What HESI A2 score do you need?
There is no single pass mark. Every nursing program sets its own, and the published minimum is often well below what actually gets admitted. Here are the ranges that hold up across most of the US.
Always confirm with the school
By program type
The gap between the minimum and the competitive column is the one that matters. Meeting the floor rarely wins a place at an oversubscribed program.
| Program | Typical minimum | Competitive | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Practical NursingLPN / LVN | 70% | 75%+ | The most accessible entry into nursing. Usually the core four sections only. |
| Associate Degree in NursingADN / ASN | 75% | 80%+ | Community college programs are often heavily oversubscribed, so the published minimum and the admitted average can be far apart. |
| Bachelor of Science in NursingBSN | 75% | 85%+ | Four-year programs commonly add Anatomy & Physiology and weight it heavily, because it predicts first-year performance. |
| Accelerated / Second-Degree BSNABSN | 80% | 88%+ | Small cohorts and applicants who already hold a degree make these the most competitive of all. |
| Allied HealthRT, Surgical Tech, etc. | 70% | 78%+ | Section lists vary more here than anywhere else. Some programs require Chemistry. |
How your school combines the sections
This decides your study plan more than any number above, and it is the question applicants most often forget to ask. There is no Elsevier ruling — each program chooses.
- A floor on every required sectionThe most common
Your weakest section is effectively your score. 92, 90, 88 and 68 fails a 75% floor; a flat 78 across the board passes it, despite the lower average.
- A minimum cumulative averageCommon
A strong section can carry a weak one. Worth knowing, because it changes where your study time is best spent.
- Both, togetherUsed by competitive programs
You must clear the floor on every section AND hit the overall average. The strictest of the three.
- Weighted towards the sciencesSome BSN programs
Anatomy & Physiology counts for more than Grammar. If your program does this, it will say so.
What the bands mean
Descriptive guidance rather than a formal scoring scale. Your program’s own minimum always overrides these.
- Excellent90% – 100%Top of the applicant pool at any program.
- Very good80% – 89%Above the requirement almost everywhere.
- Satisfactory75% – 79%Meets the common minimum. Tight for competitive programs.
- Needs improvementBelow 75%Below the bar for most nursing programs. Usually a retake.
Section by section
Where the marks are, and where they are most often lost.
- Mathematics50 questions · 50 min
Dosage calculation and conversions. Some programs set a separate, higher minimum on this section alone because it maps directly onto medication safety.
- Reading Comprehension47 questions · 60 min
The most generous timing on the exam, at well over a minute per question. Marks lost here are usually knowledge, not clock.
- Vocabulary & General Knowledge50 questions · 50 min
The most improvable section, and the one applicants most often skip studying because they assume it cannot be studied.
- Grammar50 questions · 50 min
Mechanics rather than style. Predictable, and therefore cheap marks once drilled.
- Anatomy & Physiology25 questions · 25 min
Added by many BSN programs. A minute per question with no time to reason it out, so it rewards knowing systems properly.
- Biology25 questions · 25 min
Cells, genetics and metabolism. Required less often than A&P but on the same tight timing.
Common questions
- What is a passing HESI A2 score?
- There is no universal pass mark — each nursing program sets its own. Most want 75 to 80 percent. Practical nursing programs often accept around 70 percent, and competitive accelerated BSN programs commonly admit at 85 percent and above.
- Is 80 percent a good HESI A2 score?
- Yes, for most programs. 80 percent clears the common 75 percent minimum with room to spare and is competitive at the majority of associate and bachelor's programs. For an accelerated second-degree BSN it is closer to the middle of the pack than the top.
- Does the HESI A2 average my sections together?
- Your score report shows a percentage for each section you sat plus a cumulative average — but what matters is how your program uses them. Many set a minimum on every required section rather than on the average, which means a single weak section can fail an otherwise strong application.
- Which HESI A2 section matters most?
- Whichever one you are weakest at, if your program sets a floor on each section. Where programs weight sections differently, Anatomy & Physiology and Mathematics usually carry the most weight, because they map most directly onto clinical coursework and medication safety.
- Can I retake the HESI A2 if my score is too low?
- Usually, but the limit is set by your program rather than by Elsevier. Two attempts per application cycle with a 30 to 60 day wait between them is common. Some programs allow three, and some allow one — check before you sit it the first time.
Find out where you actually stand
A target is only useful once you know your starting point. Sit a full, timed section and get a score you can compare against the table above.
See packagesNot sure which sections you need? Read the sections guide.