There are 8 academic subtests on the HESI A2, A Critical Thinking exam, and 2 Learner Profile assessments. The hesi a2 sections are Math, Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary & General Knowledge, Grammar, Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy & Physiology, and Physics.
So how many sections are on the hesi a2?
The entire menu features these 11 sections, but the majority of nursing schools only require 4 to 6.
It is the choice of the school which hesi a2 sections you take. This article tells you which hesi a2 sections, where to check your school’s hesi a2 section requirements, and what sections are on the hesi a2’s wrong side
For general study, refer to our complete 2026 HESI A2 guide.
The Three Tiers of HESI A2 Sections
The best way to grasp the hesi a2 sections is to split them up into 3 logical levels. The first level is the academic areas that are included most frequently in your nursing admissions process. The third level is the assessments that are not testing academic knowledge but are testing things like critical thinking and personality.
Table caption: HESI A2 exam breakdown
| Section | Tier | Questions | Time | How often required |
| Math | Tier 1- Core academic | 50 | 50 min | Almost always |
| Reading Comprehension | Tier 1 – Core academic | Around 47 | 60 min | Almost always |
| Vocabulary & General Knowledge | Tier 1 – Core academic | 50 | 50 min | Almost always |
| Grammar | Tier 1 – Core academic | 50 | 50 min | Almost always |
| Anatomy & Physiology | Tier 2 – Science | 25 | 25 min | Most commonly required science |
| Biology | Tier 2 – Science | 25 | 25 min | Sometimes |
| Chemistry | Tier 2 – Science | 25 | 25 min | Sometimes |
| Physics | Tier 2 – Science | 25 | Around 50 min | Least commonly required |
| Critical Thinking | Tier 3 – Non-academic | 30 | 30 min | Program dependent |
| Learning Style | Tier 3 – Non-academic | 14 | 15 min | Program dependent |
| Personality Profile | Tier 3 – Non-academic | 15 | 15 min | Program dependent |
For more breakdown of HESI A2 questions types follow the online resources available.
The official HESI scoring guide spells out exactly what academic assessment areas you need to complete and the recommended time allotments for each, but your school can decide which specific assessment(s) you’ll be be asked for hesi a2 sections to take. That means the HESI A2 critical thinking section is not a universal requirement: it is included by some institutions and explicitly excluded by others. Your exam may also contain a handful of experimental pilot questions (which are used for research and not scored as part of your total) depending on what configuration the school selected.
Overall, you can expect the testing experience to last somewhere around 4 to 5.5 hours.
(More information about HESI A2 section question types can be found here, along with the reading, maths and anatomy breakdown).
What “Optional” Actually Means
HESI A2 optional sections wording is a bit misleading. “Optional” doesn’t always mean optional to you, though. Here’s a breakdown:
Optional to you: Unless a nursing school program specifies that a particular section of the test is optional for admission to the school, “optional” doesn’t necessarily mean that you can skip taking a section.
Optional to the school: Elsevier offers a menu of test sections to choose from; schools determine what they want from applicants in terms of HESI sections. The University of Houston notes that there is no requirement that all sections of the HESI A2 optional sections be taken when applying.
Scored but not evaluated: A section might produce a score from your test even when the admission team does not factor that score in.
Not academically scored: Taking Learning Style and Personality Profile tests are different than academic subject portions..
Separatelty Priced: The HESI A2 Critical Thinking section is also available separately from other types of HESI A2 bundles. For instance, a HESI A2 exam for a nursing school in Houston might be 94.50, with a separate test bundle for the HESI A2 requried sections for $103.50 at that testing center. Similarly, testing centers for College of the Mainland in Texas, for example, charge $79 for the HESI A2 and $89 for the HESI A2 with Critical Thinking.
For any exam section, it’s always a good idea to check with your prospective nursing program for confirmation about whether any particular test components are required.
For further pricing, information check out what the HESI exam costs are.
How to Find Out Which Sections Your School Requires
Wondering which HESI sections does my school require? Don’t look to the study guide, a Reddit forum, or even another applicant. Instead, follow this five-step approach:
1. Visit Your Program’s Admissions Page
Go right to the source: The official nursing program requirements. The page should list everything about the HESI A2, from which specific sections you need, the minimum passing score, and the deadline for taking the test.
