HESI A2 vocabulary: what kind of words are tested and how to study them
Written and reviewed by Rebecca Moore, MSN, RN, CEN · 3 min read · Updated October 2026
Short answer
There is no official public HESI A2 word list. The Vocabulary and General Knowledge section has 55 questions on words used in everyday English and in health care settings. The reliable way to prepare is to learn common medical word parts, practise reading words in context, and keep your own list of every word you miss.
What the vocabulary section actually tests
South Texas College describes the section as vocabulary terms commonly used in both general English settings and health care fields, with 55 items, of which 50 are scored and 5 are pilot items that do not count. Its recommended time is 50 minutes, though your testing site sets the real limit.
Expect two kinds of word. Some are ordinary but formal English that turns up in charts and handovers, such as words describing frequency, severity, or attitude. Others are health care terms where knowing a root or prefix gets you most of the way to the answer.
Why a memorised list only goes so far
Lists shared online are built from what past test takers remembered, so they are incomplete and can be out of date. Learning a list by heart helps with the words on it and nothing else. The Texas State Technical College study guide names two strategies instead: using context and using word parts.
Word parts scale. If you know that hyper means above or excessive, brady means slow, and itis means inflammation, you can work out dozens of terms you have never studied. Context covers the rest: most questions put the word in a sentence, and the sentence often rules out two of the options before you need the definition.
A study routine that builds a useful list
Start with a short set of practice questions and write down every word you missed or guessed. Next to each one, note the root or prefix if it has one, and a sentence where you would use it. Review that list for ten minutes a day rather than in one long session; vocabulary sticks through repetition spread over time.
Group the medical terms by word part rather than alphabetically, so cardi, pulmon, and nephr each collect their own family of words. For the general English words, read short health care articles and look up anything you could not explain to a friend.
Then test the list against fresh questions. Our HESI A2 vocabulary practice questions explain every answer, so each miss becomes a new line on your list.
Common questions
Is there an official HESI A2 vocabulary list?
Not a public one. Elsevier sells an official review book, but the exam itself draws on general and health care vocabulary rather than a fixed published list.
How many vocabulary questions are on the HESI A2?
The section has 55 questions, of which 50 are scored and 5 are unscored pilot items, according to South Texas College's exam information.
Do I need to know medical terminology for HESI A2 vocabulary?
Some, yes. Many words are health care terms, and learning common prefixes, roots, and suffixes is the fastest way to handle words you have not seen before.