What is a passing score on the HESI A2? How your program reads your scores
Written and reviewed by Rebecca Moore, MSN, RN, CEN · 3 min read · Updated October 2026
Short answer
There is no universal passing score on the HESI A2. You receive a percentage score for each section you sit, and programs set their own minimum, often on a combined score across the sections they require, sometimes on individual sections as well. The passing score that counts is the one your program publishes.
How scores are reported
Each section you take produces its own score, reported as a percentage, and those scores are combined into composite or cumulative scores. Which sections go into the combined number depends on the program, because the program chose the sections in the first place.
That is why two applicants can both say they scored an 80 and mean different things: one an average across four sections, the other an English composite alone.
What real programs ask for
The University of Arizona's MEPN program requires 75% or higher on the average of four sections: Math, Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, and Biology. Baylor requires 80 or better on both its Math score and its English composite of Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, and Grammar.
Those are two programs, not a national standard. Yours may use a different set of sections, a different floor, a minimum on one section, or a ranking where meeting the floor is not enough to be competitive. Read the admissions page and, if it is unclear, ask the program which score it reads.
Retakes are a program rule too
How often you can retake, how long you wait, and which attempt counts all vary. Arizona's MEPN program allows two attempts per application cycle and uses your highest eligible score. Baylor allows one attempt per semester, up to three in total, with 60 days between tests, and does not combine section scores from different attempts.
That last rule matters: at some programs you need every required section to reach the bar in a single sitting, so a plan that fixes one section at a time may not work. Check before you book.
Whatever your target, your section scores tell you where the points are. Our free HESI A2 practice questions are grouped by section, so you can work on the one dragging your average down.
Common questions
Is 75 a passing score on the HESI A2?
At some programs. The University of Arizona's MEPN program, for example, sets 75% on its combined score as the minimum. Others set it higher or apply it per section, so check your program.
What is a cumulative score on the HESI A2?
A combined score across the sections your program requires. Programs differ on which sections go into it, so the same term can describe different numbers at different schools.
Can I combine my best section scores from two attempts?
Some programs allow it and some do not. Baylor, for example, does not combine scores across attempts. Your program's admissions page will say which applies.