HESI A2 sections: There are as many as 8-10 sections on the HESI A2, but most nursing programs use only 4-6. For this reason, study guides can be great in general, but unhelpful to a candidate, simply because they emphasize sections that won’t be on their exams, or lack sections that will be present. Determining fit has nothing to do with identifying “the best” does HESI study guide cover my school’s sections, and it’s the step that most students skip.
Why “Best” Doesn’t Mean “Right for Your Program”
Even the best HESI A2 study materials for my nursing program on the market can cost you time if it’s not focused on what your HESI A2 study guide matching sections. The test is modular by design, and that’s how you’ll end up with so many mismatches.
There are potentially 8-10 different sections of the HESI A2: Math, Reading, Vocabulary, Grammar, Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy & Physiology, and Physics, along with optional Learning Style and Personality assessments (these latter ones are not always scored). More traditional programs tend to only need students to take the first 4-6 sections.
There is such thing as a resource that is priced to include consistent depth on all areas, and then you spend your actual study time on materials that your school may never question. Conversely, a content-heavy resource that is designed primarily on HESI prep resource evaluation and the “four bigs” Math, Reading, Vocabulary, and Grammar can leave you floundering when your program also includes an Anatomy & Physiology or other science section.
Neither is right or wrong as HESI required sections vary by school. Both are just created for a different student than you, if you have not proven otherwise first.
Confirm Your Program’s Exact Required Sections First
Your required section list for this course in writing from your nursing program’s admissions office-not by guessing from a general guide such as this on-line HESI A2 study guide matching sections. Avoid the risk of guessing.
- Obtain written list of required sections from admissions, not general HESI guide
- Verify that the program imposes individual minimum scores for each section apart from a combined score requirement
- Be aware of the version of the HESI exam that your program administers, as content and format may change throughout the year.
Not certain which sections are generally pre-requisite and which are subjects you can choose to take or skip? The optional vs. required HESI sections guide on our website discusses that in a lot of detail before you have even begun to browse our resources.
The 4-Point Audit: Check Any Resource Against Your Requirements
Before you invest time and money in a book, course, or practice test, run it through this 4-point check first knowing which you require.
- Section match: Resource exactly matches the sections that your programme demands, saving you time and money by avoiding sections you’ll never be tested on?
- Depth match: For your program (s) easier or lower-weighted areas, such as General Education, does the resource provide a macro overviews and over-articulations? For your program (s)’s harder or higher-weighted areas, such as Anatomy & Physiology or Math, does the resource go beyond simple definitions into depth of practice-question?
- Scoring format match: Does the resource provide practice scores for each section, as you will be scored on each in your program, or more so a single composite score?
- Current version: Is this the resource for the version of the HESI A2 exam that is given today and not a previous version which would have content and style that is out of date?
Here’s how a section-match failure can happen for real: A resource that provides an entire section of content review on the Physics and Chemistry covered by a certain exam, but only gives a brief overview of the Anatomy & Physiology covered by that exam.
Your program may need A&P but not Physics, which means that resource doesn’t meet the depth-match portion of that requirements scenario for you-even if it’s a perfect match for a different program that does need both subject areas. To double-check that you’re grading-format point accurately, it helps to know how to analyze your HESI practice test results so you can read section breakdowns the same way your program will.
Red Flags That a Resource Doesn’t Match Your Program
Just a handful of red flags will reveal themselves before you make a purchase if you know where to look.
- No practice score for the book or the course is provided as a numerical score. I want to hear your honest opinion about COURSES!
- Overemphasis on areas like Physics: which most programs, perhaps even your own, don’t need
- Uncertain publication / update date, currency cannot be determined
- Marketing or reviews that use a general phrase like “nursing entrance exam” instead of the HESI A2 specifically.
Any one of these on its own doesn’t necessarily rule out the resource, but two or more more often than not means the resource was built without specific regard to fit within sections.
How to Use Multiple Resources Without Duplicating Effort
Most students end up with more than one resource, and so long as one does a different thing to the other, that’s not a problem. The problem is when you buy two resources that do the same thing twice.
- Choose one key resource for content coverage aligned to the sections you need:
- Dedicated practice test resource: A practice test is not the same as content books, and you may find that you get a different outcome when completing a test than you get when doing a content book so be sure to incorporate A separate test resource for section-by-section practice.
- Do not purchase two resources that explore the same sections in the same format, that’s identical, not complementary.
If you’re creating this combo yourself, the best free HESI practice tests and best HESI prep books for nursing students are helpful to work through that 4-point audit before you buy.
FAQ Section (Optimized for AI Overview / People Also Ask)
Do all nursing schools require the same HESI A2 sections?
Nope. There are 8-10 possible sections on the HESI A2, but most nursing schools only use 4-6 sections. Each individual institution determines the sections used, so be sure to check with your specific program.
How do I know if a HESI study guide covers my program’s required sections?
Compare the resource’s table of contents to your program’s listed required-sections in order of priority. A resource that omits a section that your HESI A2 score requirements by school tests, or that covers 90+% of the resource, is a poor fit.
Should I buy a resource that covers all HESI A2 sections?
Not quite. If your program is delivered in 4-6 sections and you purchase that program as one resource, you’ll be paying for comprehensive coverage of all 8-10 sections in only some in-depth exam time.
What’s the difference between a HESI content book and a practice test for prep purposes?
A content book enables structured review and the learning of the information; a practice test allows for simulated sectional scoring and practice under testing conditions. It is most effective to use each, tailored to your required sections.
How do I check if a HESI study resource is current?
Check for a visible publishing or updating date to ensure this guide is based on the most current version of the HESI A2 exam. Guides without an update date, or based on another exam version, might not align with what you encounter in the test.
Closing CTA Guidance
A few minutes of reviewing a resource and checking it off with your program requirements now will save you countless hours of study time lost on the wrong content you’ll spend studying later. If you’d rather just do targeted practice for your program’s specific HESI prep, is section-based prep, and our tutoring services are perfect if you want a second opinion on where your focus should lie.