Assessment Home | Students | Employees | Visitors | Alumni | PVCC Home

HESI A2 Nursing Admission Assessment Exam

What is the HESI A2?

The Evolve Reach (HESI) Admission Assessment Exam (A2) is a computer based test consisting of a number of separate modules. The modules used by the Maricopa County Community College Nursing Program include: Math Skills, Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary and General Knowledge, Grammar, Learning Style, Personality Style, and Critical Thinking. Minimum requirements for admission to the MCCCD Nursing Program are 75% on the Math, and a composite (average) score of 75% on Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary and General Knowledge, and Grammar. Results on Learning Style, Personality Style, and Critical Thinking are helpful to know but will not be used as part of the admission criteria. The HESI A2 Science modules in Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy & Physiology, and Physics will not be administered and are not required for admission into the MCCCD Nursing Program.

1. Math: 50-item exam. Focuses on math skills needed for health care fields, including basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, fractions, decimals, ratio and proportion, household measures, and general math facts that are useful, for example, when calculating drug dosages and solutions. Recommended Time: 50 minutes. Personal calculators are not permitted, but a basic calculator is available within the software. Scratch paper will be provided. Minimum score of 75% is required.
2. English Language Composite:
   • Reading Comprehension: 47-item exam. Reading scenarios that are health related. Provides reading scenarios in order to measure reading comprehension, including: identifying the main idea, finding meaning of words in context, passage comprehension, making logical inferences, etc. Recommended Time: 60 minutes.
   • Vocabulary and General Knowledge: 50-item exam. Contains basic vocabulary that is often used in health care fields. Recommended Time: 50 minutes.
   • Grammar: 50-item exam. Contains basic grammar, including: parts of speech, important terms and their uses in grammar, and commonly occurring grammatical errors. Recommended Time: 50 minutes.
   A minimum composite score (average of all three components) of 75% is required.
3. Learning Styles: 14-item assessment of preferred learning style. Recommended Time: 15 minutes. (Not included in minimum score requirements)
4. Personality Style: 25-item assessment of personality related to preferred learning style. Students receive a printout with study tips based on their learning style and personality profile. Recommended Time: 25 minutes. (Not included in minimum score requirements)
5. Critical Thinking: 30-item assessment of critical thinking ability. This exam is a four-choice, multiple-choice test. All answers are correct; however, each choice reflects a different degree critical thinking skills. Scores range from 0-1000. The higher the score, the better the ability to think critically within the discipline of nursing. Recommended Time: 30 minutes (Not included in minimum score requirements)

How can I prepare for the HESI A2?

The HESI A2 study guide is available for purchase in the PVCC bookstore or online at www.us.elsevierhealth.com. Online sample questions are available at Nursing Exam Prep Info as well as other sites. A simple web search for "HESI A2" will list a number of sites. Other resources will be listed as they become available.

Where and when can I take the test?

Assessment/Testing Center
Kranitz Student Center
Room 226
602-787-7050

HESI A2 testing is available on a walk-in basis during our walk-in testing hours. Due to heavy volume of other tests, HESI A2 testing will not be available the week before classes start or the first week of class, or the last week of classes or finals week. Hours may vary during school holidays and semester breaks. Call 602-787-7050 to verify current hours.

You must arrive at least 3½ hours prior to closing in order to test. No HESI A2 tests will be started after that time. Photo ID is required and a Student Information Form must be on file with the Admissions Office at one of the Maricopa Community Colleges. You can also input your information online at my.maricopa.edu.

It is recommended that you complete the HESI A2 test well before you plan to submit your nursing application. In the event that you did not achieve the required scores, time for remediation and retesting is available. The HESI A2 test can be taken only once every 60 days, and no more than 3 times in a one-year period at any of the Maricopa Community Colleges. The scores are valid for two years.

Refer to the Maricopa Community College District Nursing Program website for additional information.

How much does it cost?

The cost of the HESI test is $35 (subject to change). After the Assessment/Testing Center verifies eligibity, a fee payment form will be issued which is taken to the Cashier's Office on the ground floor of the Kranitz Student Center. The form and the receipt are then taken back to the Assessment/Testing Center. The Cashier's Office is open 8:00 am to 7:00 pm Monday through Thursday, and 8:00 am to 5:00 pm on Friday. Eligibility verification, fee payment, and testing must all take place on the same day. Students testing for a school outside the Maricopa Community College District must also pay a $10 proctor fee. There may be additional fees to fax or mail your scores to another school. Please ask the proctor about additional fees before you test.

