HESI A2 Practice Test: 40 Free Questions With Answers

Elsevier's HESI Admission Assessment Exam Review covers seven sections. Ask your school which ones it gives and the score it wants.

This practice test and the full prep cover five of them: math, reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, and anatomy and physiology. They do not cover biology or chemistry.

Answer 10 questions at a time and see the answer and the reason after each pick. Work the math with pencil and paper the way you will on test day.

Every question is original. None is copied from the HESI exam or a published review book.

1. Day 1: take this test and note which sections cost you the most.
2. Days 2 and 3: math. Practice conversions and dosage problems until they are quick.
3. Day 4: reading and vocabulary.
4. Day 5: grammar.
5. Day 6: anatomy and physiology, one body system at a time.
6. Day 7: a timed mixed practice exam, then review what you missed.

1. What is the value of the Roman numeral XLIV?
   Answer: 44. XL means 50 minus 10, which is 40, and IV means 5 minus 1, which is 4. Together they equal 44.
2. Which heart valve is located between the left atrium and the left ventricle?
   Answer: Mitral (bicuspid) valve. The mitral valve, also called the bicuspid valve, separates the left atrium from the left ventricle. The tricuspid valve is on the right side.
3. Which of the following is a complete sentence?
   Answer: The patient rested after lunch. A complete sentence has a subject and a verb and expresses a full thought. The others are fragments.
4. What is 3/4 divided by 1/8?
   Answer: 6. To divide fractions, multiply by the reciprocal: 3/4 times 8/1 equals 24/4, which is 6.
5. Read the passage, then answer the question. Washing hands is one of the easiest ways to stop the spread of germs. Germs get onto hands when people touch surfaces, raw food, animals, or other people. The germs can then enter the body through the eyes, nose, and mouth. Scrubbing with soap and clean running water for at least 20 seconds removes many types of germs. When soap and water are not available, a hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol is a good second choice. Sanitizer, however, does not get rid of all types of germs. It also may not work well when hands are visibly dirty or greasy. In those cases, soap and water are the better choice. Which statement best describes the main idea of the passage?
   Answer: Hand washing is a simple way to limit germs, and soap and water often work best. The passage explains that hand washing stops germs and that soap and water are better than sanitizer in many cases.
6. Read the passage, then answer the question. Washing hands is one of the easiest ways to stop the spread of germs. Germs get onto hands when people touch surfaces, raw food, animals, or other people. The germs can then enter the body through the eyes, nose, and mouth. Scrubbing with soap and clean running water for at least 20 seconds removes many types of germs. When soap and water are not available, a hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol is a good second choice. Sanitizer, however, does not get rid of all types of germs. It also may not work well when hands are visibly dirty or greasy. In those cases, soap and water are the better choice. According to the passage, when are soap and water the better choice than hand sanitizer?
   Answer: When hands are visibly dirty or greasy. The passage says sanitizer may not work well on visibly dirty or greasy hands, so soap and water are better then.
7. An order calls for 8 mg of a medicine. The vial label reads 10 mg per 2 mL. How many mL should be drawn up?
   Answer: 1.6 mL. Divide the ordered dose by the dose on hand and multiply by the volume: 8 divided by 10 equals 0.8, and 0.8 times 2 mL equals 1.6 mL.
8. A patient weighs 66 lb. What is the patient's weight in kilograms? (1 kg = 2.2 lb)
   Answer: 30 kg. To change pounds to kilograms, divide by 2.2: 66 divided by 2.2 equals 30 kg.
9. Read the passage, then answer the question. Marcus arrived at the clinic forty minutes before his first shift as a medical assistant. He had ironed his uniform twice the night before and read the employee handbook from cover to cover. When the office manager handed him the weekly schedule, he studied it closely and wrote three questions in a small notebook. During his lunch break, he practiced taking blood pressure on a coworker who had offered to help. At the end of the day, he thanked each person who had shown him around. What can be inferred about Marcus from the passage?
   Answer: He wants to do well and make a good first impression. Arriving early, preparing, writing questions, and practicing all suggest Marcus wants to do a good job on his first day.
