HESI A2 Entrance Exam | 2026/2027 Edition | Real Exam
Questions with 100% Verified Correct Answers
Health Education Systems, Inc. Admission Assessment | Expert-Verified Q&A | Certification-Ready Format
Introduction
This document presents a comprehensive, 300-question assessment aligned with the official Elsevier Health
Education Systems, Inc. Admission Assessment (HESI A2) blueprint for the 2026/2027 testing cycle. The
examination spans the full breadth of foundational academic competencies required for nursing and allied health
program admissions, including mathematics and basic algebra, reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar
and language skills, biology, anatomy and physiology, chemistry, and physics. Each question has been expert-
verified with 100% correct answers, accompanied by detailed rationales explaining the reasoning behind each
correct response, distractor analysis for incorrect options, and specific reference citations to the 2026 HESI A2
curriculum domains and standard academic textbooks. This assessment is designed to provide an accurate
evaluation of candidate readiness and facilitate thorough preparation for achieving a passing score on the actual
HESI A2 entrance examination.
Content Area Overview
Content Area Questions Key Topics Weight
Mathematics & Basic 50 Fractions, Decimals, Percentages, Ratios, 17%
Algebra Proportions, Basic Algebra, Measurement
Conversions, Geometry, Data
Interpretation, Roman Numerals, Military
Time
Reading Comprehension 50 Main Idea, Supporting Details, Inference, 17%
& Vocabulary Context Clues, Summarizing, Author's
Purpose, Tone, Fact vs. Opinion
Vocabulary & General 50 Medical Terminology, Health Science 17%
Knowledge Vocabulary, Word Meanings in Context,
Prefixes/Suffixes/Roots,
Synonyms/Antonyms
Grammar & Language 50 Parts of Speech, Subject-Verb Agreement, 17%
Skills Pronoun Usage, Verb Tenses, Sentence
Structure, Punctuation, Active vs. Passive
Voice
Biology & 50 Cell Biology, Cellular Respiration, 16%
Anatomy/Physiology DNA/RNA/Protein Synthesis, Genetics,
Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Nervous,
Digestive, Musculoskeletal, Endocrine
Systems
Chemistry & Physics 50 Atomic Structure, Periodic Table, 16%
Chemical Bonding, Reactions,
Acids/Bases/pH, Solutions, Motion,
Forces, Energy, Thermodynamics,
Electricity, Waves, Fluid Mechanics
Total 300 All HESI A2 Subtest Domains 100%
,Examination Questions
Domain: Mathematics & Basic Algebra (Questions 1–50)
1. A patient is prescribed 3/4 of a 500 mg tablet. How many milligrams should the patient
receive?
A) 250 mg
B) 375 mg
C) 400 mg
D) 450 mg
Correct Answer: B — Multiply 500 by 3/4: 500 x 3/4 = 375 mg.
Why Wrong: Options A, C, and D result from incorrect fraction multiplication of 500.
Reference: HESI A2 2026 Blueprint: Mathematics - Fractions; Elsevier HESI Admission Assessment
Exam Review, 6th Edition, Chapter 2
2. A nurse needs to convert 0.65 grams to milligrams. What is the correct conversion?
A) 6.5 mg
B) 65 mg
C) 650 mg
D) 6500 mg
Correct Answer: C — To convert grams to milligrams, multiply by 1000: 0.65 x 1000 = 650 mg.
Why Wrong: Options A and B reflect dividing by 10 or 100 instead of multiplying by 1000; option D
multiplies by 10000.
Reference: HESI A2 2026 Blueprint: Mathematics - Decimals and Metric Conversions; Elsevier HESI
Admission Assessment Exam Review, 6th Edition, Chapter 2
3. What is 35% of 240?
A) 72
B) 84
C) 96
D) 108
Correct Answer: B — Convert 35% to 0.35 and multiply: 0.35 x 240 = 84.
Why Wrong: Options A, C, and D result from using incorrect percentages such as 30%, 40%, or 45%.
Reference: HESI A2 2026 Blueprint: Mathematics - Percentages; Elsevier HESI Admission Assessment
Exam Review, 6th Edition, Chapter 2
4. A medication is available in a concentration of 2.5 mg/mL. How many milliliters are needed to
administer a 15 mg dose?
