The Ultimate and Complete HESI A2 Math Admission Assessment Exam Study Guide
2026–2027, Covering Basic Arithmetic, Whole Numbers, Addition, Subtraction,
Multiplication and Division, Fractions, Mixed Numbers, Decimals, Percentages, Ratios
and Proportions, Conversions, Household Measurements, Metric Measurements,
Military and Standard Time, Roman Numerals, Algebraic Expressions, Word Problems,
Dosage and Solution Calculations, Medication-Related Mathematics, Rounding and
Estimation, Dimensional Analysis, Numerical Reasoning, Health-Care Mathematics,
Practice Problems With Step-by-Step Solutions, Detailed Rationales, Timed Practice
Tests, and Comprehensive Preparation for the Elsevier HESI Admission Assessment
(A²) Mathematics Examination
Question 1: A nurse is preparing to administer a medication that is available in a liquid
concentration of 250 mg per 5 mL. The prescribed dose is 375 mg. How many mL should the
nurse administer?
A. 6.5 mL
B. 7.5 mL
C. 8.0 mL
D. 8.5 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 7.5 mL
Rationale: To solve, set up a proportion: 250 mg / 5 mL = 375 mg / X mL. Cross-multiply to get
250X = 1875. Divide both sides by 250, yielding X = 7.5 mL.
Question 2: A patient's daily caloric intake consists of 40% carbohydrates, 30% protein, and
30% fat. If the patient consumes 2,400 total calories, how many calories come from protein?
A. 600 calories
B. 720 calories
C. 800 calories
D. 960 calories
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 720 calories
Rationale: 30% of 2,400 is calculated as 0.30 × 2,400 = 720 calories. This represents the caloric
contribution from protein.
Question 3: A solution contains 0.9% sodium chloride. How many grams of sodium chloride
are present in 500 mL of this solution?
A. 4.0 g
B. 4.5 g
C. 5.0 g
D. 5.5 g
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 4.5 g
,Rationale: A 0.9% solution means 0.9 grams per 100 mL. For 500 mL, multiply 0.9 g/100 mL ×
500 mL = 4.5 g.
Question 4: A nurse must infuse 1,000 mL of normal saline over 8 hours. The drop factor is 15
gtt/mL. Calculate the flow rate in drops per minute (gtt/min).
A. 21 gtt/min
B. 26 gtt/min
C. 31 gtt/min
D. 36 gtt/min
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 31 gtt/min
Rationale: First, find the mL per minute: 1,000 mL / 480 minutes (8 hours × 60) = 2.083 mL/min.
Then multiply by the drop factor: 2.083 × 15 = 31.25, which rounds to 31 gtt/min.
Question 5: A patient weighs 180 pounds. What is their weight in kilograms? (Round to the
nearest tenth, use 1 kg = 2.2 lbs)
A. 72.7 kg
B. 78.5 kg
C. 81.8 kg
D. 84.2 kg
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 81.8 kg
Rationale: Divide the weight in pounds by the conversion factor: 180 lbs / 2.2 kg/lb = 81.818...
Rounding to the nearest tenth gives 81.8 kg.
Question 6: A medication is prescribed as 0.05 g. The pharmacy supplies it in 25 mg tablets.
How many tablets should be given?
A. 1 tablet
B. 2 tablets
C. 3 tablets
D. 4 tablets
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 2 tablets
Rationale: Convert 0.05 g to milligrams: 0.05 × 1000 = 50 mg. Each tablet is 25 mg, so 50 mg /
25 mg/tablet = 2 tablets.
Question 7: What is the result of converting 5/8 to a percentage?
A. 58%
B. 60%
,C. 62.5%
D. 65%
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 62.5%
Rationale: Divide the numerator by the denominator: 5 ÷ 8 = 0.625. Multiply by 100 to get the
percentage: 0.625 × 100 = 62.5%.
Question 8: A patient is receiving 2 L of oxygen per minute via nasal cannula. How many mL
per minute is this?
A. 200 mL/min
B. 2000 mL/min
C. 20 mL/min
D. 0.2 mL/min
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 2000 mL/min
Rationale: There are 1,000 mL in 1 Liter. Therefore, 2 L × 1,000 mL/L = 2,000 mL/min.
Question 9: A nurse needs to administer 40 mEq of potassium chloride. The vial is labeled 20
mEq per 10 mL. How many mL are needed?
A. 10 mL
B. 15 mL
C. 20 mL
D. 25 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 20 mL
Rationale: Use the ratio: 20 mEq / 10 mL = 40 mEq / X mL. Cross-multiply: 20X = 400. Divide by
20 to get X = 20 mL.
