HESI A2 vs TEAS: what differs and which one to take
The TEAS and the HESI A2 are two different entrance exams for nursing and allied health programs, and in most cases you do not choose: your program names the one it accepts. The TEAS is fixed at 170 questions and 209 minutes of testing time in four sections (ATI). The HESI A2 is built by each school from a menu of sections, so its length and content change from one program to the next. If your program accepts both, pick the one whose sections match what you are already good at.
We only make practice tests for the TEAS. This page is here so you can tell the two apart and know what to check before you book either one.
HESI A2 vs TEAS side by side
| ATI TEAS (Version 7) | HESI A2 (Elsevier) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who makes it | ATI Nursing Education | Elsevier |
| Sections | Always the same four: Reading, Mathematics, Science, English and language usage | The school picks. Common: Math, Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, Grammar, Anatomy and Physiology; also Biology, Chemistry, Physics |
| Questions | 170 (150 scored, 20 unscored) | Depends on the sections. Texas's Tarrant County College lists 55 each for Reading, Vocabulary, Grammar and Math, and 30 for Anatomy and Physiology |
| Time | 209 minutes, a separate clock per section | Tarrant County College lists 5 hours; the University of Arizona lists 4 hours for its sections |
| Score you get | A total score, a score per section and per content area | A score per section and an overall score |
| Passing score | None: each program sets its own | None: each program sets its own |
TEAS figures are ATI's (see what is on the TEAS test for every section and content area). HESI figures come from the two school pages linked below. HESI setups differ by school, so treat these as two examples, not the rule.
How the sections compare
Both exams test reading, math and some science. The differences are in how the content is cut.
- Reading: the TEAS has 45 questions in 55 minutes. The HESI A2 has a Reading Comprehension section, 55 questions at Tarrant County College.
- Math: the TEAS has 38 questions in 57 minutes (numbers and algebra, measurement and data). The HESI A2 has a Math section of 55 questions with an on-screen calculator at Tarrant County College.
- Science: the TEAS science section has 50 questions in 60 minutes, and 18 of its 44 scored questions are human anatomy and physiology. On the HESI A2, Anatomy and Physiology is its own 30-question section at Tarrant County College, and Biology, Chemistry and Physics are separate sections that some schools add. Arizona's nursing program counts Biology, not Anatomy and Physiology.
- English: the TEAS folds grammar and vocabulary into one English and language usage section of 37 questions in 37 minutes. The HESI A2 can test Vocabulary and Grammar as two separate sections.
- Other parts: some schools add a learning style survey and a personality profile to the HESI A2. These are reported apart from the academic score and are not part of the overall average.
Scoring and passing scores
Neither exam has a national pass mark. The cut score belongs to the program. On the TEAS, ATI says each school sets its own and that most want the Proficient level or above; the median of the 43 programs we read that publish an overall minimum is 62% (what TEAS score you need).
The HESI A2 works the same way, with one twist: schools often average only the sections they require. The University of Arizona's nursing program asks for a combined 75% or higher across Math, Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary and Biology, and ignores the other sections in that average (Arizona nursing, HESI Admission Assessment). Read your program's page for which sections count, and for any minimum per section.
Retakes and how long a score lasts
Retake and age rules come from the school, not the test maker, so they vary. Two real examples for the HESI A2:
- University of Arizona: up to 2 attempts per application cycle, the highest eligible score can be used, and a score expires after 1 year. It must still be valid on the application deadline.
- Tarrant County College: one test per application period, and any two attempts at least 60 days apart (TCC, HESI A2 exam information). Results are available 48 to 72 hours after the test.
TEAS programs set theirs the same way: among the programs we read, some allow 2 attempts per cycle, some count only a score from the last year, and some accept only Version 7. Look at the retake limit before you test, because a failed first try can use up an attempt.
Which one should you take?
- Check your program's page first. It names the exam, the sections that count, the minimum, and how recent the score must be. If it takes only one, that settles it.
- If it accepts both, compare the sections. Strong at vocabulary and grammar but weak at science? A HESI A2 without Chemistry or Physics may suit you. Comfortable with a long, fixed, science-heavy test? The TEAS is predictable: the same four sections every time.
- Check the testing options. Where you can sit it, how soon a seat opens, and the fee (Westcliff University's comparison of April 2026 puts the TEAS at $70 to $100 and the HESI A2 at $40 to $100 depending on location; confirm both with the test center).
- Plan the retake. Leave enough time before the deadline for a second attempt if your school limits attempts per cycle.
Is one harder than the other?
There is no honest single answer. The TEAS is broader and the same for everyone, and it times each section tightly: the English section gives you 60 seconds a question. A HESI A2 can feel easier or harder depending on the sections your school picked, as Westcliff's comparison notes. Compare yourself against the sections you will actually sit, not against the exam's reputation.
If your program takes the TEAS
Find your program's minimum in the table of 56 programs, then take the free practice test: 15 questions across all four sections, scored against the minimum you pick. It shows which section holds you back, and the four-week plan or the one-week plan builds on that result. For a first look at the questions, try the TEAS sample questions.
Frequently asked questions
Is the HESI A2 the same as the HESI exit exam?
No. The HESI A2 is the admission exam you take before nursing school. Elsevier's other HESI exams are taken inside a program.
Can I use a TEAS score for a program that wants the HESI A2?
Only if the program says it accepts both. Some schools accept either, others require one and set the minimum for it. Ask the admissions office, and get the answer in writing.
Do the two exams cover the same material?
Mostly the same subjects, cut differently. Both test reading and math, and both test science and English in some form. The TEAS fixes all four sections for everyone; the HESI A2 lets the school choose.
Which scores do schools see?
That depends on the program and the test center. Read its application page for which score report it wants and how to send it.
Sources: ATI help for the TEAS; Tarrant County College and University of Arizona nursing for the HESI A2, read 2026-10-22; Westcliff University, April 9, 2026. Rules change: confirm yours on your program's page. Not affiliated with ATI or Elsevier.