HESI A2 A&P exam-day guide
HESI A2 A&P · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID in the name you registered with. Most testing centers require it before you can sit; confirm the exact accepted forms and name-match rules with your school or testing provider, since policies vary.
Your admission or authorization confirmation
Have the email or registration record showing your appointment, test date, and any candidate ID number. You may not need to show it, but it resolves check-in problems quickly. Confirm whether your provider requires a printed copy.
Know your school's required A&P sections and scoring
The A&P subtest is one component of the HESI A2; schools choose which sections and what minimum scores they require. Confirm your program's required sections and cutoff before test day so you know what you are aiming for.
Confirm test format and location
Verify whether you are testing in person at a proctored center, at your school, or remotely with remote proctoring. Remote sessions may require a webcam, microphone, and a room scan, so confirm the technical requirements with the provider.
Confirm permitted materials and calculator policy
Rules on scratch paper, pencils, and on-screen calculators differ by provider and section. Ask in advance rather than assuming; do not bring your own calculator unless the provider explicitly permits it.
Confirm break policy
Some administrations allow scheduled breaks and some do not; leaving the room may end the session. Confirm with the provider whether breaks are built in and whether you can leave during the A&P section.
Plan arrival time and route
Arrive early, typically well before your start time, because late arrivals may be turned away. Build in buffer for traffic, parking, and security check-in. Confirm the center's specific arrival cutoff with the provider.
Sleep and a normal meal
Do not cram the night before. A consistent sleep schedule and a normal breakfast or meal support sustained attention across a multi-section exam. Avoid unfamiliar energy drinks or supplements on test day.
Bring water and a light snack for after the test
Food and drink are usually not allowed at the workstation. Keep a snack and water in a locker or car for after the session, and confirm the center's storage rules.
Leave prohibited items behind or plan storage
Phones, smartwatches, notes, and study materials are generally prohibited in the testing room. Confirm the provider's list of banned items and whether lockers are available.
Review high-yield A&P content the day before, not new material
Spend the final day on a short review of systems you already know: directional terms, cell structures, and the major body systems. Avoid starting unfamiliar topics late.
Know the answer-change and review policy
Some platforms let you flag and revisit questions; others lock answers once submitted. Confirm the navigation rules for your delivery platform before you begin.
Plan the day
Confirm logistics: exact address or remote-proctoring link, start time, arrival cutoff, ID requirements, and permitted materials. Resolve any uncertainty with your school or testing provider now rather than on test day.
Do a diagnostic review of A&P weak spots. Focus on high-yield areas: anatomical position and directional terms, body cavities and planes, cell organelles and transport, tissue types, and the major systems (cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, urinary, nervous, endocrine, musculoskeletal).
Practice the question style: multiple-choice and select-all items with clinical or applied wording. Time yourself on short sets to build pacing, and review every missed item for the underlying concept, not just the answer.
Protect sleep. Shift bedtime earlier if needed so you are not sleep-deprived on test day; memory consolidation matters more than one more practice set.
Do a light final review of a one-page summary of terms and system functions. Stop studying early enough to wind down.
Prepare your bag: ID, confirmation, and any provider-approved items. Lay out clothes and confirm your route or remote setup (camera, microphone, internet, quiet room).
Eat normally, hydrate, and avoid alcohol. Set two alarms and confirm the start time in your own time zone if testing remotely.
Eat a normal breakfast, hydrate moderately, and arrive early. For remote testing, log in early to complete identity verification and the room scan.
Do a brief, calm review of only your strongest summary sheet. Avoid last-minute cramming of new material, which raises anxiety without improving recall.
Read each question fully, including qualifiers like 'except' and 'most likely.' For A&P, anchor on structure-function relationships and standard terminology before choosing.
Pace yourself: answer confidently, mark uncertain items only if the platform allows flagging, and return to them if time permits. Do not linger on one item at the expense of later questions.
Use process of elimination, and for select-all items evaluate each option independently. If a question is genuinely unknown, make your best reasoned choice rather than leaving it blank, unless the platform penalizes guessing (confirm with the provider).
Manage breaks per the provider's rules. If a break is allowed, use it to reset posture and breathing, then return focused. Do not discuss exam content with anyone during or after the session.
Rules to check
Bring valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID matching your registered name. If your name or ID situation is unusual, confirm acceptable alternatives with the provider before test day.
Follow all proctor instructions and the provider's prohibited-items list. Do not bring phones, smartwatches, notes, or study materials into the testing room unless explicitly permitted.
Do not communicate with other candidates about exam content during the test, and do not share, reproduce, or discuss specific questions afterward. Treat exam content as confidential.
Breaks are governed by the provider. Confirm in advance whether breaks are scheduled, whether unscheduled breaks are allowed, and whether leaving the room ends your session.
Scoring rules vary by school: your program sets which A&P sections are required and what score is competitive. Confirm your target score and whether retakes are permitted with your program, not with other candidates.
If you test remotely, follow the remote-proctoring rules exactly, including room scan, camera and microphone requirements, and the requirement to remain in view. Confirm technical requirements with the provider beforehand.
Report any technical problem, distraction, or interruption to the proctor immediately. Do not attempt to troubleshoot a secure browser or platform on your own.
Arrive on time. Late arrival may result in being turned away or rescheduled; confirm the center's specific cutoff with the provider.