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HESI A2 Admission Assessment practice questions and answers
20 free questions from our 300-question HESI A2 Admission Assessment bank, each with the correct answer, explanation, and source note. Official format: Up to 8 subject areas · your program chooses which subtests you sit · no universal passing score.
Math
1. What is the result of adding 3/8 and 1/4?
Answer: A. The keyed answer is "5/8". To add fractions, find a common denominator. Convert 1/4 to 2/8, then add 3/8 plus 2/8 equals 5/8. The other choices come from misidentifying the common denominator or incorrectly adding numerators. This item tests math in the context of HESI A2 Content Outline — Math: Fractions/Decimals/Percentages. Apply the rule only under the conditions stated in the stem, and compare the distractors with the keyed answer before using the rule in a different situation.
Source: HESI A2 Content Outline — Math: Fractions/Decimals/Percentages
Math
2. A recipe calls for 2.5 cups of flour. If you want to make half the recipe, how many cups of flour are needed?
Answer: B. The keyed answer is "1.25 cups". To halve a quantity, divide by 2. Half of 2.5 is 1.25 cups. The other options result from rounding errors or incorrect division. This item tests math in the context of HESI A2 Content Outline — Math: Fractions/Decimals/Percentages. Apply the rule only under the conditions stated in the stem, and compare the distractors with the keyed answer before using the rule in a different situation.
Source: HESI A2 Content Outline — Math: Fractions/Decimals/Percentages
Math
3. What percentage of 80 is 20?
Answer: B. The keyed answer is "25%". To find what percent 20 is of 80, divide 20 by 80 to get 0.25, then multiply by 100 to get 25%. The other choices come from miscalculating the ratio. This item tests math in the context of HESI A2 Content Outline — Math: Fractions/Decimals/Percentages. Apply the rule only under the conditions stated in the stem, and compare the distractors with the keyed answer before using the rule in a different situation.
Source: HESI A2 Content Outline — Math: Fractions/Decimals/Percentages
Math
4. Convert 3/5 to a decimal.
Answer: B. The keyed answer is "0.60". Divide the numerator by the denominator: 3 divided by 5 equals 0.60. The other options result from common division errors or misplacing the decimal point. This item tests math in the context of HESI A2 Content Outline — Math: Fractions/Decimals/Percentages. Apply the rule only under the conditions stated in the stem, and compare the distractors with the keyed answer before using the rule in a different situation.
Source: HESI A2 Content Outline — Math: Fractions/Decimals/Percentages
Math
5. If 3 pills cost $12, how much do 7 pills cost at the same rate?
Answer: C. The keyed answer is "$32". First find the cost per pill: $12 divided by 3 equals $4 per pill. Then multiply by 7: $4 times 7 equals $28. The other choices come from incorrect unit rates. This item tests math in the context of HESI A2 Content Outline — Math: Ratios/Proportions. Apply the rule only under the conditions stated in the stem, and compare the distractors with the keyed answer before using the rule in a different situation.
Source: HESI A2 Content Outline — Math: Ratios/Proportions
Math
6. A patient receives 500 mL of IV fluid over 4 hours. What is the flow rate in mL per hour?
Answer: D. The keyed answer is "200 mL/hr". Flow rate equals total volume divided by time: 500 mL divided by 4 hours equals 125 mL per hour. The other options result from division errors. This item tests math in the context of HESI A2 Content Outline — Math: Ratios/Proportions. Apply the rule only under the conditions stated in the stem, and compare the distractors with the keyed answer before using the rule in a different situation.
Source: HESI A2 Content Outline — Math: Ratios/Proportions
Math
7. The ratio of nurses to patients is 1:4. If there are 12 patients, how many nurses are needed?
Answer: A. The keyed answer is "2". Set up a proportion: 1 nurse per 4 patients equals x nurses per 12 patients. Cross-multiply: 4x equals 12, so x equals 3. The other answers come from incorrect proportions. This item tests math in the context of HESI A2 Content Outline — Math: Ratios/Proportions. Apply the rule only under the conditions stated in the stem, and compare the distractors with the keyed answer before using the rule in a different situation.
Source: HESI A2 Content Outline — Math: Ratios/Proportions
Math
8. A medication dose is 2 mg per kg of body weight. For a 70 kg patient, what is the total dose in mg?
Answer: D. The keyed answer is "180 mg". Multiply the dose per kilogram by the patient weight: 2 mg per kg times 70 kg equals 140 mg. The other options result from arithmetic errors. This item tests math in the context of HESI A2 Content Outline — Math: Ratios/Proportions. Apply the rule only under the conditions stated in the stem, and compare the distractors with the keyed answer before using the rule in a different situation.
Source: HESI A2 Content Outline — Math: Ratios/Proportions
Math
9. Solve for x: 2x + 5 = 15.
Answer: A. The keyed answer is "x = 4". Subtract 5 from both sides: 2x equals 10. Then divide by 2: x equals 5. The other options result from incorrect algebraic manipulation. This item tests math in the context of HESI A2 Content Outline — Math: Algebra/Geometry. Apply the rule only under the conditions stated in the stem, and compare the distractors with the keyed answer before using the rule in a different situation.
Source: HESI A2 Content Outline — Math: Algebra/Geometry
Math
10. A rectangle has a length of 8 cm and a width of 5 cm. What is its area?
Answer: D. The keyed answer is "80 cm squared". Area of a rectangle is length times width: 8 cm times 5 cm equals 40 cm squared. The other options come from adding instead of multiplying or miscalculating. This item tests math in the context of HESI A2 Content Outline — Math: Algebra/Geometry. Apply the rule only under the conditions stated in the stem, and compare the distractors with the keyed answer before using the rule in a different situation.