2. See What the Testing Center Website Says
Sometimes the testing services may also have a separate page outlining the HESI A2 required sections, which may offer additional registration details compared to the general admissions page.
For more information on where you can take HESI exam visit our website.
3. Check Your Evolve Registration Screen
When you log into Evolve after inputting your school’s code or department ID, look closely at the exam configurations before you pay.
4. Email Admissions for Clarification
Ask admissions for a list of sections in writing or you need to understand when to schedule your HESI. This will provide you with an external reference in the event that your exam registration is confusing.
5. Confirm Your Exam Version
The only question you still need to settle before registering is whether you are supposed to test the standard HESI A2 or the HESI A2 with Critical Thinking.
Going for the Full Treatment? Applying to More Than One School
Keep a master file of each section required by every school on your list. If your programs allow it, you might even be able to combine and take all of them at once as one session. However, don’t assume; verify it with each institution.
Now, all you need to worry about is where you can take it and how to register your HESI test.
What Happens If You Take the Wrong Sections
The outcome of skipping a required section varies per the school. While some are strict and consider an entire set of scores incomplete with missing sections (meaning you’d have to start over in the same testing session), others do not.
Taking additional hesi a2 sections is often less of a deal, and in some cases may be provided on your score report, but it can take up precious time that may have been spent on needed portions and schools may have no interest in portions that it did not ask you to take.
UTRGV, for example, hesi a2 required sections allows you to retake a portion that you did not pass to meet minimum score requirements. Learn more about HESI A2 retake and section retake rules.
Prior to scheduling another attempt to re-take section requirements and any desired portions, read the school specific retake information in this blog post to answer all of your section retake and full test retake questions. Also review how to read your HESI score report to understand which results will need to be addressed in the next go around.
Do Optional Sections Affect Your Score?
Each section on the HESI A2 optional sections has its own score, but there can be a cumulative score based on the tests that are applicable for the program. What’s key to know is schools have individual criteria for how the results will be used.
Should you take an extra section with a lower score, that won’t automatically hurt your admissions GPA.
That’s the reasoning why you shouldn’t blindly add extra hesi a2 sections simply because they’re an option. If you’re in doubt on a section being required and how it would be computed, inquire how admissions committees weigh HESI scores prior to taking the test.
The best practice is to answer any hesi a2 questions that your specific program dictates.
Read about why 75 percent might not be enough and how programs evaluate a hesi score.
How Many Sections Should You Study For?
It can be overwhelming to figure out how to prepare for the HESI when you do not fully understand what sections are on the hesi a2. When starting out, focus on the sections your desired school assesses. Begin by reviewing the courses you’ll need to take and prioritize by putting more of your attention and effort into the sections in which your school sets higher score minimums or where you need the most help.
Ultimately, if no HESI A2 sections are listed in conjunction with your schools, than avoid it entirely. While science subjects such as chemistry and physics (whether you need the HESI Physics section) can pose challenges, there’s no sense in dedicating time to becoming proficient in each one if a school you apply to doesn’t require it.
Keep in touch for our future posts on the HESI A2 chemistry topics tested assessed, as well as a guide answering whether or not your HESI requires chemistry in addition.
Frequently Asked Questions
The HESI A2: Section Rundown!
- How many sections are on the HESI A2?
The complete HESI A2 required sections test has eight academic subjects plus critical thinking, personality profile, and learning style evaluations.
- Which HESI sections are required?
Well, that all depends on your specific nursing program! While many institutions require that you complete parts like Reading, Grammar, Vocabulary, Math, and sometimes Anatomy and Physiology, other configurations exist.
- Can I skip a section on the HESI A2?
Yes, unless your school tells you otherwise when you take the exam. The “required vs. hesi a2 Optional sections” components are set by the program, not solely by your desires when test day arrives.
- What happens if I take the wrong sections?
Taking more sections isn’t typically as big a deal as taking too few. However, be aware that extra modules can add to the amount of time you spend testing
- Can I retake just one section?
In some cases, yes! Many nursing programs offer the option to retake specific sections. Other programs, however, will require you to schedule and sit for another full testing session.
For the complete breakdown, check out the full HESI time breakdown here!
Conclusion + CTA
You should verify the hesi a2 sections content with admissions in writing prior to booking, then prepare for your test based on that verified list. Looking for help to study? Check out our HESI study guides for topic-specific, chapter-by-chapter prep!