Want to see where you stand before the HESI A2? These 50 free practice questions cover every major subject on the exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation so you can learn as you practice. Treat this as a mini-diagnostic — note which subjects you nail and which need more work.
Mathematics (8 Questions)
1. A nurse needs to administer 0.75 mg of a medication. The available tablets are 0.25 mg each. How many tablets should be given?
Answer: 3 tablets — 0.75 ÷ 0.25 = 3
2. Convert 2.5 liters to milliliters.
Answer: 2,500 mL — 1 liter = 1,000 mL, so 2.5 × 1,000 = 2,500
3. A patient's weight changed from 180 lbs to 171 lbs. What is the percentage decrease?
Answer: 5% — (180 − 171) ÷ 180 × 100 = 5%
4. Simplify: 3/4 + 2/3
Answer: 17/12 or 1 5/12 — Common denominator is 12: 9/12 + 8/12 = 17/12
5. A medication requires 15 mL per dose, given 3 times daily for 7 days. How many mL are needed total?
Answer: 315 mL — 15 × 3 × 7 = 315
6. Convert 98.6°F to Celsius.
Answer: 37°C — (98.6 − 32) × 5/9 = 37
7. A solution is mixed in a ratio of 1:4 (medication to saline). If you need 500 mL total, how much medication is needed?
Answer: 100 mL — 1 part out of 5 total parts: 500 ÷ 5 = 100
8. What is 15% of 240?
Answer: 36 — 240 × 0.15 = 36
Reading Comprehension (6 Questions)
Read the following passage, then answer the questions below:
Hand hygiene is considered the single most important measure to prevent healthcare-associated infections. The World Health Organization recommends that healthcare workers clean their hands at five key moments: before touching a patient, before clean/aseptic procedures, after body fluid exposure, after touching a patient, and after touching patient surroundings. Despite widespread knowledge of these guidelines, compliance rates in hospitals average only 40–60%. Studies show that improving compliance to 80% or above can reduce infection rates by up to 50%. Alcohol-based hand rubs are the preferred method when hands are not visibly soiled, as they are faster, more effective against most pathogens, and less irritating to skin than soap and water.
9. What is the main idea of this passage?
Answer: Hand hygiene is the most important way to prevent healthcare infections, but compliance remains low.
10. According to the passage, what is the average hand hygiene compliance rate in hospitals?
Answer: 40–60%
11. Why are alcohol-based hand rubs preferred over soap and water?
Answer: They are faster, more effective against most pathogens, and less irritating to skin (when hands are not visibly soiled).
12. What can be inferred about healthcare workers from this passage?
Answer: Many healthcare workers know hand hygiene guidelines but don't consistently follow them — hence the 40–60% compliance despite "widespread knowledge."
13. The word "compliance" as used in this passage most nearly means:
Answer: The act of following or adhering to guidelines
14. What is the author's purpose in mentioning the 50% reduction figure?
Answer: To show that improving hand hygiene has a significant, measurable impact on patient safety
Vocabulary & General Knowledge (8 Questions)
15. What does the prefix "hypo-" mean?
Answer: Below or under (e.g., hypothermia = below normal temperature)
16. What does "tachycardia" mean?
Answer: Abnormally rapid heart rate — "tachy" = fast, "cardia" = heart
17. The medical term "renal" refers to which organ?
Answer: Kidneys
18. What does "benign" mean in a medical context?
Answer: Not harmful or cancerous (opposite of malignant)
19. What does the suffix "-itis" indicate?
Answer: Inflammation (e.g., arthritis = inflammation of joints)
20. What does "bilateral" mean?
Answer: Affecting or relating to both sides
21. What does "prognosis" mean?
Answer: The likely course or outcome of a disease
22. The term "anterior" refers to:
Answer: The front of the body (opposite of posterior)
Grammar (8 Questions)
23. Choose the correct sentence:
a) The nurse checked her patients vitals.
b) The nurse checked her patient's vitals.
c) The nurse checked her patients' vital's.
Answer: b) — Possessive singular "patient's"; "vitals" is a simple plural, no apostrophe.