Question 10: If a patient's temperature is 37.8°C, what is the equivalent in degrees
Fahrenheit? (Use °F = (°C × 9/5) + 32)
A. 98.6°F
B. 100.0°F
C. 101.2°F
D. 102.4°F
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 100.0°F
Rationale: Plug 37.8 into the formula: (37.8 × 9/5) + 32 = (37.8 × 1.8) + 32 = 68.04 + 32 = 100.04,
which rounds to 100.0°F.
Question 11: A prescription reads "500 mg of Amoxicillin." The available suspension is 250 mg
per 5 mL. How many teaspoons will the nurse instruct the patient to take? (1 tsp = 5 mL)
, A. 1 tsp
B. 1.5 tsp
C. 2 tsp
D. 2.5 tsp
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 2 tsp
Rationale: First, find the mL needed: 250 mg / 5 mL = 500 mg / X mL, so X = 10 mL. Since 1 tsp =
5 mL, 10 mL / 5 mL/tsp = 2 tsp.
Question 12: A patient drinks 8 ounces of water, 12 ounces of juice, and 6 ounces of soup.
What is the total intake in milliliters? (1 oz = 30 mL)
A. 600 mL
B. 720 mL
C. 780 mL
D. 840 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 780 mL
Rationale: Total ounces = 8 + 12 + 6 = 26 ounces. 26 oz × 30 mL/oz = 780 mL.
Question 13: A nurse is calculating the BMI of a patient who weighs 70 kg and is 1.75 meters
tall. What is the BMI? (BMI = kg/m²)
A. 20.0
B. 22.9
C. 24.5
D. 26.8
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 22.9
Rationale: Square the height: 1.75 × 1.75 = 3.0625. Divide the weight by the height squared: 70
/ 3.0625 = 22.857, which rounds to 22.9.
Question 14: A medication order calls for 1.5 mg/kg of a drug. The patient weighs 132 lbs.
How many mg should the patient receive? (Use 1 kg = 2.2 lbs)
A. 60 mg
B. 75 mg
C. 90 mg
D. 105 mg
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 90 mg
Rationale: Convert weight: 132 lbs / 2.2 = 60 kg. Multiply by the dose: 1.5 mg/kg × 60 kg = 90
mg.
2026–2027, Covering Basic Arithmetic, Whole Numbers, Addition, Subtraction,
Multiplication and Division, Fractions, Mixed Numbers, Decimals, Percentages, Ratios
and Proportions, Conversions, Household Measurements, Metric Measurements,
Military and Standard Time, Roman Numerals, Algebraic Expressions, Word Problems,
Dosage and Solution Calculations, Medication-Related Mathematics, Rounding and
Estimation, Dimensional Analysis, Numerical Reasoning, Health-Care Mathematics,
Practice Problems With Step-by-Step Solutions, Detailed Rationales, Timed Practice
Tests, and Comprehensive Preparation for the Elsevier HESI Admission Assessment
(A²) Mathematics Examination
Question 1: A nurse is preparing to administer a medication that is available in a liquid
concentration of 250 mg per 5 mL. The prescribed dose is 375 mg. How many mL should the
nurse administer?
A. 6.5 mL
B. 7.5 mL
C. 8.0 mL
D. 8.5 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 7.5 mL
Rationale: To solve, set up a proportion: 250 mg / 5 mL = 375 mg / X mL. Cross-multiply to get
250X = 1875. Divide both sides by 250, yielding X = 7.5 mL.
Question 2: A patient's daily caloric intake consists of 40% carbohydrates, 30% protein, and
30% fat. If the patient consumes 2,400 total calories, how many calories come from protein?
A. 600 calories
B. 720 calories
C. 800 calories
D. 960 calories
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 720 calories
Rationale: 30% of 2,400 is calculated as 0.30 × 2,400 = 720 calories. This represents the caloric
contribution from protein.
Question 3: A solution contains 0.9% sodium chloride. How many grams of sodium chloride
are present in 500 mL of this solution?
A. 4.0 g
B. 4.5 g
C. 5.0 g
D. 5.5 g
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 4.5 g
,Rationale: A 0.9% solution means 0.9 grams per 100 mL. For 500 mL, multiply 0.9 g/100 mL ×
500 mL = 4.5 g.
Question 4: A nurse must infuse 1,000 mL of normal saline over 8 hours. The drop factor is 15
gtt/mL. Calculate the flow rate in drops per minute (gtt/min).
