How to pass HESI A2 reading comprehension: the skills it scores and a passage routine
Written and reviewed by Brittany Scott, BSN, RN, CCM · 3 min read · Updated November 2026
Short answer
To pass HESI A2 reading comprehension, practice the specific skills the section scores: main idea, supporting details, words in context, author's purpose, fact versus opinion, inference, summarizing and tone. Expect about 55 items, 50 scored and 5 unscored pilot items, with 60 minutes recommended, then check your program's cutoff.
What the reading section actually tests
South Texas College describes the section as reading scenarios that measure your ability to identify the main idea, find the meaning of words in context, understand the passage and make logical inferences. It lists 55 items, of which 50 are scored and 5 are pilot items, with a recommended time of 60 minutes.
Texas State Technical College's HESI A2 guide (updated October 2026) gives a fuller skill list: main idea, supporting details, words in context, author's purpose or intent, fact and opinion, drawing conclusions and making inferences, summarizing, and author's tone. Treat that list as your study checklist, since it is how a college describes what the section measures.
A routine for each passage
Read the question stems first so you know which skill each one targets. A stem that asks what the passage is mostly about is a main idea item; one that asks what a word means as used in a sentence is a words in context item and needs the sentence, not your memory of the word.
Then read the passage once, at normal speed, and write a one-line summary in your head before looking at the answers. For main idea and summary items, the right answer covers the whole passage; choices that repeat a single detail, however accurate, are usually the trap.
For inference items, the answer must be supported by the text even though it is not stated. If you cannot point to a sentence that makes the choice likely, reject it. For fact and opinion items, look for judgment words such as best, should or unfortunately, which signal opinion.
Pacing: about a minute per item
With roughly 55 items and 60 minutes recommended, you have just over a minute per question including reading time. Several questions usually share one passage, so the first question on a passage costs the most and the rest go faster.
Programs set the timing and the order you see sections in, so confirm the time limit with your school or testing site. Practice with a timer from the start; reading slowly and carefully at home does not prepare you for the same task at a fixed pace.
What score you need
There is no single national passing score. Each program picks its own cutoff and often combines reading with vocabulary and grammar into an English composite. Baylor University, for example, requires 80 or better on the English composite, while South Texas College requires 75 percent on each section.
Because reading often counts inside a composite, a weak reading score can pull down a strong grammar score. Find out whether your school scores sections separately or as a composite before you decide how much time reading gets in your plan.
Sources
South Texas College: HESI Admission Assessment Info and FAQs. Reading section description, 55 items with 50 scored and 5 pilot, 60 minutes recommended, 75 percent per section cutoff
Texas State Technical College: HESI A2 study guide. Reading comprehension skill list, 50 items plus 5 pilot, 60 minutes suggested (updated October 2026)
Baylor University School of Nursing: HESI A2 information. English composite of reading, vocabulary and grammar with minimum score of 80
Common questions
How many reading questions are on the HESI A2?
College guides list 55 items: 50 scored and 5 unscored pilot items. You will not be told which are pilots, so answer every question as if it counts.
How long are HESI A2 reading passages?
Elsevier and the college guides we checked do not publish a passage length. Plan on several questions per passage and practice with passages of varied length under a timer.
Is reading comprehension scored on its own?
It depends on the program. Some report each section separately with its own cutoff, while others, such as Baylor University, use an English composite that combines reading, vocabulary and grammar.