Is the HESI A2 hard to pass?
Written and reviewed by Brittany Scott, BSN, RN, CCM · 3 min read · Updated November 2026
Short answer
The HESI A2 covers high school level material, so the content itself is not advanced. What makes it hard to pass is your school's cutoff, which can be 75, 78 or 80 percent, the length of a multi-section sitting, and the fact that there is no national pass mark to aim for.
Hard compared to what: there is no national passing score
There is no single national passing score for the A2. Each nursing program decides which sections you take and what score counts as a pass, so the same result can clear one school and miss another. East Carolina University's College of Nursing describes the A2 as a high school level pre-admission exam.
That means the honest answer to whether the HESI A2 is hard to pass starts with your school's admissions page. Find the minimum, find whether it applies to each section or to an average, and find whether scores are rounded. Those three facts tell you more about difficulty than any general rating.
What four schools require
| School | Sections required | Published minimum |
|---|---|---|
| Baylor University | Math and English composite (reading, vocabulary, grammar); no science | 80 on math and 80 on English composite |
| Alvin College ADN | Math, reading, vocabulary, grammar, anatomy and physiology | 78 on reading and 78 cumulative, not rounded up |
| University of Arizona | Math, reading, vocabulary, biology | 75 combined across the four sections |
| South Texas College ADN | English composite, anatomy and physiology, math | 75 on each section |
Read the table for structure, not just numbers. Baylor's 80 applies to two separate scores, so one strong section cannot rescue a weak one. Arizona averages four sections, so a strong vocabulary score can offset a weaker biology score. Alvin adds a separate reading floor on top of its average and states that it does not round up.
Why the exam feels harder than the content
Length is the first reason. South Texas College lists 55 items in each of reading, vocabulary, grammar and math, with 50 scored and 5 unscored pilot items in each, plus 30 anatomy and physiology items, and a total time of 4.25 hours for its version. You cannot tell which items are the unscored ones, so every question needs full effort.
The math section is the second reason. South Texas College describes it as basic math for health care: fractions, decimals, ratio and proportion, household measures and general math facts. ECU notes that a basic calculator is built into the screen and that you cannot bring your own or use your phone, so conversions you have not memorized cost points.
Which section is hardest for you
None of the school or Elsevier pages cited here rank the sections by difficulty, so treat any ranking you see online with caution. The useful question is which required section sits furthest from your recent coursework. A student who finished anatomy and physiology last term faces a different exam from one who took it five years ago.
South Texas College recommends completing its two anatomy and physiology courses, BIOL 2401 and 2402, before a first attempt because the exam includes that content. ECU tells applicants to ignore chemistry, physics and grammar because it does not require them. Check your school's list before you study anything, so your hardest section is one you actually have to take.
Sources
East Carolina University College of Nursing: BSN HESI A2 Exam FAQs (updated January 2026). High school level pre-admission exam; schools choose sections; built-in basic calculator, no personal calculator or phone
South Texas College: HESI Admission Assessment Info and FAQs. Item counts including 5 pilot items, 4.25 hours, math content, 75 per section, BIOL 2401/2402 recommendation
Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing: HESI A2 information. 80 minimum on math and English composite; science not required
Alvin College ADN: HESI A2 exam information. Required sections; 78 reading and cumulative minimums with no rounding
University of Arizona College of Nursing: HESI Admission Assessment policy. Math, reading, vocabulary and biology required; 75 combined minimum
Common questions
How many people fail the HESI A2?
No national pass or fail rate for the A2 appears in any official source used here, and a single rate would mean little because each school sets its own passing score. Treat any failure percentage you see quoted with caution.
Is the HESI A2 math hard?
The math is basic: addition, subtraction, multiplication, fractions, decimals, ratio and proportion and household measures, per South Texas College. The difficulty is speed and memorized conversions, since the on-screen calculator is a basic one.
Is the HESI A2 harder than the TEAS?
Neither exam has a national pass mark, so difficulty depends on the cutoff your program sets for the exam it uses. Compare the two by format and sections, and prepare for the one your school requires.