HESI Admission Assessment (A2) Exam

Students applying to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at ECU are required to take the HESI Admission Assessment (A2) examination and submit their exam score report(s) along with their application.

ECU tests applicants on 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 Ranking Formula for their highest average score on the HESI A2 exam. A minimum score of 75 is recommended but not required on all five sections.

To learn more about the HESI A2 exam please review our list of frequently asked questions.

Exam Attempts

Students are limited to two (2) exam attempts total in applying to the BSN program. There is a mandatory three month waiting period before completing a 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 admission cycle. If re-applying to the program, you must use your previous HESI A2 scores from your first two attempts.

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 study guides, practice exams and other tools to help prepare for this exam.

Exam Dates

Typically, students complete the HESI A2 exam in the months leading up to the application deadline for their intended admission cycle. Reference the chart below to confirm your HESI A2 exam registration and testing window:

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 in their assigned testing window to ensure a second attempt is possible if desired.

Registration Instructions for BSN 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 BSN 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.

Here is a screenshot registration tutorial.

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.

It is important to note that accommodations must be requested at least one month prior to your anticipated exam date.

Questions?

Students interested in applying to ECU’s BSN program should continue to check the ECU College of Nursing 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 BSN 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 an Elsevier 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.