McGraw-Hill Education 4 HESI A2 Practice Tests, Third Edition by Kathy A. Zahler

Contents Chapter 1 Introduction to the A2 A2 Versus Other Nursing School Exams Planning to Take the A2 Scoring the A2 Parts of the Test Chapter 2 Tips and Strategies for Test Takers How to Use This Book Strategies for Top Scores A2 Training Schedule Chapter 3 A2 Practice Test 1 Reading Comprehension Vocabulary and General Knowledge Grammar Basic Math Skills Biology Chemistry Anatomy and Physiology Physics Answer Key Explanatory Answers Chapter 4 A2 Practice Test 2 Reading Comprehension Vocabulary and General Knowledge Grammar Basic Math Skills Biology Chemistry Anatomy and Physiology Physics Answer Key Explanatory Answers Chapter 5 A2 Practice Test 3 Reading Comprehension Vocabulary and General Knowledge Grammar Basic Math Skills Biology Chemistry Anatomy and Physiology Physics Answer Key Explanatory Answers Chapter 6 A2 Practice Test 4 Reading Comprehension Vocabulary and General Knowledge Grammar Basic Math Skills Biology Chemistry Anatomy and Physiology Physics Answer Key Explanatory Answers T CHAPTER 1 Introduction to the A2 his book contains four practice tests for the HESI A2 (Admission Assessment Exam). They follow the format used in the A2 online exam. Taking these practice tests will give you a good idea of what you’ll encounter when you take the real exam. As you complete the tests, you’ll become familiar with the directions, structure, and content that you’re likely to see at the testing site. A2 VERSUS OTHER NURSING SCHOOL EXAMS Who Takes the A2 Exam? The A2 Exam is used for admission to certain nursing schools. It is a product of Evolve Learning Systems, a division of Elsevier Publishing. Different nursing programs require different exams; for example, some schools expect applicants to take the Nursing Entrance Test (NET) or the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS). Other schools give you a variety of entrance exams from which to choose. Still others require the A2 exclusively. How Do I Know Whether I Should Take the A2 Exam? To know whether the school or schools of your choice require the A2, visit their websites or call their admissions offices. They may call this particular test the HESI A2 test, the Evolve Reach A2 test, or the Admission Assessment Exam. Before you begin to study, make sure that you are studying for the correct test. You may need to use McGraw-Hill Education 5 TEAS Practice Tests or Nursing School Entrance Exams instead. PLANNING TO TAKE THE A2 When Is the A2 Given, and How Do I Register for It? The exam is given at a variety of sites, often at nursing schools or community colleges. The dates of the exam may depend on the application dates for the nursing school where you take the test. Some schools offer the test every few weeks throughout the year. You may also take the exam at one of more than 350 Prometric™ testing sites around the country. To register for an exam, first set up an Evolve account at should see the HESI Assessment-Student Access link under "My Content." Choose a test date and pay your fee. To take the exam at the nursing school or community college of your choice, log on to that school’s website to learn how to sign up for the next available test. To take the exam at a Prometric site, start by setting up an account on the Evolve Elsevier site listed above. Submit a registration to take a distance exam. Use the confirmation information you receive to log on to typing your zip code, and listing a range of dates lets you locate the testing site and date that best suit your needs. From there, you may follow the directions to schedule the test at a time convenient for you. You will pay for the test online when you set up your test date. You will need your credit or debit card and your school's ID number. Use your school-related email address if you have one. When Should I Take the A2? Check with your chosen nursing programs to find out when they need score transcripts. Then work backward from that date to determine when you should take the test. If you take the test at the nursing school that you hope to attend, the date of the test will be designed to mesh with that school’s application dates. Which Modules of the A2 Must I Take? The A2 contains several modules in the areas of English language, mathematics, and science. Not all nursing programs require every module. If you take the test at a nursing school or community college, the school will probably only test you on the modules that its nursing program requires. For example, some programs do not require any of the science modules. Some require Reading Comprehension and Grammar, but not Vocabulary and General Knowledge. If you wish to send transcripts to several schools, visit their websites to learn which modules they require. Then make sure that the site where you are taking the test offers all of those modules. What Do I Need on the Day of the Test? The A2 is only available online. You must present one form of governmentissued identification. Passports, driver’s licenses, or green cards are fine; credit cards or student IDs are not. You may need your payment or a copy of your payment receipt. You will definitely need the username and password assigned to you by Elsevier when you registered for the test. You may not use any resources such as calculators or reference books. A basic calculator is included in the software. You may not carry in a cell phone, tablet, or other electronic device. You may not bring food or beverages into the testing site. SCORING THE A2 How Is the A2 Scored? The A2 consists of eight academic modules. Your scores may be reported in three ways—as a percentage score for each module administered; as a subject-area composite score (for all science modules, for example); and as a composite score (the average score for all the modules you complete). When Will I Receive My Score? As soon as you complete your online test, you will receive a printed score report from the proctor. How Do I Submit My Score to Nursing Programs? Your testing fee automatically includes the submission of scores to the school where you took the test. If you took the test at a Prometric center, or if you want your transcript sent to additional schools, order transcripts from Elsevier via its website or by calling . Elsevier will charge a processing fee for each transcript sent. Is My Score Good Enough? Whether your score is acceptable depends on the program to which you are applying. Some nursing programs have specific cutoff points for each module. Others require a certain composite score. Some nursing programs allow you to take the A2 two or three times if your first scores are unacceptable. They may require you to wait several weeks or months between exams. Again, the rules vary from program to program. PARTS OF THE TEST The A2 is divided into eight academic modules within three broad content areas: English language, mathematics, and science. In addition, the A2 may include a section on critical thinking, which may be graded or ungraded, plus one or two ungraded tests under the heading “Learner Profile.” This chart shows the number of items (which may vary year to year) and time suggested for each section. Notice that ungraded pilot items are included in most modules. These are used to build tests in future years. Because the test is given online, the times given are only suggestions that will allow you to complete the entire test within a reasonable time.