Failed the HESI A2? What to do next
Written and reviewed by Brittany Scott, BSN, RN, CCM · 3 min read · Updated November 2026
Short answer
If you failed the HESI A2, it means you scored below your school's cutoff, not a national mark. Before rebooking, read your section scores, check your school's attempt limit, wait period and how it counts a retake, then spend the wait studying the sections that fell short. Second attempts use a different version of the exam, called version 2.
Find out exactly what you missed
Start with your score report, not your total. South Texas College requires 75 on each section, so one weak section is a fail even with a high average. Baylor requires 80 on math and 80 on the English composite. The University of Arizona instead looks at a combined 75 across four sections, which changes what you need to fix.
Write each required section next to your score and your school's minimum. The gap tells you where the next weeks go. If your school enabled Elsevier's remediation, you may also receive personalized study content for concepts where you scored below a benchmark your program set, per Elsevier's A2 faculty guide.
How your school counts a retake
| School | Attempts | Wait between attempts | How a retake is counted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baylor University | 3 total, once per semester | 60 days | Scores cannot be pieced together |
| East Carolina University | 2 total, never reset | 3 months | Highest score per section combined |
| Alvin College ADN | Two exams from a 12-month period | 90 days | Higher score used only if 90 or more days apart |
| South Texas College ADN | Two per eligibility period | 2 to 3 weeks | Highest score of 75 or better in the same period |
These rules decide your strategy. At ECU, which combines your best section scores, a second attempt only needs to lift the weak sections, though ECU still asks you to complete all five. At Baylor, scores cannot be pieced together, so one attempt has to clear both composites. At ECU, attempts never reset and reapplicants must use their earlier scores, so do not rush.
Is the HESI A2 harder the second time?
Elsevier's A2 faculty guide has schools choose version 1 for first-time testers and version 2 for second-time testers when they schedule the exam. South Texas College tells applicants that the retest uses a different version so no student sees the same items twice.
Neither source says version 2 is harder. What changes is that you cannot rely on remembering questions from the first sitting. Study the content areas behind your weak sections rather than trying to recall specific items, because the specific items will be different.
Use the wait period as a study block
Your school's wait sets your calendar. With Baylor's 60 days or Alvin's 90, split the time in thirds: relearn the weak section's content, then practice timed sets, then take one full timed run of every required section in a single sitting to build stamina for the real length.
Check the money before you book. South Texas College charges the same fee whether you retest one section or the whole exam, so there is no saving in retesting only one section there. Rebook early enough that your new score posts before the application deadline.
Sources
Elsevier: HESI NG A2 Onsite Testing Faculty Guide (July 2025). Version 1 for first-time testers, version 2 for second-time testers; benchmark-triggered remediation
South Texas College: HESI Admission Assessment Info and FAQs. 75 per section; version 2 retest after 2 to 3 weeks; no repeated items; eligibility periods; same fee for section retests
East Carolina University College of Nursing: BSN HESI A2 Exam FAQs (updated January 2026). 2 attempts total, 3-month wait, superscoring, all five sections each attempt
Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing: HESI A2 information. 3 attempts, 60 days, once per semester, no superscoring, 80 minimums
Alvin College ADN: HESI A2 exam information. Two exams in 12 months, 90-day spacing rule
Common questions
What happens if I fail the HESI A2?
Your score falls below your program's cutoff, so you cannot use it to apply there. Most schools let you retest after a wait, within an attempt limit, and some use your best section scores across attempts.
How soon can I retake the HESI A2?
Your school sets the wait. Published examples run from 2 to 3 weeks at South Texas College to 60 days at Baylor, 90 days at Alvin College and 3 months at East Carolina University.
Can I retake only the section I failed?
Some schools allow it. South Texas College lets you retest a section at the same fee as the full exam, while ECU asks you to complete all five required sections on each attempt.