A. 21 gtt/min
B. 26 gtt/min
C. 31 gtt/min
D. 36 gtt/min
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 31 gtt/min
Rationale: First, find the mL per minute: 1,000 mL / 480 minutes (8 hours × 60) = 2.083 mL/min.
Then multiply by the drop factor: 2.083 × 15 = 31.25, which rounds to 31 gtt/min.
Question 5: A patient weighs 180 pounds. What is their weight in kilograms? (Round to the
nearest tenth, use 1 kg = 2.2 lbs)
A. 72.7 kg
B. 78.5 kg
C. 81.8 kg
D. 84.2 kg
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 81.8 kg
Rationale: Divide the weight in pounds by the conversion factor: 180 lbs / 2.2 kg/lb = 81.818...
Rounding to the nearest tenth gives 81.8 kg.
Question 6: A medication is prescribed as 0.05 g. The pharmacy supplies it in 25 mg tablets.
How many tablets should be given?
A. 1 tablet
B. 2 tablets
C. 3 tablets
D. 4 tablets
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 2 tablets
Rationale: Convert 0.05 g to milligrams: 0.05 × 1000 = 50 mg. Each tablet is 25 mg, so 50 mg /
25 mg/tablet = 2 tablets.
Question 7: What is the result of converting 5/8 to a percentage?
A. 58%
B. 60%
,C. 62.5%
D. 65%
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 62.5%
Rationale: Divide the numerator by the denominator: 5 ÷ 8 = 0.625. Multiply by 100 to get the
percentage: 0.625 × 100 = 62.5%.
Question 8: A patient is receiving 2 L of oxygen per minute via nasal cannula. How many mL
per minute is this?
A. 200 mL/min
B. 2000 mL/min
C. 20 mL/min
D. 0.2 mL/min
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 2000 mL/min
Rationale: There are 1,000 mL in 1 Liter. Therefore, 2 L × 1,000 mL/L = 2,000 mL/min.
Question 9: A nurse needs to administer 40 mEq of potassium chloride. The vial is labeled 20
mEq per 10 mL. How many mL are needed?
A. 10 mL
B. 15 mL
C. 20 mL
D. 25 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 20 mL
Rationale: Use the ratio: 20 mEq / 10 mL = 40 mEq / X mL. Cross-multiply: 20X = 400. Divide by
20 to get X = 20 mL.
Question 10: If a patient's temperature is 37.8°C, what is the equivalent in degrees
Fahrenheit? (Use °F = (°C × 9/5) + 32)
A. 98.6°F
B. 100.0°F
C. 101.2°F
D. 102.4°F
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 100.0°F
Rationale: Plug 37.8 into the formula: (37.8 × 9/5) + 32 = (37.8 × 1.8) + 32 = 68.04 + 32 = 100.04,
which rounds to 100.0°F.
Question 11: A prescription reads "500 mg of Amoxicillin." The available suspension is 250 mg
per 5 mL. How many teaspoons will the nurse instruct the patient to take? (1 tsp = 5 mL)
, A. 1 tsp
B. 1.5 tsp
C. 2 tsp
D. 2.5 tsp
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 2 tsp
Rationale: First, find the mL needed: 250 mg / 5 mL = 500 mg / X mL, so X = 10 mL. Since 1 tsp =
5 mL, 10 mL / 5 mL/tsp = 2 tsp.
Question 12: A patient drinks 8 ounces of water, 12 ounces of juice, and 6 ounces of soup.
What is the total intake in milliliters? (1 oz = 30 mL)
A. 600 mL
B. 720 mL
C. 780 mL
D. 840 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 780 mL
Rationale: Total ounces = 8 + 12 + 6 = 26 ounces. 26 oz × 30 mL/oz = 780 mL.
Question 13: A nurse is calculating the BMI of a patient who weighs 70 kg and is 1.75 meters
tall. What is the BMI? (BMI = kg/m²)
A. 20.0
B. 22.9
C. 24.5
D. 26.8
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 22.9
Rationale: Square the height: 1.75 × 1.75 = 3.0625. Divide the weight by the height squared: 70
/ 3.0625 = 22.857, which rounds to 22.9.
Question 14: A medication order calls for 1.5 mg/kg of a drug. The patient weighs 132 lbs.
How many mg should the patient receive? (Use 1 kg = 2.2 lbs)
A. 60 mg
B. 75 mg
C. 90 mg
D. 105 mg
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 90 mg
Rationale: Convert weight: 132 lbs / 2.2 = 60 kg. Multiply by the dose: 1.5 mg/kg × 60 kg = 90
mg.
