HESI A2 guide · updated 2026-09-29
HESI A2 vs TEAS: how they compare
Your school decides which one you take. The TEAS 7 is a fixed exam of 170 questions (150 scored) in 209 minutes across Reading, Math, Science and English. The HESI A2 is modular: your program picks from sections like Math, Reading, Vocabulary, Grammar and the sciences, and sets its own passing score.
Side by side
| HESI A2 | ATI TEAS 7 | |
|---|---|---|
| Publisher | Elsevier | ATI (Assessment Technologies Institute) |
| Structure | Modular, program chooses sections | Fixed four sections |
| Questions | 55 per Core Four section, 30 per science | 170 total, 150 scored |
| Time | Set by program, often 4-5 hours for a full battery | 209 minutes |
| Vocabulary | Its own 55-question section | Part of English and Language Usage |
| Science | Separate Biology, Chemistry, A&P sections | One Science section mixing A&P, biology, chemistry, scientific reasoning |
| Passing score | Set by each program | Set by each program |
Biggest practical differences
- The HESI A2 tests vocabulary directly, with an entire section of health care and academic words. On the TEAS it is a small part of English.
- HESI math includes military time and Roman numerals, which the TEAS does not emphasize.
- The TEAS includes scientific reasoning and data interpretation; the HESI A2 sciences are more straightforward content recall.
- On the HESI A2 you might skip science entirely if your program only wants the Core Four.
Which one do you need?
Check the admission page of every program you apply to. Some accept either; most name one. If you are applying to several schools that use different exams, start with math and reading, which overlap most, then add the exam-specific parts.
Can you use TEAS prep for the HESI A2?
Partly. Reading, grammar and basic math carry over. You will still need dedicated vocabulary study and HESI-style conversions, and the HESI science sections go deeper into chemistry than the TEAS does.
Math compared
Both exams test arithmetic, percentages, ratios and algebra without clinical dosage calculations. The HESI A2 adds military time and Roman numerals and leans on household to metric conversions. The TEAS puts more weight on measurement and data, including reading tables and graphs. If you are preparing for both, add a short block on time and Roman numerals for the HESI and a block on charts and statistics for the TEAS.
Scoring compared
Both exams leave the pass mark to each program. The TEAS reports a total score and a score for each content area, adjusted across forms. The HESI A2 reports a percentage for each section and a cumulative score across the sections you took. Because HESI sections are chosen by the program, comparing HESI scores between applicants only makes sense when they took the same sections. That is one reason schools rarely accept both exams interchangeably.
Frequently asked questions
Is the HESI A2 harder than the TEAS?
Neither is harder overall. The HESI A2 needs more vocabulary; the TEAS needs more scientific reasoning and data interpretation.
Can one score be used for both?
No. They are different exams from different publishers, and each program accepts only the ones it lists.
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: ATI: TEAS exam details · Tarrant County College: HESI A2 Exam Information · Central Texas College: HESI A2 Exam information sheet. Independent study material. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Elsevier.