• You are here:
  • Home »
  • Study »
best hesi a2 study guide

Best HESI A2 Study Guide: Top 6 Must-Have Guides [2021]

A great study guide is essential to improve one's comprehension skills. Relying on different and unorganized materials can overwhelm you. As a result, you will end up not finishing the key points that you need to study. In this guide, we will give you a list of the best HESI A2 study guide options for your exam preparation. The books will not only help you pass the exams but will allow you to ace them.

One of the first steps, before you get admitted to a nursing program, is to take and pass the screening exams. The Health Education Systems, Inc. Admission Assessment or HESI A2 is used by nursing schools as a qualifying test for those who want to enter the program. Usually, students are required to meet an average of not less than 75% to make it to the list of passers.

If you are preparing for an upcoming test and get admitted to a nursing school, you need to check out the HESI A2 guides that we have listed for you. The guide will help you manage a large amount of information.

What To Expect in the HESI Exam

The examination covers different topics. It includes biology, physics, grammar, math, chemistry, anatomy, and physiology. It also tests your reading and vocabulary skills. Hence, you must expect that portion on the exam too.

These nine areas have 326 questions in total. You will only be given four hours to take the examination. Once you are holding the actual test, try not to be overpowered by your pressure. Later on, we will talk about test-taking tips for you to handle things well.

You also need to understand how many questions are there in each content area and how many minutes are allotted. For anatomy and physiology, there would be 25 questions in total, 5 of them are pilot questions. Pilot questions are not part and not counted towards the score. Meanwhile, biology and chemistry have 25 questions, 5 items are pilot questions each. Each subject will be given 25 minutes allotted time.

Moreover, math, grammar, and vocabulary have 50 questions each. Therefore, given 50 minutes allotted time. Reading comprehension takes one hour with 50 questions as well. Also, learning style and personality profile are covered by the exam. Both have 15 questions each and 15 minutes allotted time.

Let's discuss the subjects next and what is expected of you to do well in each of them. In anatomy and physiology, you will be able to demonstrate your knowledge about body parts and their functions. Biology focuses on cells, cellular respiration, basic biological processes, and more. In chemistry, you should be familiar with chemical reactions and chemical equations.

On the other hand, basic math tests your understanding of fractions, decimals, and exponents. English encompasses reading comprehension, grammar, and vocabulary tests. Anticipate questions about proper usage of punctuation and how to identify the passage's main idea.

How to Prepare for the HESI A2?

nurse preparing for the hesi a2 test

Studying is a process. There will be times when you can no longer find the right direction to continue what you had started. It is challenging to stay focused. Therefore, you need to be serious about how you are going to deal with your materials from start to finish. To make sure that you are using your time efficiently, you have to create a plan and identify strategies to implement that plan.

You might be looking at your books right now and thinking about how you would be able to finish them before the actual test. The truth is, it is kind of impossible when you can't see how to do it. But if you break down the topics and allocate time for them, you'll see how you can accomplish it.

Here are some tips that you can use to perform well in the HESI admission assessment exam:

1. Study Smart

Diligence is a key to finishing all the topics. But before you start, you have to understand what the HESI A2 exam is all about. Just like what we mentioned above, it is an exam that will test your knowledge in nine areas. The next important thing is, you should know what materials you should focus on. Find the best study guides that are suitable for you.

When we say study smart, it does not necessarily mean that you have to give all your time to study. Make a schedule of your study sessions by identifying what hours of the day are active and alert. Studying smart includes having enough rest. Ensure that you have enough sleep because it will help you gain more focus.

2. Answer Practice Tests

By answering practice test questions, you get to experience how it feels like to take the HESI A2 exam. It is an effective way to prepare because you can get used to style and format. If you want to challenge yourself, you can also get a timer. If you are aware of the time, you can also practice how to budget your time. Self-imposed time limits will test your focus and discipline.

3. Take Enough Rest

Aim for 8 hours of sleep so you can have enough energy the next day. If you have taken enough rest, you can focus more. Restlessness and fatigue can increase the possibility of committing mistakes. Before the HESI admission assessment exam, you have to eat healthy foods. You should avoid food that will upset your stomach.

Best HESI A2 Study Guide

In your admission assessment exam review, you have to choose the best study guide. Here, we have prepared a list of the HESI study guides that highlight important concepts and help improve your comprehension. Another factor that we looked into is how the study guides assist students' metacognition.