10. Read the passage, then answer the question. Marcus arrived at the clinic forty minutes before his first shift as a medical assistant. He had ironed his uniform twice the night before and read the employee handbook from cover to cover. When the office manager handed him the weekly schedule, he studied it closely and wrote three questions in a small notebook. During his lunch break, he practiced taking blood pressure on a coworker who had offered to help. At the end of the day, he thanked each person who had shown him around. What did Marcus do during his lunch break?
    Answer: He practiced taking blood pressure on a coworker. The passage states that during his lunch break he practiced taking blood pressure on a coworker.
11. A unit staffs 3 nurses for every 20 patients. At the same ratio, how many nurses are needed for 140 patients?
    Answer: 21. Set up 3/20 = x/140. Since 140 is 7 times 20, multiply 3 by 7 to get 21 nurses.
12. Select the meaning of the word "dilate" in this sentence: The eye doctor used drops to dilate the patient's pupils before the exam.
    Answer: Widen. To dilate means to make wider or larger. Eye drops widen the pupils so the doctor can see inside the eye.
13. Choose the correct pronoun: The supervisor gave the award to Ana and ___.
    Answer: me. The pronoun is the object of the preposition "to," so it must be in the object case, "me." Test it by removing "Ana and": gave the award to me.
14. Solve for x: 4x - 7 = 21
    Answer: 7. Add 7 to both sides to get 4x = 28, then divide both sides by 4 to get x = 7.
15. What is the main job of red blood cells?
    Answer: Carrying oxygen to body tissues. Red blood cells (erythrocytes) contain hemoglobin, which carries oxygen from the lungs to the tissues.
16. A nurse charts that a dose was given at 0015. What is this time in standard time?
    Answer: 12:15 a.m. In military time, 0000 is midnight, so 0015 is 15 minutes after midnight, or 12:15 a.m.
17. Write 5/8 as a decimal.
    Answer: 0.625. Divide the top number by the bottom number: 5 divided by 8 equals 0.625.
18. A child weighs 22 kg. The order is 5 mg per kg for one dose. How many mg should the child receive?
    Answer: 110 mg. Multiply the weight by the dose per kg: 22 kg times 5 mg equals 110 mg.
19. Where in the lungs does gas exchange between the air and the blood take place?
    Answer: Alveoli. The alveoli are tiny air sacs surrounded by capillaries. Oxygen and carbon dioxide move across their thin walls.
20. Read the passage, then answer the question. Many people think of bones as hard, lifeless sticks. In fact, bone is living tissue that is always being broken down and rebuilt. This process is called remodeling. Bones need calcium to stay strong, and the body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium from food. Exercise matters too. When muscles pull on bones during activities like walking or lifting, the bones respond by becoming thicker and stronger. When a person cannot move for a long time, such as during a long hospital stay, the bones can lose mass and become weaker. According to the passage, why does the body need vitamin D?
    Answer: To absorb calcium from food. The passage states that the body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium from food.
21. Choose the word that correctly completes the sentence: The students left ___ textbooks in the lab.
    Answer: their. "Their" shows that the textbooks belong to the students. "There" names a place, and "they're" means "they are."
22. Choose the verb that correctly completes the sentence: Yesterday, the patient ___ two laps around the unit.
    Answer: walked. "Yesterday" shows the action happened in the past, so the past tense "walked" is correct.
23. Choose the word that correctly completes the sentence: The new medicine had a strong ___ on her sleep.
    Answer: effect. "Effect" is a noun that means a result. Here it follows "a strong," so a noun is needed. "Affect" is usually a verb.
24. A clinic scheduled 72 patients for one day. Of those patients, 18 did not show up. What percent of the patients did not show up?
    Answer: 25%. Divide the part by the whole: 18 divided by 72 equals 0.25, which is 25%.
25. Which anatomical term describes where the elbow is located compared with the wrist?
    Answer: Proximal. Proximal means closer to the trunk or the point where a limb attaches. The elbow is closer to the trunk than the wrist is.
26. What is 2/3 + 1/4?
    Answer: 11/12. Use a common denominator of 12: 2/3 equals 8/12 and 1/4 equals 3/12, so the sum is 11/12.
27. Select the meaning of the word "concise" in this sentence: The instructor asked for a concise summary of the patient's history, no longer than three sentences.
