ABSN HESI Admission Assessment (A2) Exam

Students applying to the Accelerated Second-Degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program at ECU are required to take the HESI Admission Assessment (A2) examination and submit their exam score report(s) as part of their application.

ECU’s Accelerated BSN program requires the following five sections of the HESI A2 exam:

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Vocabulary & General Knowledge
  • Basic Math Skills
  • Biology
  • Anatomy & Physiology

Students will earn points in the College of Nursing ABSN Ranking Formula (PDF) for their highest average score on the HESI A2 exam.

To learn more about the HESI A2 exam please review our list of frequently asked questions and college exam policies (PDF).

Exam Attempts

Students are limited to two (2) exam attempts total. ECU requires a three months before completing the second and final attempt. Students should complete all five sections on each attempt of the exam. If two HESI A2 attempts are completed, the average will be super scored using the highest score for each of the five required sections to calculate the highest possible average score for the ranking formula.

Additional attempts for the HESI A2 exam do NOT reset with each ABSN admission cycle. If re-applying to the program, you must use your previous HESI A2 scores from your first two attempts. HESI A2 scores do not expire.

Students who have already completed the HESI A2 exam twice for the BSN program at ECU do not get a new set of exam attempts when shifting to the ABSN pathway. The HESI A2 exam is the same for both programs.

Study Resources

The College of Nursing does not endorse any specific study resource for the HESI A2 exam. Students are encouraged to search the Internet, Amazon, and the app store on their phone for current editions of study guides, practice exams and other tools to help prepare for this exam.

Exam Dates

The ABSN HESI A2 registration and testing window opens every year on September 1st and remains open through the ABSN application deadline of June 15th.

Because of the three month waiting period required between exam attempts, the College of Nursing strongly advises students to complete their first exam attempt early enough in this window to ensure a second attempt is possible should it be needed.

Registration Instructions for ABSN Applicants

The HESI A2 exam is not administered by East Carolina University. The College of Nursing partners with Elsevier and Prometric Testing Centers to administer this exam to students. Prometric offers proctored in person and remote test options for students.

While scores completed through either mode of testing are acceptable in the ABSN admission process, the College of Nursing strongly advises students to take this exam in person to reduce the possibility of technical issues occurring prior to or during an exam. Students who choose to test remotely do so at their own risk. Students are responsible for learning about the testing process for their desired exam format and following all instructions provided by Elsevier and Prometric. The College of Nursing is not obligated to offer exceptions or extensions to students who encounter difficulties in completing their exam attempts prior to their intended application deadline.

TESTING CENTER EXAM (Recommended)

REMOTE EXAM

DSS Accommodations

Students who are registered with ECU’s Disability Support Services (DSS) and want to request any accommodations for the HESI A2 exam should use this DSS registration tutorial. Approval from Elsevier for testing accommodations can take up to six weeks for processing so students should plan accordingly.

Questions?

Students interested in applying to ECU’s ABSN program should continue to monitor the ABSN Admission website for updates to eligibility and admission requirements as they are subject to change at any time with faculty approval.

Questions related to how the HESI A2 exam relates to the ABSN admission and application processes should be directed to the College of Nursing’s Student Services office by calling 252-744-6477 or emailing CONAdvising@ecu.edu. Current ECU students should reach out to their assigned academic advisor.

Questions related to requesting exam registration access or issues should be directed to Elsevier customer support by calling 1-800-222-9570 or by starting a customer service chat.

Questions related to exam date scheduling, rescheduling, cancellation, payment, etc. should be directed to Prometric Testing candidate care by calling 1-800-853-6769.