HESI A2 Biology
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ExploreAbout this exam
The HESI A2 Admission Assessment is a standardized entrance exam used by many nursing and health-professions programs as one part of their admissions review. The Biology section is one of the subject-area tests within that assessment, and it is typically taken alongside other sections such as reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, math, and anatomy and physiology, though which sections a given school requires is set by that school rather than by the exam publisher. Candidates are usually prospective students applying to nursing, radiography, dental hygiene, respiratory therapy, and similar programs; because each program chooses its own required sections, minimum scores, and retake rules, you should confirm those details directly with your target school's admissions office before you register or schedule a sitting. The Biology content is introductory college-level biology: the scientific method and experimental design, cell structure and function, cellular respiration and photosynthesis, DNA and protein synthesis, mitosis and meiosis, Mendelian and molecular genetics, classification and basic taxonomy, and core ecology concepts such as food webs, symbiosis, and population dynamics. Most of the Biology items are multiple-choice and reward precise recall of terminology plus the ability to apply concepts to short scenarios, so preparation should combine a systematic review of a standard introductory biology textbook with repeated practice questions and careful review of every missed item. This page is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the exam publisher or any testing company; no official figures for item counts, time limits, passing scores, fees, or retake policy are reproduced here because they could not be verified from an official source, so treat all such numbers as school-specific and confirm them locally.
What you'll study
About HESI A2 Biology preparation
What is the HESI A2 Biology section, exactly?
It is one subject-area test within the broader HESI A2 Admission Assessment, a standardized entrance exam used by nursing and allied-health programs. The Biology section samples introductory college biology: cell structure, metabolism, genetics, and ecology. Which sections your program requires, and whether Biology is among them, is decided by the school, not the exam publisher.
How many Biology questions are there and how long do I get?
We cannot state an official item count or time limit, because the publisher's page could not be retrieved and no verified figure was available. Item counts and timing can also vary by school and by test version. Check your admissions office's instructions and the registration materials your program sends you, and budget practice time for a full-length sitting.
What score do I need to pass?
There is no single universal passing score. Individual programs set their own minimum scores, and some set separate minimums for each section rather than an overall total. Ask your target program directly what Biology score it expects and whether it looks at the raw score, a percentile, or a converted score.
Can I retake the Biology section if I score poorly?
Retake rules are set by the school, not by the exam itself. Many programs allow one retake after a waiting period, some cap the number of attempts, and some average attempts or take the most recent score. Confirm the policy in writing before you sit the exam, since a low score can affect your application timeline.
How hard is the Biology section?
Most candidates find it comparable to a first college biology course: the concepts are not exotic, but the volume of terminology is large and the questions test precise distinctions rather than general impressions. Candidates who have not taken biology recently usually need several weeks of structured review, especially for genetics, cellular respiration, and membrane transport.
What topics should I study first?
Start with cell structure and function, membrane transport, and the basics of enzymes, because those concepts recur inside other topics. Then move to cellular respiration and photosynthesis, DNA structure and protein synthesis, mitosis versus meiosis, and Mendelian genetics. Finish with taxonomy and ecology, which are usually lighter but easy points if reviewed.
What are the most common mistakes candidates make?
Three recur: confusing mitosis with meiosis, mixing up the products and locations of cellular respiration versus photosynthesis, and memorizing vocabulary without being able to apply it to a short scenario. A fourth is neglecting ecology and taxonomy because they feel minor, then losing easy questions. Review every missed practice item and write down why the right answer is right.
Is this page officially connected to the exam?
No. This is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the exam publisher or any testing company. Always treat your program's own admissions materials and the publisher's official registration information as authoritative for logistics, and use this page only for content review.