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HESI ADMISSION ASSESSMENT (A2) EXAM LATEST
VERSION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
EDITION
HESI Admission Assessment (A2) Exam — 250 Practice Questions
The HESI Admission Assessment (A2) Exam is a computerized, multiple-choice
entrance exam used by nursing and healthcare programs to evaluate applicants'
academic readiness. The exam typically covers:
• Reading Comprehension (55 questions)
• Vocabulary & General Knowledge (55 questions)
• Grammar (55 questions)
• Mathematics / Basic Math Skills (55 questions)
• Anatomy & Physiology (30 questions)
• Biology (optional, varies by program)
• Chemistry (optional, varies by program)
• Physics (optional, varies by program)
SECTION 1: Reading Comprehension (Questions 1-40)
Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.
Passage A
The human circulatory system is a complex network responsible for transporting
oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and cellular waste products throughout the body. The
heart, a muscular organ approximately the size of a fist, serves as the central pump. It
consists of four chambers: two upper atria and two lower ventricles. The right side of
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the heart receives deoxygenated blood from the body and pumps it to the lungs for
oxygenation. The left side receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumps it to the
rest of the body. Blood vessels include arteries, which carry blood away from the heart;
veins, which return blood to the heart; and capillaries, which facilitate the exchange of
substances between blood and tissues. The circulatory system also plays a vital role in
maintaining body temperature and pH balance.
1. What is the primary function of the heart as described in the passage?
• A. To filter waste products from the blood.
• B. To serve as the central pump of the circulatory system.
• C. To produce hormones that regulate blood pressure.
• D. To store oxygen for later use by the body.
• Answer: B. The passage states that "the heart... serves as the central pump."
2. Which chamber of the heart receives oxygenated blood from the lungs?
• A. Right atrium.
• B. Right ventricle.
• C. Left atrium.
• D. Left ventricle.
• Answer: C. The passage states that "the left side receives oxygenated blood
from the lungs." The left atrium is the chamber that receives this blood.
3. What is the role of capillaries in the circulatory system?
• A. To carry blood away from the heart.
• B. To return blood to the heart.
• C. To facilitate the exchange of substances between blood and tissues.
• D. To store blood for emergency use.
• Answer: C. The passage states that capillaries "facilitate the exchange of
substances between blood and tissues."
4. The word "deoxygenated" in the passage most nearly means:
• A. Containing oxygen.
• B. Lacking oxygen.
• C. Rich in nutrients.
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• D. Under high pressure.
• Answer: B. "Deoxygenated" refers to blood that has had its oxygen removed or is
low in oxygen content.
5. According to the passage, the circulatory system helps regulate:
• A. Only body temperature.
• B. Only pH balance.
• C. Both body temperature and pH balance.
• D. Neither body temperature nor pH balance.
• Answer: C. The passage states that the circulatory system "plays a vital role in
maintaining body temperature and pH balance."
Passage B
The nursing profession has evolved significantly over the past century. In the early
1900s, nursing was primarily a vocation focused on providing basic comfort measures
and following physicians' orders. Today, nursing is recognized as a distinct profession
with its own body of knowledge, ethical standards, and scope of practice. Modern
nurses are educated at the associate, baccalaureate, and graduate levels. They function
as patient advocates, educators, care coordinators, and leaders within
interprofessional healthcare teams. Evidence-based practice has become the gold
standard, requiring nurses to integrate clinical expertise with the best available
research evidence and patient preferences. The shift toward patient-centered care has
further elevated the role of nurses in ensuring that healthcare decisions respect
patients' values, needs, and preferences.
6. What is the main idea of this passage?
• A. Nursing has remained unchanged throughout history.
• B. Nursing has evolved from a vocation to a distinct profession.
• C. Nurses today follow physicians' orders more than ever.
• D. Evidence-based practice is no longer important in nursing.
• Answer: B. The passage traces the evolution of nursing from a vocation to a
distinct profession.
7. According to the passage, modern nurses function in all of the following roles
EXCEPT:
• A. Patient advocates.
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• B. Care coordinators.
• C. Interprofessional team leaders.
• D. Hospital administrators.
• Answer: D. The passage mentions patient advocates, care coordinators, and
leaders within teams, but does not specifically mention hospital administrators.
8. The phrase "evidence-based practice" refers to:
• A. Following traditions passed down through generations of nurses.
• B. Integrating clinical expertise with research evidence and patient preferences.
• C. Relying exclusively on physicians' orders.
• D. Using only intuition and experience to make decisions.
• Answer: B. The passage defines evidence-based practice as integrating clinical
expertise with research evidence and patient preferences.
9. What does the word "vocation" most nearly mean in the context of this passage?
• A. A profession requiring advanced education.
• B. A calling or occupation considered less professional.
• C. A scientific discipline.
• D. A management position.
• Answer: B. "Vocation" in this context refers to a calling or occupation, implying it
was viewed as less professional than today's nursing profession.
10. According to the passage, patient-centered care requires that healthcare
decisions:
• A. Prioritize the physician's opinion above all else.
• B. Follow standardized protocols regardless of patient preference.
• C. Respect patients' values, needs, and preferences.
• D. Rely solely on evidence-based research.
• Answer: C. The passage states that patient-centered care ensures decisions
"respect patients' values, needs, and preferences."
