independent of the rest of the sentence and are often followed by
exclamation marks or commas. 'That' is a demonstrative adjective, 'remarkably' is an adverb
modifying 'successful,' and 'successful' is an adjective describing the procedure.
8. In the sentence "The nursing students practiced their clinical skills," what is the
function of the word 'their'?
A. Demonstrative adjective
B. Possessive pronoun
C. Reflexive pronoun
D. Relative pronoun
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: 'Their' is a possessive pronoun (also called a possessive determiner) that shows
ownership by the nursing students. It indicates that the clinical skills belong to the students. A
demonstrative adjective would be 'this' or 'that,' a reflexive pronoun would be 'themselves,' and a
relative pronoun would be 'who' or 'which.' Possessive pronouns like 'their' clarify whose
something is.