A) 4 mL
B) 5 mL
C) 6 mL
D) 7.5 mL
Correct Answer: C — Divide the desired dose by the concentration: .5 = 6 mL.
Why Wrong: Options A, B, and D result from incorrect division or multiplication of the dose and
concentration.
Reference: HESI A2 2026 Blueprint: Mathematics - Dosage Calculations; Elsevier HESI Admission
Assessment Exam Review, 6th Edition, Chapter 2
5. Which fraction is equivalent to the decimal 0.875?
A) 5/8
B) 7/8
C) 3/4
D) 9/10
Correct Answer: B — 7 divided by 8 equals 0.875, making 7/8 the correct equivalent.
Why Wrong: Options A, C, and D equal 0.625, 0.75, and 0.9 respectively, none of which equal 0.875.
, Reference: HESI A2 2026 Blueprint: Mathematics - Fractions and Decimals; Elsevier HESI Admission
Assessment Exam Review, 6th Edition, Chapter 2
6. A patient's weight decreased from 180 pounds to 153 pounds. What percentage decrease is
this?
A) 10%
B) 12%
C) 15%
D) 18%
Correct Answer: C — The decrease is 27 pounds; () x 100 = 15%.
Why Wrong: Options A, B, and D result from using incorrect denominators or calculation errors.
Reference: HESI A2 2026 Blueprint: Mathematics - Percentages; Elsevier HESI Admission Assessment
Exam Review, 6th Edition, Chapter 2
7. Simplify the fraction 48/64.
A) 2/3
B) 3/4
C) 4/5
D) 5/6
Correct Answer: B — Both 48 and 64 are divisible by 16: 48/16 = 3 and 64/16 = 4, so 48/64 = 3/4.
Why Wrong: Options A, C, and D are common fractions that do not equal the original value of 48/64.
Reference: HESI A2 2026 Blueprint: Mathematics - Fractions; Elsevier HESI Admission Assessment
Exam Review, 6th Edition, Chapter 2
8. A medication label states 10 mg per 5 mL. How many milliliters should be given for a 25 mg
dose?
A) 10 mL
B) 12.5 mL
C) 15 mL
D) 20 mL
Correct Answer: B — Set up the proportion: 10/5 = 25/x; cross-multiply to get x = (25 x 5)/10 = 12.5
mL.
Why Wrong: Options A, C, and D result from incorrect cross-multiplication or proportion setup.
Reference: HESI A2 2026 Blueprint: Mathematics - Ratios and Proportions; Elsevier HESI Admission
Assessment Exam Review, 6th Edition, Chapter 2
9. If 3 nurses can care for 12 patients, how many nurses are needed for 40 patients at the same
ratio?
A) 8
B) 9
C) 10
D) 12
Correct Answer: C — Set up the proportion: 3/12 = x/40; cross-multiply to get 12x = 120, so x = 10.
Why Wrong: Options A, B, and D do not maintain the correct 1:4 nurse-to-patient ratio.
Reference: HESI A2 2026 Blueprint: Mathematics - Ratios and Proportions; Elsevier HESI Admission
Assessment Exam Review, 6th Edition, Chapter 2
10. The ratio of registered nurses to licensed practical nurses on a unit is 5:2. If there are 20 RNs,
how many LPNs are there?
A) 6
B) 8
C) 10
D) 12
Correct Answer: B — Set up the proportion: 5/2 = 20/x; cross-multiply to get 5x = 40, so x = 8 LPNs.
Why Wrong: Options A, C, and D do not satisfy the 5:2 ratio with 20 RNs.
, Reference: HESI A2 2026 Blueprint: Mathematics - Ratios and Proportions; Elsevier HESI Admission
Assessment Exam Review, 6th Edition, Chapter 2
11. A solution has a 1:1000 concentration of epinephrine. How many milligrams of epinephrine
are in 2 mL of this solution?
A) 0.2 mg
B) 0.5 mg
C) 1 mg
D) 2 mg
Correct Answer: D — A 1:1000 ratio means 1 gram per 1000 mL, which equals 1 mg/mL; therefore, 2
mL contains 2 mg.
