HESI A2 vs HESI Exit Exam: two different tests at two ends of nursing school
Written and reviewed by Rebecca Moore, MSN, RN, CEN · 3 min read · Updated October 2026
Short answer
The HESI A2 is the Admission Assessment you take before nursing school to show you are ready to start. The HESI Exit Exam is taken near the end of a nursing program to measure readiness for the NCLEX. Both come from Elsevier and both are often called the HESI, but they test different things at different times.
Why the names get mixed up
Elsevier publishes a family of HESI assessments that runs from admission to graduation. Its HESI exam page lists the Admission Assessment Exam, Specialty Exams taken during the curriculum, the Exit Exam, a computer adaptive test, and others. People say HESI for any of them, which is why searches for HESI study tips return a mix of entrance and NCLEX material.
If you are applying to nursing school, the one you need is the Admission Assessment, known as the HESI A2. The A stands for admission. If your program has told you to sit the HESI before graduation, that is the Exit Exam.
The HESI A2: before you start
Elsevier describes the Admission Assessment as a way for programs to evaluate applicants on their existing knowledge in the areas most important for success in the program. In practice it is a set of section exams in reading, vocabulary, grammar, math, and sciences such as anatomy and physiology, and your program picks which sections count.
It tests school-level knowledge, not nursing practice. You do not need clinical knowledge to do well on it. Programs set their own cutoffs and choose which sections count, so the score that matters is the one your program publishes for admission.
The HESI Exit Exam: near graduation
Elsevier describes the Exit Exam as measuring readiness for the NCLEX, using question formats and a blueprint aligned to the current NCLEX test plan. It tests nursing knowledge and clinical judgement, and programs use it to find students who need more preparation before the licensure exam.
Different stage, different content, different study plan. For what an Exit Exam score can and cannot tell you, read our guide to what HESI and ATI predictor scores predict.
If you are on the admission side, start with our free HESI A2 practice questions, grouped by section.
Common questions
Is the HESI the same as the HESI A2?
HESI is the name of a family of Elsevier exams. The HESI A2 is the Admission Assessment for entering nursing school; the HESI Exit Exam is a different test taken near graduation.
Do I need nursing knowledge for the HESI A2?
No. It tests reading, English, math, and science at the level expected of an incoming student. Nursing knowledge is what the Exit Exam tests.
Will my HESI A2 score affect my HESI Exit Exam?
They are separate tests scored separately. The A2 is used for admission decisions; the Exit Exam is used to gauge NCLEX readiness near graduation.