How long does the HESI A2 take?

The HESI A2 is untimed. Most students will finish in 3½ hours or less. In order to insure that you have plenty of time to complete the test without hurrying, you must arrive at the Assessment/Testing Center at least 3½ hours prior to closing. No HESI A2 exams will be started after that time. We want you to have the time to do your best and be successful! If you feel that you might benefit from additional time, arrive earlier. All tests must be completed by the end of the scheduled testing period.

Can you accommodate students with disabilities?

Students requiring extra time on the exam should arrive with enough time to complete the exam prior to closing. See the above list for recommended time limits. For example, if you usually require time and a half on exams, the recommended time for math is 50 minutes X 1.5 = 75 minutes. Calculate the total amount of time you will need and plan accordingly. Students with documented disabilities requiring other accommodations should contact the Disability Resource Center to make arrangements to take their test. The Disability Resource Center is located on the ground floor of the Kranitz Student Center and can be reached at 602-787-7170.

I'm more comfortable with a paper test. Can I take the HESI A2 on paper instead of on the computer?

The Evolve Reach HESI A2 exam is available only on computer. This mimics the way in which Nursing License Exams are administered and offers Nursing Students the opportunity to familiarize themselves with this type of exam.

When will I get the results?

The results of the HESI A2 will be printed upon completion of the test and you will receive a copy before you leave the testing center. The scores will also be posted in the Student Information System (SIS) if you are a MCCCD student. We are unable to provide copies of the printout after the initial test although the scores will remain on file in the Student Information System. You can access all your test scores at my.maricopa.edu, just log in, go to your Student Center, and click on the "Test Scores" link under "Academic History". Your scores are also available to you through your Evolve account which you will set up prior to taking the test at evolve.elsevier.com. Record your username and password so that you may access this account later. If you forget your username or password you can retrieve them through the Evolve website.

Can I retest if I have not achieved the minimum scores?

Students may retest after a 60-day waiting period. This allows time for remediation. Free remediation will be available after the test by logging into the Evolve account that you set up prior to the test. You will receive an email with customized information approximately 2-4 days after your test batch has been closed. This personalized evaluation will help you determine your strengths and weaknesses and create a study guide tailored to your needs. Up to 2 retests are permitted within one year from the date of the first test. Scores are valid for two years (24 months).

I've taken the HESI A2 test at another school. Can I use my scores here?

HESI A2 scores from any school in the Maricopa County Community College District are good at all other Maricopa campuses and are accessible through the Student Information System (SIS). If the scores are from a school outside the Maricopa system the scores must be sent directly from that school to one of the Maricopa schools for input into SIS. A Student Information Form must be on file with the Admissions Office of the Maricopa campus receiving the scores. The test must have been taken within two years (24 months) of application to the Nursing Program. Contact the Assessment/Testing Center for more information.

I will be attending another school. Can I take the HESI A2 at Paradise Valley Community College?

If you will be applying to the Nursing Program at any of the Maricopa Community Colleges you may take your test at Paradise Valley Community College. If you are attending a school that is not part of the Maricopa County Community College District, additional fees for proctoring an exam for another institution will apply along with postage and/or faxing charges. For a complete list of fees charged see our webpage at http://www.pvc.maricopa.edu/assessment/proctor.html

Can I take the HESI A2 "for practice" before I take it "for real"?

No. Because the HESI A2 is a standardized test used by Nursing Programs all over the county, all test materials are confidential. Live test questions should not be used for practice. Taking the test for the purpose of viewing live test questions in order to improve a later test score is considered cheating. All such instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Nursing Program and may result in being permanently blocked from entering the Nursing Program. Instead, refer to the HESI A2 study guide or visit one of the many websites that have HESI A2 practice questions available.

I do not live in the greater Phoenix area. Where can I take the HESI A2 test?

Check with your School of Nursing to see where you can take the HESI A2 in your area. The HESI A2 is also available through Prometric Test Centers throughout the country. For more information go to the Prometric website at http://www.prometric.com/Elsevier.

I need the HESI PN, not the HESI A2. Can I take it at Paradise Valley Community College?

PVCC does not currently offer the HESI PN. Please check with one of the other Maricopa Community Colleges for this exam.