How to study for the HESI A2: start from the sections your program requires
Written and reviewed by Rebecca Moore, MSN, RN, CEN · 3 min read · Updated October 2026
Short answer
Find out exactly which sections your program requires, take a timed diagnostic on just those, and spend most of your time on the weakest. Math and Anatomy and Physiology respond fastest to focused practice. Reading, Vocabulary, and Grammar improve through short daily sets with explanations, not long cramming sessions.
Study only what your program reads
The HESI A2 is a menu of section exams, and your program has already chosen from it. Studying for a section your school ignores is time taken from one it scores. Get the required list from the admissions page before you plan anything.
Then check how the program combines scores. If it reads an average, a strong section can carry a weaker one. If it sets a minimum per section, or will not combine scores across attempts, every required section needs to clear the bar on the same day.
Diagnose, then target
Answer a timed set from each required section and note both the score and the type of question you missed. Math misses usually cluster around fractions, ratios and proportions, or unit conversions. Anatomy and Physiology misses cluster by body system. Those clusters are your study list.
Math is the most learnable section. Work problems by hand, check them, and use the on-screen calculator only the way you will on test day. For Anatomy and Physiology, review one body system at a time and answer questions on it straight away.
Reading, Vocabulary, and Grammar move more slowly, so give them a little time every day. Read the explanation for every miss and every guess, and keep a running list of words and grammar rules that tripped you up.
The final week
Sit each required section under time at least once, review your list of missed question types, and stop adding new material. Confirm the time limits and the order of sections with your testing site, since they set the day.
If you are applying to more than one program, check whether they require the same sections. If not, plan for the larger set so one sitting can serve both.
Start with the diagnostic: our free HESI A2 practice questions cover each section with an explanation for every answer.
Common questions
What is the hardest part of the HESI A2?
It depends on which sections your program requires and how recently you studied each. A diagnostic on your required sections will tell you which is yours.
How long should I study for the HESI A2?
Long enough to bring your weakest required section up to your program's bar. That depends on your starting point, so take a diagnostic first and plan from the gap.
Should I study the science sections my program does not require?
No. Put that time into the sections your program scores, unless you are applying to another program that requires them.