Source: HESI A2 Content Outline — Math: Algebra/Geometry
Math
11. What is the perimeter of a square with a side length of 6 inches?
Answer: C. The keyed answer is "24 inches". Perimeter of a square is 4 times the side: 4 times 6 inches equals 24 inches. The other options come from incorrect formulas. This item tests math in the context of HESI A2 Content Outline — Math: Algebra/Geometry. Apply the rule only under the conditions stated in the stem, and compare the distractors with the keyed answer before using the rule in a different situation.
Source: HESI A2 Content Outline — Math: Algebra/Geometry
Math
12. If a circle has a radius of 3 cm, what is its circumference? (Use pi = 3.14)
Answer: B. The keyed answer is "18.84 cm". Circumference equals 2 times pi times radius: 2 times 3.14 times 3 cm equals 18.84 cm. The other options result from using diameter instead of radius or miscalculating. This item tests math in the context of HESI A2 Content Outline — Math: Algebra/Geometry. Apply the rule only under the conditions stated in the stem, and compare the distractors with the keyed answer before using the rule in a different situation.
Source: HESI A2 Content Outline — Math: Algebra/Geometry
Reading
13. Read the following passage: 'The heart pumps blood through the circulatory system, delivering oxygen and nutrients to tissues while removing carbon dioxide and waste products.' What is the main idea of this sentence?
Answer: C. The keyed answer is "The heart circulates blood throughout the body.". The sentence describes the primary role of the heart in circulation. The other options mention supporting details but not the central idea of the entire passage. This item tests reading in the context of HESI A2 Content Outline — Reading: Comprehension. Apply the rule only under the conditions stated in the stem, and compare the distractors with the keyed answer before using the rule in a different situation.
Source: HESI A2 Content Outline — Reading: Comprehension
Reading
14. Which sentence is correctly written?
Answer: B. The keyed answer is "The nurse checked the patient's vital signs.". The possessive form of patient is patient's, indicating belonging. The other options misuse apostrophes or apply the wrong possessive form. This item tests reading in the context of HESI A2 Content Outline — Reading: Vocabulary in Context. Apply the rule only under the conditions stated in the stem, and compare the distractors with the keyed answer before using the rule in a different situation.
Source: HESI A2 Content Outline — Reading: Vocabulary in Context
Reading
15. In the sentence 'The medication should be administered intramuscularly,' what does 'intramuscularly' mean?
Answer: C. The keyed answer is "Into a muscle". The prefix intra means within, and muscular refers to muscle. Intramuscularly means the medication is delivered into a muscle tissue. This item tests reading in the context of HESI A2 Content Outline — Reading: Vocabulary in Context. Apply the rule only under the conditions stated in the stem, and compare the distractors with the keyed answer before using the rule in a different situation.
Source: HESI A2 Content Outline — Reading: Vocabulary in Context
Reading
16. Read this excerpt: 'Postoperative care involves monitoring the patient's vital signs, managing pain, and preventing complications.' What is the author's purpose in this sentence?
Answer: C. The keyed answer is "To list components of postoperative care". The sentence enumerates specific tasks involved in postoperative care, making the purpose to list or describe the components of this type of care. This item tests reading in the context of HESI A2 Content Outline — Reading: Comprehension. Apply the rule only under the conditions stated in the stem, and compare the distractors with the keyed answer before using the rule in a different situation.
Source: HESI A2 Content Outline — Reading: Comprehension
Reading
17. What does the prefix 'tachy-' mean in the word 'tachycardia'?
Answer: B. The keyed answer is "Fast". The prefix tachy means fast. Tachycardia refers to a heart rate that is faster than the normal resting rate for an adult. This item tests reading in the context of HESI A2 Content Outline — Reading: Vocabulary in Context. Apply the rule only under the conditions stated in the stem, and compare the distractors with the keyed answer before using the rule in a different situation.
Source: HESI A2 Content Outline — Reading: Vocabulary in Context
Reading
18. Which word best completes the sentence: 'The nurse ______ the IV site for signs of infiltration.'?
Answer: A. The keyed answer is "assessed". The past tense assessed is appropriate here as it describes a completed action in a narrative about patient care. This item tests reading in the context of HESI A2 Content Outline — Reading: Vocabulary in Context. Apply the rule only under the conditions stated in the stem, and compare the distractors with the keyed answer before using the rule in a different situation.
Source: HESI A2 Content Outline — Reading: Vocabulary in Context
Reading
19. Read the passage: 'Hypertension, often called the silent killer, can lead to heart disease, stroke, and kidney damage if left untreated.' What can be inferred about hypertension?
Answer: C. The keyed answer is "It may not show symptoms but can be dangerous.". The phrase silent killer suggests hypertension often has no obvious symptoms but can cause serious health problems if not managed. This item tests reading in the context of HESI A2 Content Outline — Reading: Comprehension. Apply the rule only under the conditions stated in the stem, and compare the distractors with the keyed answer before using the rule in a different situation.
Source: HESI A2 Content Outline — Reading: Comprehension
Reading
20. In the sentence 'The patient's condition deteriorated rapidly,' which word is an antonym of 'deteriorated'?
Answer: B. The keyed answer is "Improved". An antonym is a word with the opposite meaning. Improved is the opposite of deteriorated, which means to become worse. This item tests reading in the context of HESI A2 Content Outline — Reading: Vocabulary in Context. Apply the rule only under the conditions stated in the stem, and compare the distractors with the keyed answer before using the rule in a different situation.
Source: HESI A2 Content Outline — Reading: Vocabulary in Context
That’s the free set. The full bank has 300.
More original practice questions across the listed topics, a 50-question timed benchmark, and saved mistake review. Internal QuizCram practice target. Elsevier publishes no official passing score for the HESI A2 — each nursing program sets its own required score. One payment of $24.99, yours forever.