HESI A2 guide · updated 2026-09-29
HESI A2 math practice questions
The HESI A2 math section has 55 questions with about 50 minutes recommended. It covers fractions and decimals, ratios and percentages, household and metric conversions, military time, Roman numerals and basic algebra. The sample questions below include worked answers.
Conversions worth memorizing
| From | To |
|---|---|
| 1 fluid ounce | 30 mL |
| 1 cup | 8 fluid ounces (240 mL) |
| 1 teaspoon | 5 mL |
| 1 tablespoon | 15 mL (3 teaspoons) |
| 1 kilogram | 2.2 pounds |
| 1 inch | 2.54 centimeters |
| 1 gram | 1,000 milligrams |
Military time and Roman numerals
For times after noon, add 12 to the hour: 3:45 PM is 1545. Midnight is 0000 and noon is 1200. For Roman numerals, a smaller numeral before a larger one is subtracted (IX = 9, XL = 40); otherwise add (XVI = 16).
A method that avoids most mistakes
- Write every quantity with its unit and cancel units as you go.
- Set proportions up as matching units across: 2.2 lb / 1 kg = 154 lb / x kg.
- Estimate first so you can spot an answer that is off by a factor of ten.
- Convert mixed numbers to improper fractions before multiplying or dividing.
Fractions, decimals and percentages
Expect straightforward arithmetic without a lot of setup: add or subtract fractions with unlike denominators, divide mixed numbers, round decimals, and convert among fractions, decimals and percents. To turn a fraction into a percent, divide and multiply by 100 (3/8 = 0.375 = 37.5%). To find a percent of a number, multiply by the decimal (15% of 60 = 0.15 x 60 = 9).
Percent change is a frequent word problem: change divided by the original amount. A price that drops from $80 to $60 fell by 20 out of 80, or 25%.
Ratios, proportions and algebra
Set up proportions with the same units on top and bottom, then cross-multiply. If 3 cups of flour make 1 batch of bread and you have 12 cups, 3/1 = 12/x gives x = 4 batches. Algebra items are usually one-variable linear equations: undo addition and subtraction first, then multiplication and division, and check the answer by substituting it back.
Pace for 55 questions
About 50 minutes for 55 questions leaves less than a minute each. Do the quick conversions and arithmetic immediately and return to longer word problems if your testing software allows.
Common traps
- Mixing up 12:00 AM (0000) and 12:00 PM (1200) in military time.
- Dividing when a conversion needs multiplying, for example kilograms to pounds (multiply by 2.2) versus pounds to kilograms (divide by 2.2).
- Forgetting to find a common denominator before adding fractions.
- Reading IV as 6 instead of 4 in Roman numerals.
- Calculating percent change against the new value instead of the original value.
- Rounding too early in a multi-step problem, which shifts the final answer.
Sample HESI A2 questions with answers
1. A medical supply closet contains 312 bandages. During a shift, 87 bandages are used. The following morning, a shipment of 150 new bandages arrives and is stocked. How many bandages are in the closet after the shipment is added?
- 225
- 374
- 375
- 462
Show answer
C. 375 Subtract bandages used first: 312 − 87 = 225. Then add the new shipment: 225 + 150 = 375. Option A stops after the subtraction without adding the shipment. Option B is an off-by-one arithmetic slip: 225 + 150 = 374 instead of 375. Option D adds only the shipment to the original stock without subtracting what was used: 312 + 150 = 462.
2. What is the value of 18 ÷ (2 + 4) × 3?
- 3
- 9
- 21
- 27
Show answer
B. 9 PEMDAS requires parentheses first: 2 + 4 = 6, leaving 18 ÷ 6 × 3. Division and multiplication are then performed left to right: 18 ÷ 6 = 3, then 3 × 3 = 9. Option A stops after the division, omitting the final multiplication by 3. Option C ignores the parentheses and applies standard precedence without grouping: 18 ÷ 2 + 4 × 3 = 9 + 12 = 21. Option D ignores the +4 inside the parentheses, dividing only by 2: 18 ÷ 2 × 3 = 27.
3. A recipe calls for 24 cups of oats and 16 cups of nuts. What is the ratio of oats to nuts expressed in simplest form?
- 3 : 2
- 6 : 4
- 4 : 3
- 2 : 3
Show answer
A. 3 : 2 Divide both terms by their greatest common factor. GCF(24, 16) = 8, so 24 ÷ 8 = 3 and 16 ÷ 8 = 2, giving 3 : 2. Option B (6 : 4) is not fully reduced. Option C reverses which ingredient is listed first. Option D inverts the ratio entirely.
4. A car travels 150 miles in 3 hours at a constant speed. At the same rate, how many miles will it travel in 5 hours?
- 200 miles
- 225 miles
- 250 miles
- 300 miles
Show answer
C. 250 miles Set up a proportion: 150/3 = x/5. Cross-multiply: 3x = 750, so x = 750 ÷ 3 = 250 miles. Equivalently, the unit rate is 50 miles per hour, and 50 × 5 = 250. Option A uses an incorrect multiplier of 4/3; Option D incorrectly doubles rather than multiplies by 5/3.
5. A bag of trail mix weighs 2.5 kilograms. How many grams does it weigh?
- 25 g
- 250 g
- 2,500 g
- 25,000 g
Show answer
C. 2,500 g 1 kg = 1,000 g, so multiply: 2.5 × 1,000 = 2,500 g. Option A results from multiplying by 10; B from multiplying by 100; D from multiplying by 10,000.
6. A container holds 3 quarts of orange juice. How many pints does it hold?
- 3 pints
- 6 pints
- 9 pints
- 12 pints
Show answer
B. 6 pints 1 quart = 2 pints, so 3 × 2 = 6 pints. Option A treats quarts and pints as equal. C multiplies by 3 instead of 2. D uses 4, which is the number of cups in a quart, not pints.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a calculator on HESI A2 math?
It depends on the testing site. Some provide an on-screen calculator; others do not allow any. Practice by hand so either works.
Try the free HESI A2 practice test
Questions tagged to the official outline, with an explanation for every answer. 15 free a day, no sign-up.
Start freeSources: Tarrant County College: HESI A2 Exam Information · Central Texas College: HESI A2 Exam information sheet · Elsevier: Admission Assessment Exam Review (HESI), 6th edition. Independent study material. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Elsevier.