Why Wrong: Options A, B, and C reflect misinterpretation of the ratio as mg per mL or calculation
errors.
Reference: HESI A2 2026 Blueprint: Mathematics - Ratios and Proportions; Elsevier HESI Admission
Assessment Exam Review, 6th Edition, Chapter 2
12. A proportion reads 4/7 = x/42. What is the value of x?
A) 18
B) 21
C) 24
D) 28
Correct Answer: C — Cross-multiply: 4 x 42 = 7x, which gives 168 = 7x, so x = 24.
Why Wrong: Options A, B, and D result from incorrect cross-multiplication or arithmetic errors.
Reference: HESI A2 2026 Blueprint: Mathematics - Ratios and Proportions; Elsevier HESI Admission
Assessment Exam Review, 6th Edition, Chapter 2
13. The ratio of day shift to night shift nurses is 3:2. If the total number of nurses is 75, how many
are on the night shift?
A) 25
B) 30
C) 35
D) 40
Correct Answer: B — Let 3x + 2x = 75, so 5x = 75 and x = 15; night shift = 2 x 15 = 30.
Why Wrong: Options A, C, and D do not correctly distribute the total across the 3:2 ratio.
Reference: HESI A2 2026 Blueprint: Mathematics - Ratios and Proportions; Elsevier HESI Admission
Assessment Exam Review, 6th Edition, Chapter 2
14. A patient must drink 2400 mL of fluid daily. If the patient has consumed 3/8 of the daily
intake by noon, how many milliliters remain?
A) 900 mL
B) 1200 mL
C) 1500 mL
D) 1800 mL
Correct Answer: C — The remaining fraction is 5/8: 2400 x 5/8 = 1500 mL.
Why Wrong: Options A, B, and D use incorrect fractions or arithmetic in calculating the remaining
volume.
Reference: HESI A2 2026 Blueprint: Mathematics - Fractions; Elsevier HESI Admission Assessment
Exam Review, 6th Edition, Chapter 2
15. Solve for x: 3x + 7 = 22
A) 3
B) 5
C) 7
D) 9
Correct Answer: B — Subtract 7 from both sides: 3x = 15; then divide by 3: x = 5.
Questions with 100% Verified Correct Answers
Health Education Systems, Inc. Admission Assessment | Expert-Verified Q&A | Certification-Ready Format
Introduction
This document presents a comprehensive, 300-question assessment aligned with the official Elsevier Health
Education Systems, Inc. Admission Assessment (HESI A2) blueprint for the 2026/2027 testing cycle. The
examination spans the full breadth of foundational academic competencies required for nursing and allied health
program admissions, including mathematics and basic algebra, reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar
and language skills, biology, anatomy and physiology, chemistry, and physics. Each question has been expert-
verified with 100% correct answers, accompanied by detailed rationales explaining the reasoning behind each
correct response, distractor analysis for incorrect options, and specific reference citations to the 2026 HESI A2
curriculum domains and standard academic textbooks. This assessment is designed to provide an accurate
evaluation of candidate readiness and facilitate thorough preparation for achieving a passing score on the actual
HESI A2 entrance examination.
Content Area Overview
Content Area Questions Key Topics Weight
Mathematics & Basic 50 Fractions, Decimals, Percentages, Ratios, 17%
Algebra Proportions, Basic Algebra, Measurement
Conversions, Geometry, Data
Interpretation, Roman Numerals, Military
Time
Reading Comprehension 50 Main Idea, Supporting Details, Inference, 17%
& Vocabulary Context Clues, Summarizing, Author's
Purpose, Tone, Fact vs. Opinion
Vocabulary & General 50 Medical Terminology, Health Science 17%
Knowledge Vocabulary, Word Meanings in Context,
Prefixes/Suffixes/Roots,
Synonyms/Antonyms
Grammar & Language 50 Parts of Speech, Subject-Verb Agreement, 17%
Skills Pronoun Usage, Verb Tenses, Sentence
Structure, Punctuation, Active vs. Passive
Voice
Biology & 50 Cell Biology, Cellular Respiration, 16%
Anatomy/Physiology DNA/RNA/Protein Synthesis, Genetics,
Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Nervous,
Digestive, Musculoskeletal, Endocrine
Systems
Chemistry & Physics 50 Atomic Structure, Periodic Table, 16%
Chemical Bonding, Reactions,
Acids/Bases/pH, Solutions, Motion,
Forces, Energy, Thermodynamics,
Electricity, Waves, Fluid Mechanics
Total 300 All HESI A2 Subtest Domains 100%
,Examination Questions
Domain: Mathematics & Basic Algebra (Questions 1–50)
1. A patient is prescribed 3/4 of a 500 mg tablet. How many milligrams should the patient
receive?