1. Admission Assessment Exam Review by HESI

admission assessment exam review by hesi for nurses

The authors of the book are from HESI. Meaning to say, the HESI A2 study guide comes from the ones who cater to the examination itself. The HESI A2 study guide has everything that will help you in the HESI A2 test.

The study guide is comprehensive but contains organized material with clear illustrations. The book also contains HESI hint boxes for reminders, tips, and suggestions. To test your understanding of the topics, the book also contains a HESI A2 practice test. After answering the HESI A2 practice test, some explanations will help you digest the lesson. This HESI A2 study guide does not only want you to be familiar with the format and style of the HESI A2 exam. It also allows you to learn why you should know how to get the right answer, especially in Mathematics.

For every sample question in the book, you will read an explanation. At the start of the book, there is a pretest as well. The purpose of the pretest is to measure your knowledge about the subjects. After taking the test, you can evaluate which part you are good at and which ones require more improvement.

Once you are done with this comprehensive material, you will be taking the post-test. It has fifty questions covering all the topics in the book.

One of the reasons why this is a great choice for the HESI A2 study guide is that it was authored by the people who cater the HESI A2 test. So, it sure is a reliable material for your HESI A2 exam preparation. The book contains all the information essential to you. It is just a short book with 160 pages. You surely can finish it before the HESI A2 exam.

2. HESI A2 Secrets Study Guide by Mometrix HESI A2 Prep Team

hesi a2 secrets study guide by mometrix hesi a2 prep team

The book has the best approach when it comes to content. This HESI A2 Secrets study guide by Mometrix HESI A2 Prep Team has summaries of complicated topics making them easier to understand and remember. If you think that you don't have much time to prepare, this might be the best for you.

You can focus on the vital information that you need to focus on. This HESI A2 Secrets study guide has sample questions and explanations that will aid you to digest the topics easily. The book has 222 pages and contains a summary of complicated topics. That way, you can easily understand it.

This HESI A2 Secrets Study Guide does not only contain practice questions. There are tips and strategies too that will assist you while you prepare for the HESI exam.

So, before you sit for the exam, you need this study guide. Get familiar with concepts, procedures, and vocabulary. For each section of the test, the prep team ensures that you are given the best material. The concepts are laid out logically. The HESI A2 Secrets study guide stands out from the rest with technical accuracy and accessibility.

This HESI A2 study guide reveals secrets or special tricks to take the HESI A2 test. When you are taking the actual HESI A2 test, you must know how to eliminate answer choices. This is helpful when selecting the best answer from the choices which all seem correct.

3. McGraw-Hill HESI A2 Practice Tests

mcgraw-hill hesi a2 practice tests for nurses

This McGraw Hill HESI A2 study guide has a variety of practice tests. Don't worry about math and science because the study guide provides a detailed and good explanation for you. The book contains comprehensive review information and then practice tests to assess your learnings.

It is a helpful test-taking addition to your HESI study and preparation. The practice questions will train you to do better each day. The HESI study guide contains three practice tests that are highly similar to the style of the actual HESI A2 exam.

If you want to simulate the test-taking experience before the actual examination, this study guide is highly recommended. Before you go through the actual exam, you have encountered hard questions from this study guide first. That is a good thing when you study for the HESI A2 exam because you can already manage difficult questions.

In the HESI admission assessment exam review, it is best to condition your mind with comprehensive questions. When actual exam day arrives, you will no longer be surprised. The McGraw-Hill HESI A2 Practice Tests trains you to be a better test-taker.

4. 3 HESI Admission Assessment Practice Tests

3 hesi admission assessment practice tests for nurses

In this HESI A2 study guide, you will be given 800 practice  questions. These questions cover all the sections in the HESI examination. The book is designed for you to enhance your skills. The HESI A2 study guide also provides a detailed explanation of the answers.

The full-length tests help you simulate taking the actual exam. This HESI A2 study guide is a proper guide to test your knowledge. The questions have a similar format and style to the actual HESI A2 examination. The book will give you more confidence when taking the exams. This is one of the best prep books that you can use for your preparation.

This HESI A2 Practice Test contains purely test questions. It intends to help you develop comprehension during your test prep.

