HESI A1 vs HESI A2: why there is no A1 and what A2 actually means
Written and reviewed by Brittany Scott, BSN, RN, CCM · 4 min read · Updated November 2026
Short answer
There is no HESI A1 exam to compare against: Elsevier's current list of HESI products includes no A1, and A2 is its shorthand for the HESI Admission Assessment, the nursing school entrance exam. If a school asks for the HESI before admission, it means the A2. Other HESI exams, like the Exit Exam, are taken after you enroll.
What the A2 label stands for
Elsevier, the company that owns HESI, writes the entrance exam's name as HESI Admission Assessment (A2). Its Evolve support article on finding exam reports uses that exact form, saying that for HESI Admission Assessment (A2) exams, results show within 24 hours after you complete sections of the test. So A2 is a short code for Admission Assessment, two words starting with A, not the second level of a two-part series.
That is where the A1 idea comes from. Students see A2, assume a number, and go looking for a first exam they missed. As of November 2026, Elsevier's HESI product page lists seven exam products for nursing programs, and none of them is called A1 or a level 1 admission test. If a forum, flashcard deck or older school page mentions a HESI A1, ask the school in writing which exam it means before you pay for anything.
HESI vs HESI A2: one brand, several exams
HESI on its own is a brand name, not a single test. Elsevier sells the Admission Assessment alongside exams nursing programs give to students who are already enrolled. When a school says HESI with no other words, the timing tells you which one: before admission it is the A2, during the program it is more likely a specialty or custom exam, and near graduation it is more likely the Exit Exam.
The table below uses the product names and descriptions on Elsevier's HESI exam solutions page as of November 2026, shortened slightly. The timing column is typical use, not an Elsevier rule. Only the first row is an admission test you take as an applicant.
| HESI product | What Elsevier says it does | When a student usually meets it |
|---|---|---|
| Admission Assessment (A2) | Evaluates applicants on their existing knowledge in areas the program chooses | Before admission, as an applicant |
| Specialty Exams | Measure understanding of specific clinical nursing content areas | Usually during the program |
| Custom HESI Exams | Built by Elsevier nurse educators from a school's syllabus or curriculum | During the program |
| Mobility Exams | Check readiness for the next step in transition programs | Entering a bridge program, such as LPN to RN |
| Exit Exam | Prepares students to take the NCLEX | Usually near graduation |
| Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) | Gives an exam experience like the actual NCLEX | Usually near graduation |
| Clinical Practice Readiness Assessment (CPRA) | Screen-based simulations with Next Generation NCLEX style questions | Usually late in the program |
Which one nursing schools use for admission
For admission, schools that use HESI use the A2, but they do not all give the same A2. Elsevier's faculty guide for ordering the A2 in HESI NG says the program selects which exam sections go into its exam slot, and the estimated duration changes with those choices. One school may require math, reading, vocabulary and grammar only, while another adds anatomy and physiology or chemistry.
The same guide says the A2 itself is not program-specific, but a school that adds the critical thinking portion picks an RN, PN or health professions version of it. Programs also choose a version 1 exam for first-time testers or a version 2 exam for second-time testers, and decide whether you see results after each section or only after all sections. Your school's admissions page or acceptance email is the only place that tells you which mix you will get.
What to do if your school says HESI A1
Treat it as a typo or an informal label and confirm three things with the school: that it means the HESI Admission Assessment, which sections are required, and whether you register through the school or through Evolve. Write down the answer, because the sections and the registration path decide what you study and what you pay.
If the school instead means a HESI exam given after you enroll, such as a mobility exam for an LPN to RN bridge, that is a separate product from the A2 and has its own preparation. Do not assume an A2 score transfers to it or replaces it.
Sources
Elsevier: HESI exam solutions for nursing. List of HESI exam products and their descriptions; no A1 product listed (checked November 2026)
Elsevier Evolve support: How do I locate my HESI exam reports. Elsevier's naming 'HESI Admission Assessment (A2)' and results within 24 hours of completing sections
Elsevier: HESI NG A2 exam process faculty guide (onsite testing). Programs select A2 sections; A2 not program-specific; RN, PN or HP critical thinking versions; version 1 and version 2; result display options
Common questions
Is there a HESI A1?
No HESI A1 appears in Elsevier's list of HESI exam products as of November 2026. A2 is Elsevier's shorthand for the HESI Admission Assessment, so the 2 does not mean there is a level 1 exam before it.
What is the difference between HESI and HESI A2?
HESI is the brand for a family of Elsevier nursing exams. HESI A2 is the one you take as an applicant to get into a program. Specialty, custom, Exit and CAT exams are given to students already enrolled.
Do all schools that use the HESI A2 give the same sections?
No. Elsevier's faculty guide says each program selects the A2 sections it wants and can add an RN, PN or health professions critical thinking version. Check your school's admissions page for its list.