Passage C
The process of digestion begins in the mouth, where mechanical breakdown of food
HESI ADMISSION ASSESSMENT (A2) EXAM LATEST
VERSION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
EDITION
HESI Admission Assessment (A2) Exam — 250 Practice Questions
The HESI Admission Assessment (A2) Exam is a computerized, multiple-choice
entrance exam used by nursing and healthcare programs to evaluate applicants'
academic readiness. The exam typically covers:
• Reading Comprehension (55 questions)
• Vocabulary & General Knowledge (55 questions)
• Grammar (55 questions)
• Mathematics / Basic Math Skills (55 questions)
• Anatomy & Physiology (30 questions)
• Biology (optional, varies by program)
• Chemistry (optional, varies by program)
• Physics (optional, varies by program)
SECTION 1: Reading Comprehension (Questions 1-40)
Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.
Passage A
The human circulatory system is a complex network responsible for transporting
oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and cellular waste products throughout the body. The
heart, a muscular organ approximately the size of a fist, serves as the central pump. It
consists of four chambers: two upper atria and two lower ventricles. The right side of
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the heart receives deoxygenated blood from the body and pumps it to the lungs for
oxygenation. The left side receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumps it to the
rest of the body. Blood vessels include arteries, which carry blood away from the heart;
veins, which return blood to the heart; and capillaries, which facilitate the exchange of
substances between blood and tissues. The circulatory system also plays a vital role in
maintaining body temperature and pH balance.
1. What is the primary function of the heart as described in the passage?
• A. To filter waste products from the blood.
• B. To serve as the central pump of the circulatory system.
• C. To produce hormones that regulate blood pressure.
• D. To store oxygen for later use by the body.
• Answer: B. The passage states that "the heart... serves as the central pump."
2. Which chamber of the heart receives oxygenated blood from the lungs?
• A. Right atrium.
• B. Right ventricle.
• C. Left atrium.
• D. Left ventricle.
• Answer: C. The passage states that "the left side receives oxygenated blood
from the lungs." The left atrium is the chamber that receives this blood.
3. What is the role of capillaries in the circulatory system?
• A. To carry blood away from the heart.
• B. To return blood to the heart.
• C. To facilitate the exchange of substances between blood and tissues.
• D. To store blood for emergency use.
• Answer: C. The passage states that capillaries "facilitate the exchange of
substances between blood and tissues."
4. The word "deoxygenated" in the passage most nearly means:
• A. Containing oxygen.
• B. Lacking oxygen.
• C. Rich in nutrients.
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• D. Under high pressure.
• Answer: B. "Deoxygenated" refers to blood that has had its oxygen removed or is
low in oxygen content.
5. According to the passage, the circulatory system helps regulate:
• A. Only body temperature.
• B. Only pH balance.
• C. Both body temperature and pH balance.
• D. Neither body temperature nor pH balance.
• Answer: C. The passage states that the circulatory system "plays a vital role in
maintaining body temperature and pH balance."
Passage B
The nursing profession has evolved significantly over the past century. In the early
1900s, nursing was primarily a vocation focused on providing basic comfort measures
and following physicians' orders. Today, nursing is recognized as a distinct profession
with its own body of knowledge, ethical standards, and scope of practice. Modern
nurses are educated at the associate, baccalaureate, and graduate levels. They function
as patient advocates, educators, care coordinators, and leaders within
interprofessional healthcare teams. Evidence-based practice has become the gold
standard, requiring nurses to integrate clinical expertise with the best available
research evidence and patient preferences. The shift toward patient-centered care has
further elevated the role of nurses in ensuring that healthcare decisions respect
patients' values, needs, and preferences.
6. What is the main idea of this passage?
• A. Nursing has remained unchanged throughout history.
• B. Nursing has evolved from a vocation to a distinct profession.
• C. Nurses today follow physicians' orders more than ever.
• D. Evidence-based practice is no longer important in nursing.
• Answer: B. The passage traces the evolution of nursing from a vocation to a
distinct profession.
7. According to the passage, modern nurses function in all of the following roles
EXCEPT:
• A. Patient advocates.
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• B. Care coordinators.
• C. Interprofessional team leaders.
• D. Hospital administrators.
• Answer: D. The passage mentions patient advocates, care coordinators, and
leaders within teams, but does not specifically mention hospital administrators.
8. The phrase "evidence-based practice" refers to:
• A. Following traditions passed down through generations of nurses.
• B. Integrating clinical expertise with research evidence and patient preferences.
• C. Relying exclusively on physicians' orders.
• D. Using only intuition and experience to make decisions.
• Answer: B. The passage defines evidence-based practice as integrating clinical
expertise with research evidence and patient preferences.
9. What does the word "vocation" most nearly mean in the context of this passage?
• A. A profession requiring advanced education.
• B. A calling or occupation considered less professional.
• C. A scientific discipline.
• D. A management position.
• Answer: B. "Vocation" in this context refers to a calling or occupation, implying it
was viewed as less professional than today's nursing profession.
10. According to the passage, patient-centered care requires that healthcare
decisions:
• A. Prioritize the physician's opinion above all else.
• B. Follow standardized protocols regardless of patient preference.
• C. Respect patients' values, needs, and preferences.
• D. Rely solely on evidence-based research.
• Answer: C. The passage states that patient-centered care ensures decisions
"respect patients' values, needs, and preferences."
Passage C
The process of digestion begins in the mouth, where mechanical breakdown of food
