- The HESI A2 covers seven sections: Math, Reading, Vocabulary/General Knowledge, Grammar, Biology, Chemistry, and A&P.
- Programs choose which sections apply, so confirm your exact required list before building a cheat sheet.
- Elsevier's own review reference is Admission Assessment Exam Review, 6th Edition (2024) - align your notes to it.
- Testing happens via the Elsevier Secure Browser, onsite or remote, depending on your program's setup.
Quick Facts Snapshot
Before diving into content review, anchor yourself to the basics of the HESI Admission Assessment (A2). This exam is published and administered by Elsevier through HESI NG, and it exists to help nursing and allied health programs screen applicants - it is not a renewable professional certification. That distinction matters because there's no continuing-education cycle to track; once you pass at the level your program requires, you move on to enrollment.
Each school configures its own version of the assessment: which of the seven academic sections are required, what score counts as passing, whether a calculator is available, how long you get per section, and how scores get reported back to admissions. Because of this variability, a generic "HESI A2 cheat sheet" floating around a forum may not match what your specific program has assigned. Always cross-check your school's testing bulletin against the official guidance covered in our HESI A2 requirements breakdown before finalizing your review plan.
Domain-by-Domain Cheat Sheet
The HESI A2 is organized into seven possible academic sections. Your program picks which ones apply to you, so don't assume you need all seven - verify your list first. For a deeper walkthrough of each area's content weighting and question style, see our full HESI A2 exam domains guide.
Domain 1: Mathematics
Covers arithmetic operations, fractions, decimals, ratios, percentages, and basic algebra as applied to everyday and clinical-style scenarios.
- Convert fluently between fractions, decimals, and percentages
- Practice ratio and proportion problems - they show up in dosage-style word problems
- Confirm whether your testing session allows an on-screen calculator
Domain 2: Reading Comprehension
Tests your ability to extract main ideas, identify supporting details, and draw logical inferences from short passages.
- Practice skimming for structure before reading line by line
- Distinguish between "stated" facts and "implied" conclusions
Domain 3: Vocabulary and General Knowledge
Measures word recognition and definitions, often with a health-science flavor mixed into general vocabulary.
- Build word lists from root words, prefixes, and suffixes rather than memorizing isolated terms
- Review common medical/scientific roots since they recur across vocabulary and A&P questions
Domain 4: Grammar
Assesses standard English usage: parts of speech, sentence structure, punctuation, and common usage errors.
- Review subject-verb agreement and pronoun consistency
- Practice spotting misplaced modifiers and run-on sentences
Domain 5: Biology
Covers foundational biology concepts including cell structure, genetics basics, and general life-science principles.
- Know cell organelles and their functions cold
- Review basic genetic inheritance patterns
Domain 6: Chemistry
Covers general chemistry fundamentals: atomic structure, the periodic table, chemical bonding, and basic reactions.
- Memorize common element symbols and charges
- Practice balancing simple chemical equations
Domain 7: Anatomy and Physiology
Covers body systems, their major structures, and how those structures function together.
- Organize review by system: cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, nervous, digestive, and more
- Connect structures to functions rather than memorizing terms in isolation
Format & Registration Mechanics
Because Elsevier lets each program configure its own testing conditions, the "format" of your HESI A2 depends heavily on local setup. Some universal mechanics to keep in mind:
- Section selection: Programs choose from the seven academic sections and may also assign a Learning Style module, a Personality Style module, or a version that includes Critical Thinking content.
- Timing: Section timers are configured by the institution, not fixed campus-wide.
- Calculator access: Whether you get an on-screen calculator for math items is set by your program - don't assume either way.
- Proctoring: Current Elsevier guidance supports both onsite and remote proctoring, delivered through the Elsevier Secure Browser.
- Payment and score reporting: Fees and how scores route back to your admissions office are also determined at the program level.
Because so much of this is school-specific, the smartest first move is confirming your exact configuration with your program's admissions office, then mapping your prep to that configuration using our HESI A2 study guide. If you're still trying to nail down deadlines and testing windows, our HESI A2 exam dates article walks through how scheduling typically works.
Key Takeaway
Don't build your cheat sheet around assumptions about timing, calculator access, or required sections. Get your program's exact configuration in writing first, then tailor your review.