A) 250 mg
B) 375 mg
C) 400 mg
D) 450 mg
Correct Answer: B — Multiply 500 by 3/4: 500 x 3/4 = 375 mg.
Why Wrong: Options A, C, and D result from incorrect fraction multiplication of 500.
Reference: HESI A2 2026 Blueprint: Mathematics - Fractions; Elsevier HESI Admission Assessment
Exam Review, 6th Edition, Chapter 2
2. A nurse needs to convert 0.65 grams to milligrams. What is the correct conversion?
A) 6.5 mg
B) 65 mg
C) 650 mg
D) 6500 mg
Correct Answer: C — To convert grams to milligrams, multiply by 1000: 0.65 x 1000 = 650 mg.
Why Wrong: Options A and B reflect dividing by 10 or 100 instead of multiplying by 1000; option D
multiplies by 10000.
Reference: HESI A2 2026 Blueprint: Mathematics - Decimals and Metric Conversions; Elsevier HESI
Admission Assessment Exam Review, 6th Edition, Chapter 2
3. What is 35% of 240?
A) 72
B) 84
C) 96
D) 108
Correct Answer: B — Convert 35% to 0.35 and multiply: 0.35 x 240 = 84.
Why Wrong: Options A, C, and D result from using incorrect percentages such as 30%, 40%, or 45%.
Reference: HESI A2 2026 Blueprint: Mathematics - Percentages; Elsevier HESI Admission Assessment
Exam Review, 6th Edition, Chapter 2
4. A medication is available in a concentration of 2.5 mg/mL. How many milliliters are needed to
administer a 15 mg dose?
A) 4 mL
B) 5 mL
C) 6 mL
D) 7.5 mL
Correct Answer: C — Divide the desired dose by the concentration: .5 = 6 mL.
Why Wrong: Options A, B, and D result from incorrect division or multiplication of the dose and
concentration.
Reference: HESI A2 2026 Blueprint: Mathematics - Dosage Calculations; Elsevier HESI Admission
Assessment Exam Review, 6th Edition, Chapter 2
5. Which fraction is equivalent to the decimal 0.875?
A) 5/8
B) 7/8
C) 3/4
D) 9/10
Correct Answer: B — 7 divided by 8 equals 0.875, making 7/8 the correct equivalent.
Why Wrong: Options A, C, and D equal 0.625, 0.75, and 0.9 respectively, none of which equal 0.875.
, Reference: HESI A2 2026 Blueprint: Mathematics - Fractions and Decimals; Elsevier HESI Admission
Assessment Exam Review, 6th Edition, Chapter 2
6. A patient's weight decreased from 180 pounds to 153 pounds. What percentage decrease is
this?
A) 10%
B) 12%
C) 15%
D) 18%
Correct Answer: C — The decrease is 27 pounds; () x 100 = 15%.
Why Wrong: Options A, B, and D result from using incorrect denominators or calculation errors.
Reference: HESI A2 2026 Blueprint: Mathematics - Percentages; Elsevier HESI Admission Assessment
Exam Review, 6th Edition, Chapter 2
7. Simplify the fraction 48/64.
A) 2/3
B) 3/4
C) 4/5
D) 5/6
Correct Answer: B — Both 48 and 64 are divisible by 16: 48/16 = 3 and 64/16 = 4, so 48/64 = 3/4.
Why Wrong: Options A, C, and D are common fractions that do not equal the original value of 48/64.
Reference: HESI A2 2026 Blueprint: Mathematics - Fractions; Elsevier HESI Admission Assessment
Exam Review, 6th Edition, Chapter 2
8. A medication label states 10 mg per 5 mL. How many milliliters should be given for a 25 mg
dose?
