How can I prepare for a nursing entrance exam?

Step 1: Find out which exam and which sections

'Nursing entrance exam' isn't one test. Most programs use either the ATI TEAS or Elsevier's HESI Admission Assessment (HESI A2), and they're built differently. Before you buy anything, get these answers from each program's admissions page or advisor:

• Which exam: TEAS or HESI A2?
• Which sections count? For the HESI A2, the school picks.
• What's the minimum score, and what score has actually been competitive?
• How many attempts are allowed, and how long must you wait between them?
• How long is a score valid, and how does the school receive it?

What the TEAS consists of

The ATI TEAS has four sections, always in this order. Reading has 45 questions in 55 minutes. Math has 38 in 57 minutes. Science has 50 in 60 minutes. English and Language Usage has 37 in 37 minutes. That's 170 questions and 209 minutes in total. Twenty questions are unscored pretest items you can't identify, so treat every question as if it counts.

A calculator is built into the test. You get an optional 10-minute break after math. Within a section you can flag questions and go back, but once you submit a section you can't return to it.

What the HESI A2 consists of

Elsevier's official HESI Admission Assessment review covers math, reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, biology, chemistry, and anatomy and physiology. Your school decides which of these you take, so two applicants can sit very different HESI exams.

Two real examples. East Carolina University's accelerated BSN requires five sections: Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary & General Knowledge, Basic Math Skills, Biology, and Anatomy & Physiology. It allows two attempts with a three-month wait before the second. Central New Mexico Community College lists six sections (grammar, reading comprehension, vocabulary and general knowledge, biology, chemistry and math), allows 4.5 hours and asks for a 75 on every subtest and on the composite. If you study chemistry for a program that doesn't test it, you've spent time you needed elsewhere.

Step 2: Take a timed diagnostic

Do one full-length, timed practice run before you make a plan. Use real section timing, sit in one place and don't pause. Your score matters less than where you lost points: content you didn't know, careless errors, or running out of time. Each one has a different fix.

Write down three numbers per section: score, questions left unanswered, and questions you guessed on. That's your baseline. Retest the same way every two weeks.

Step 3: Build a plan around your weakest two areas

Most applicants study evenly and improve slowly. Split your time instead: about half on your weakest section, a quarter on your second weakest, and a quarter on mixed timed practice that keeps the rest sharp. For someone who has been out of science classes for a few years, a workable plan is six weeks of 45–60 minutes on most days. Adjust it to your diagnostic gap and your application deadline.

Practice in short timed blocks, then review every miss. Write down why the right answer is right and why you picked the wrong one. That review is where most of the score gain happens.

Section tactics that pay off

Each section rewards a different kind of practice. Here's where to put your effort.

Test week and test day

In the final week, take one last timed practice run, then taper. Don't cram new topics the night before. Confirm your appointment, your ID and your testing setup. If you're testing online from home, check that the room is quiet and private and that your webcam works ahead of time.

On test day, answer every question. On the TEAS, unanswered questions are scored as wrong and there's no penalty for guessing. Flag the slow ones, keep moving and come back if time allows.

Practice with our bank

The CinnaEntry bank has 5,260 questions covering both exams, including 664 TEAS science, 645 TEAS reading, 645 HESI reading, 553 HESI grammar, 529 HESI math and 280 HESI anatomy and physiology. Start with the practice quiz on this page, then go to the practice set for the exam and section your program requires.