    Answer: Brief and clear. Concise means saying a lot in few words. The limit of three sentences is a clue.
28. Which hormone, made by beta cells in the pancreas, lowers blood glucose?
    Answer: Insulin. Beta cells in the pancreatic islets release insulin, which helps cells take in glucose and lowers blood glucose. Glucagon raises it.
29. Read the passage, then answer the question. Too much time in the sun can harm the skin. Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun can cause sunburn, early wrinkles, and skin cancer. Health experts suggest several steps to lower this risk. Stay in the shade, especially in the middle of the day when the sun is strongest. Wear a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and clothing that covers the arms and legs. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. Sunscreen wears off, so put it on again after two hours in the sun and after swimming or sweating. Following these steps can protect your skin for years to come. What is the author's main purpose in writing this passage?
    Answer: To explain ways people can protect their skin from the sun. The passage gives readers a list of steps to lower the risk of sun damage, so its purpose is to explain and inform.
30. Read the passage, then answer the question. Too much time in the sun can harm the skin. Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun can cause sunburn, early wrinkles, and skin cancer. Health experts suggest several steps to lower this risk. Stay in the shade, especially in the middle of the day when the sun is strongest. Wear a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and clothing that covers the arms and legs. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. Sunscreen wears off, so put it on again after two hours in the sun and after swimming or sweating. Following these steps can protect your skin for years to come. According to the passage, when should sunscreen be put on again?
    Answer: After two hours in the sun and after swimming or sweating. The passage says sunscreen wears off and should be put on again after two hours and after swimming or sweating.
31. Choose the verb that correctly completes the sentence: Each of the nurses ___ a name badge.
    Answer: wears. The subject is "Each," which is singular, so it takes the singular verb "wears." The phrase "of the nurses" does not change the subject.
32. Which sentence uses commas correctly?
    Answer: We packed gauze, tape, and gloves for the trip. Commas separate the items in a series. No comma belongs between the subject and the verb or between the verb and its object.
33. Select the meaning of the word "adverse" in this sentence: The pharmacist warned that the drug can cause adverse effects such as nausea and dizziness.
    Answer: Harmful or unwanted. Adverse means harmful or unfavorable. Nausea and dizziness are unwanted effects of a drug.
34. Select the meaning of the word "benign" in this sentence: The biopsy showed that the lump was benign, so no further treatment was needed.
    Answer: Not harmful or cancerous. Benign means not harmful. A benign growth is not cancer, which is why no more treatment was needed.
35. Select the meaning of the word "prognosis" in this sentence: After reviewing the test results, the doctor said the prognosis for a full recovery was good.
    Answer: The likely outcome of an illness. A prognosis is a prediction of how an illness will turn out. The name of an illness is the diagnosis.
36. A provider orders 750 mg of a medicine by mouth. Each tablet contains 250 mg. How many tablets should be given?
    Answer: 3 tablets. Divide the ordered dose by the dose in one tablet: 750 mg divided by 250 mg equals 3 tablets.
37. A patient's appointment is at 3:45 p.m. How is this time written in military time?
    Answer: 1545. For times after noon, add 12 to the hour: 3 plus 12 equals 15, so 3:45 p.m. is 1545.
38. Select the meaning of the word "ambulate" in this sentence: The nurse encouraged the patient to ambulate in the hallway three times a day after surgery.
    Answer: Walk. To ambulate means to walk or move from place to place on foot.
39. Select the meaning of the word "lethargic" in this sentence: After two nights of fever, the toddler was lethargic and slept most of the day.
    Answer: Sluggish and drowsy. Lethargic means lacking energy and being sluggish or drowsy, which fits a sick child who sleeps all day.
40. What is the functional unit of the kidney that filters blood and forms urine?
    Answer: Nephron. Each kidney has about a million nephrons. They filter blood and form urine.

• Elsevier: HESI Admission Assessment Exam Review, 6th edition