Math Quick Hits
Math tends to reward speed and accuracy on foundational operations rather than advanced concepts. Keep this shortlist visible during review sessions:
- Fraction-to-decimal-to-percent conversions in both directions
- Ratio and proportion setups, including cross-multiplication
- Order of operations on multi-step arithmetic problems
- Basic algebraic equation solving (isolating a variable)
- Reading and converting between measurement units
Run a handful of timed math sets on our practice test platform to see which conversion type slows you down most, then drill that specific weakness rather than re-reviewing everything evenly.
Biology, Chemistry & A&P Quick Hits
These three sections build on each other - root vocabulary from Chemistry and Biology reappears inside Anatomy and Physiology questions, so reviewing them in sequence rather than in isolation saves time.
| Section | Core Focus | High-Yield Review Targets |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | Cell-level and general life science | Cell organelles, basic genetics, cellular processes |
| Chemistry | General chemistry fundamentals | Periodic table basics, bonding, simple reactions |
| Anatomy and Physiology | Body systems and structure-function relationships | Cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, nervous systems |
If you're unsure how much depth each of these sections demands relative to the others, our exam domains guide breaks down what to expect topic by topic, and our HESI A2 difficulty guide discusses which sections applicants commonly find most demanding.
Reading, Vocabulary & Grammar Quick Hits
The language-based sections are often underestimated because they feel familiar from high school English - but they're scored just as seriously as the science sections when a program requires them.
- Reading Comprehension: Practice identifying the main idea of a paragraph within the first read-through, then confirm supporting details on a second pass.
- Vocabulary and General Knowledge: Build a running list of unfamiliar words you encounter anywhere - not just in study materials - and review root/prefix/suffix patterns weekly.
- Grammar: Focus on the errors that are easy to miss under time pressure: subject-verb agreement, comma splices, and modifier placement.
Final Week Review Plan
A cheat sheet is only useful if you know when to use it. In the final stretch before test day, sequence your review by domain rather than trying to cover everything daily.
Math + Grammar
- Drill conversions, ratios, and algebra basics
- Review sentence-structure rules and common usage errors
Biology + Chemistry
- Review cell structures and basic genetics
- Revisit periodic table basics and bonding rules
Anatomy & Physiology + Vocabulary
- Study body systems one at a time, structure-to-function
- Reinforce root-word patterns shared across science sections
Reading Comprehension + Full Review
- Practice timed reading passages
- Run a mixed practice session across all required sections on the practice test site
For a longer-horizon prep plan that extends this structure across several weeks, see our complete HESI A2 study guide.
Who Actually Uses This Score
The HESI A2 is used by nursing and allied health programs as part of their admissions screening - it's not a workplace credential you list on a resume the way you might a licensure exam. Each school sets its own admission benchmark, retake rules, and how the score factors into the overall application decision. That's a key reason concrete pass-rate or salary statistics tied to "the HESI A2" should be treated cautiously; those figures vary by institution and by cohort, and no single universal number applies across every program.
If you're weighing whether investing serious prep time into this exam pays off for your specific career path, our ROI analysis on the HESI A2 and our HESI A2 cost breakdown both dig into the practical trade-offs. And if you want the plain-language version of what this assessment actually is before you commit to a prep plan, start with What Is HESI A2?
Key Takeaway
Your target score is set by your program, not by a universal industry standard - confirm your school's specific benchmark before you decide how much review time each domain deserves.
FAQ
There are seven possible academic sections: Mathematics, Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary and General Knowledge, Grammar, Biology, Chemistry, and Anatomy and Physiology. Programs select which of these are required, so your personal list may be shorter than seven.
No. Elsevier provides the exam infrastructure through HESI NG, but each school configures its own required sections, admission benchmark, retake policy, and score-use rules. Always confirm details directly with each program.
It depends on your program's configuration. Calculator access is set by the institution administering your test, so check your testing bulletin rather than assuming.
The current official preparation reference is Admission Assessment Exam Review, 6th Edition, published by Elsevier in 2024. Aligning your review notes to its structure is a reliable way to stay on-topic.
Current Elsevier guidance supports both onsite and remote proctoring through the Elsevier Secure Browser, though availability depends on how your specific program sets up testing.