5. Hesi A2 Flashcard System

hesi a2 flashcard study system for nurses

Make everything easy for you in your HESI admission assessment exam review. To help you ace the actual HESI A2 test, these HESI A2 flashcards will truly help. The study guide contains flashcards that aid in your mastery of the different sections in the exams.

The flashcards are easy to carry around. You keep learning wherever you go. Students who have to take the bus can use these flashcards while traveling. It is one of the advantages of flashcards compared to heavy books. The flashcards in the HESI A2 Flashcard System covers all the sections in the HESI A2 test.

The flashcards are broken down by section. They are highly portable and a good choice for your HESI A2 study. This helps you master the topics well. During your review, you can mix up the flashcards and test your knowledge about the topics.

6. HESI A2 Practice Questions

hesi a2 practice questions for nurses

This HESI A2 study guide offers a lot of practice test questions. There are detailed explanations for the practice questions. This way, you get the best test prep experience. To ensure that you will do well in the HESI test, you have to study the materials effectively.

By repeatedly answering practice questions, the HESI A2 study guide helps you identify weak points. As you answer the practice tests several times, you build your ability to comprehend the practice questions. The next time you encounter the same practice questions, you can already choose the right answers.

This HESI A2 study guide is helpful in your admission assessment exam review because of many practice tests. There is also a section that provides techniques, tips, and test-taking strategies.

This is one of the best HESI A2 study guides because of its good approach and content. The practice questions help you master the topics. The study guide gives strong points in anatomy and vocabulary. This is a great choice for those who want to practice consistently.

What is the Best HESI A2 App?

Except for the HESI A2 study guide, you can also utilize your phone to study for the HESI examination. Study guides are useful when you are at home or in a library. However, you can still study wherever you are with your phone. Thus, you need an app for your phone. There are several apps that you can install and use.

HESI A2 Pocket Prep has two practice modes: simulation and study. The app allows you to take practice tests. Then afterward, you can see the results of the practice tests.  You can tell the app how many questions you want to take and answer. What is also good about the prep app is that you can use it without an internet connection.

The HESI A2 Pocket Prep app covers all sections of the HESI A2 exam. You can have productive study sessions with the prep app. There are study reminders and exam day countdown. The prep app is compatible with phones and tablets.

HESI A2 vs TEAS

hesi a2 vs teas study guides

The HESI A2 and TEAS are both nursing program entrance exams. To enter the nursing program, some nursing schools may require you to pass one or both of the exams. The main difference between the two is the number of sections.

TEAS 6 covers four sections: Reading, Math, Science, and English. For the Reading section, you will be given 64 minutes to answer 53 questions. In Math, there are 36 questions for 54 minutes. In Science, there are 53 questions for 63 minutes. And lastly, English has 28 questions for 28 minutes allotted time.

Results from both exams are not interpreted simply as pass or fail. There will be a corresponding score that will be interpreted by the institution by their standards.

How Do You Know You Got a Good Score on the HEIS A2?

Some schools require you to get at least a 75% score on the HESI A2 examination. However, there is no outright pass or fail result. The HESI A2 assessment has a scoring system different from other examinations. The institution has interpretations of your score. Depending on the guidelines, a student can get admission if he or she meets the standards.

Conclusion

It's always great to come into the exam prepared and confident. By properly selecting the most suitable study guides or flashcards, you might even top the exam. If combined with determination and diligence, you are just one step away from your dream course. Choose the books, study guides, or flashcards that have comprehensive and detailed content but with an excellent approach.

In line with that, among the books and HESI A2 study guides we have listed above, the Admission Assessment Exam Review by HESI is the one that we recommend. The book contains practice tests and an organized summary that will truly help in your test prep. In this HESI study guide, you'll be given a full-length test for your HESI preparation. This is the top HESI A2 guide study that is also popular among students.

The resources or HESI A2 study guide mentioned above are all great for your test prep. The test-taking tips are useful as well. Every book contains comprehensive explanations for the subjects covered.

The best HESI A2 study guide must be able to provide the important concepts and procedures for your HESI A2 practice study. The guide or book that you will use in your test study must also be comprehensive enough to satisfy your needs. Select also the best HESI A2 practice test that will develop your comprehension and answering skills. This is one of the first steps into your dreams. As long as you have the right material mixed with determination, you can do it. Good luck with your exam!