A) 10 mL
B) 12.5 mL
C) 15 mL
D) 20 mL
Correct Answer: B — Set up the proportion: 10/5 = 25/x; cross-multiply to get x = (25 x 5)/10 = 12.5
mL.
Why Wrong: Options A, C, and D result from incorrect cross-multiplication or proportion setup.
Reference: HESI A2 2026 Blueprint: Mathematics - Ratios and Proportions; Elsevier HESI Admission
Assessment Exam Review, 6th Edition, Chapter 2
9. If 3 nurses can care for 12 patients, how many nurses are needed for 40 patients at the same
ratio?
A) 8
B) 9
C) 10
D) 12
Correct Answer: C — Set up the proportion: 3/12 = x/40; cross-multiply to get 12x = 120, so x = 10.
Why Wrong: Options A, B, and D do not maintain the correct 1:4 nurse-to-patient ratio.
Reference: HESI A2 2026 Blueprint: Mathematics - Ratios and Proportions; Elsevier HESI Admission
Assessment Exam Review, 6th Edition, Chapter 2
10. The ratio of registered nurses to licensed practical nurses on a unit is 5:2. If there are 20 RNs,
how many LPNs are there?
A) 6
B) 8
C) 10
D) 12
Correct Answer: B — Set up the proportion: 5/2 = 20/x; cross-multiply to get 5x = 40, so x = 8 LPNs.
Why Wrong: Options A, C, and D do not satisfy the 5:2 ratio with 20 RNs.
, Reference: HESI A2 2026 Blueprint: Mathematics - Ratios and Proportions; Elsevier HESI Admission
Assessment Exam Review, 6th Edition, Chapter 2
11. A solution has a 1:1000 concentration of epinephrine. How many milligrams of epinephrine
are in 2 mL of this solution?
A) 0.2 mg
B) 0.5 mg
C) 1 mg
D) 2 mg
Correct Answer: D — A 1:1000 ratio means 1 gram per 1000 mL, which equals 1 mg/mL; therefore, 2
mL contains 2 mg.
Why Wrong: Options A, B, and C reflect misinterpretation of the ratio as mg per mL or calculation
errors.
Reference: HESI A2 2026 Blueprint: Mathematics - Ratios and Proportions; Elsevier HESI Admission
Assessment Exam Review, 6th Edition, Chapter 2
12. A proportion reads 4/7 = x/42. What is the value of x?
A) 18
B) 21
C) 24
D) 28
Correct Answer: C — Cross-multiply: 4 x 42 = 7x, which gives 168 = 7x, so x = 24.
Why Wrong: Options A, B, and D result from incorrect cross-multiplication or arithmetic errors.
Reference: HESI A2 2026 Blueprint: Mathematics - Ratios and Proportions; Elsevier HESI Admission
Assessment Exam Review, 6th Edition, Chapter 2
13. The ratio of day shift to night shift nurses is 3:2. If the total number of nurses is 75, how many
are on the night shift?
A) 25
B) 30
C) 35
D) 40
Correct Answer: B — Let 3x + 2x = 75, so 5x = 75 and x = 15; night shift = 2 x 15 = 30.
Why Wrong: Options A, C, and D do not correctly distribute the total across the 3:2 ratio.
Reference: HESI A2 2026 Blueprint: Mathematics - Ratios and Proportions; Elsevier HESI Admission
Assessment Exam Review, 6th Edition, Chapter 2
14. A patient must drink 2400 mL of fluid daily. If the patient has consumed 3/8 of the daily
intake by noon, how many milliliters remain?
A) 900 mL
B) 1200 mL
C) 1500 mL
D) 1800 mL
Correct Answer: C — The remaining fraction is 5/8: 2400 x 5/8 = 1500 mL.
Why Wrong: Options A, B, and D use incorrect fractions or arithmetic in calculating the remaining
volume.
Reference: HESI A2 2026 Blueprint: Mathematics - Fractions; Elsevier HESI Admission Assessment
Exam Review, 6th Edition, Chapter 2
15. Solve for x: 3x + 7 = 22
A) 3
B) 5
C) 7
D) 9
Correct Answer: B — Subtract 7 from both sides: 3x = 15; then divide by 3: x = 5.