24. Identify the error: "Each of the students have completed their assignment."
Answer: "have" should be "has" — "Each" is singular, requiring "has."
25. Which word correctly completes: "The medication had a positive ___ on the patient."
Answer: effect (noun — a result)
26. Choose the correct sentence:
a) Between you and I, the test was easy.
b) Between you and me, the test was easy.
Answer: b) — "Between" is a preposition requiring the object pronoun "me."
27. Fix this comma splice: "The patient was improving, she was discharged."
Answer: "The patient was improving, so she was discharged" or use a semicolon: "The patient was improving; she was discharged."
28. Identify the sentence fragment:
a) Running through the hospital corridor.
b) The doctor ran through the corridor.
Answer: a) — No subject; it's a phrase, not a complete sentence.
29. Which is correct: "The team of nurses (is/are) ready for the shift change."
Answer: "is" — "Team" is a singular collective noun.
30. Choose the sentence with correct parallel structure:
a) The nurse enjoys charting, patient care, and to teach.
b) The nurse enjoys charting, patient care, and teaching.
Answer: b) — All items use the gerund (-ing) form.
Biology (8 Questions)
31. What is the function of mitochondria?
Answer: Produce ATP (cellular energy) through cellular respiration.
32. How many chromosomes are in a normal human somatic cell?
Answer: 46 (23 pairs)
33. What type of bond holds the two strands of DNA together?
Answer: Hydrogen bonds between complementary base pairs.
34. What is the difference between mitosis and meiosis?
Answer: Mitosis produces 2 identical diploid cells for growth/repair; meiosis produces 4 unique haploid cells (gametes) for reproduction.
35. Which macromolecule serves as the primary source of quick energy?
Answer: Carbohydrates
36. What is the process by which mRNA is created from DNA?
Answer: Transcription
37. In a hypotonic solution, a red blood cell will:
Answer: Swell and possibly burst (lyse) — Water moves into the cell by osmosis.
38. What is the role of enzymes in biological reactions?
Answer: They act as biological catalysts, speeding up chemical reactions without being consumed.
Chemistry (6 Questions)
39. What type of bond forms when atoms share electrons?
Answer: Covalent bond
40. A solution with a pH of 3 is:
Answer: Acidic (pH below 7 = acid; pH 7 = neutral; pH above 7 = base)
41. What is the atomic number of an element?
Answer: The number of protons in its nucleus
42. Balance the equation: __H₂ + __O₂ → __H₂O
Answer: 2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O
43. Which of the following is an example of a chemical change?
a) Ice melting
b) Sugar dissolving in water
c) Iron rusting
d) Cutting paper
Answer: c) Iron rusting — A new substance (iron oxide) is formed. The others are physical changes.
44. What does "OIL RIG" stand for in redox reactions?
Answer: Oxidation Is Loss (of electrons), Reduction Is Gain (of electrons)
Anatomy & Physiology (6 Questions)
45. Which chamber of the heart pumps oxygenated blood to the body?
Answer: Left ventricle
46. What is the primary function of the respiratory system?
Answer: Gas exchange — bringing oxygen into the body and removing carbon dioxide
47. Which organ is responsible for filtering blood and producing urine?
Answer: Kidneys
48. What part of the nervous system controls voluntary movements?
Answer: Somatic nervous system (a division of the peripheral nervous system)
49. Which type of muscle is found in the walls of internal organs and is involuntary?
Answer: Smooth muscle
50. The endocrine system communicates through:
Answer: Hormones — chemical messengers released into the bloodstream
How Did You Score?
Count your correct answers and find your readiness level:
| Score | Readiness Level | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| 45–50 | Exam-Ready | You're in great shape! Do a final review and take a full practice test. |
| 35–44 | Almost There | Focus on the subjects where you missed questions. A week of targeted study should close the gaps. |
| 25–34 | Needs Work | Dedicate 2–3 weeks to focused study. Use our study guides for each weak subject. |
| Below 25 | Foundation Building | Start with a structured 4–8 week study plan covering all subjects from the ground up. |
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