HESI A2 Math exam-day guide
HESI A2 Math · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID in the name you registered under. If your registration name differs from your ID (nickname, married name), confirm with the provider before test day whether you need supporting documentation. Exact ID rules vary by testing site, so confirm with the provider.
Your admission or scheduling confirmation
Know your appointment time, test center address, and any confirmation number. Some sites require a printed or digital admission ticket; confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is needed.
Calculator policy confirmed in advance
The HESI A2 is computer-delivered and includes an on-screen calculator for some math items. Do not assume you may bring your own. Confirm with the provider whether a personal calculator, phone calculator, or scratch materials are permitted at your site.
Scratch paper and pencil policy confirmed
Many testing centers supply scratch paper and a pencil and collect them afterward. Bringing your own may be prohibited. Confirm with the provider what is supplied and what is banned.
Personal items plan
Phones, smartwatches, bags, notes, and study materials are typically not allowed at the workstation and must be stored. Confirm with the provider where items are stored and whether lockers are available.
Know your school's required score
The HESI A2 has no single universal passing score; nursing programs set their own minimums, sometimes per section. Confirm with your program which sections are required and what score you need before you sit the exam.
Know the section list and timing for your sitting
Schools choose which sections you take. Confirm with the provider and your program whether you are taking just Math or the full battery, and how much total seat time to expect.
Practice mental arithmetic and fraction/decimal/ratio work
Be fluent converting fractions, decimals, and percents; solving proportions; unit conversions; and reading word problems for the operation required. Practice without a calculator sometimes, so you are not dependent on it.
Plan the route and arrival buffer
Arrive early; late arrivals may be refused entry and treated as a missed appointment. Check parking, transit, and building access the day before. Confirm with the provider how early to arrive and what happens if you are late.
Rest, food, and hydration plan
Sleep, eat a normal meal, and bring water if the site allows it. Avoid last-minute cramming that trades sleep for anxiety. Confirm with the provider whether water or snacks are allowed in the testing room.
Reschedule and cancellation rules checked
Fees, deadlines, and no-show policies vary by provider and site. Confirm with the provider the deadline and cost to reschedule, and whether a retake requires a waiting period.
Special accommodations arranged in advance
Extended time or other accommodations usually must be requested and approved before test day, not at check-in. Confirm with the provider the deadline and documentation required.
Plan the day
Shift from learning to rehearsal. Take one or two timed Math practice sets under test-like conditions, then review every miss by category: arithmetic, fractions and decimals, ratios and proportions, percentages, unit conversions, and word problems. Build a one-page error log listing the mistake type, not just the right answer, and reread it each day.
Drill the skills that cost the most time: converting between fractions, decimals, and percents; setting up proportions; and translating word problems into a single operation. Practice estimation to sanity-check answers before selecting them.
Confirm logistics in writing: appointment time, address, ID requirements, calculator and scratch-paper policy, and which sections you are taking. Confirm with the provider any rule you are unsure about rather than guessing on test day.
Protect sleep. Do not add new material in the last two days; consolidate what you already know. Stop studying by early evening the night before.
Do a light review only: your error log, conversion facts, and a handful of word problems. No full-length practice test the day before; it invites fatigue and anxiety without adding knowledge.
Lay out ID, confirmation, and any permitted items. Charge your phone but plan to store it. Check the weather and route. Set two alarms.
Eat a normal dinner, avoid heavy caffeine late, and go to bed at a reasonable hour. If you cannot sleep, rest quietly rather than studying.
Eat a normal breakfast and hydrate moderately. Arrive early with your ID and confirmation. Leave prohibited items, or plan where to store them, before you reach check-in.
Skip last-minute cramming in the parking lot; it raises anxiety more than it raises scores. If you review anything, read only your one-page error log.
Read each math item twice and identify what is being asked before computing. Watch units and labels; a correct number with the wrong unit is a wrong answer. Use scratch paper methodically and label each problem so you can recheck it.
Pace yourself: if an item stalls you, mark your best answer, note it, and move on. Return only if time permits. Estimate to eliminate impossible choices, and check whether an answer is plausible in size and sign.
If the test allows breaks, follow the proctor's instructions exactly on when you may leave and what you may access. Confirm with the provider the break rules for your sitting before test day.
Rules to check
Bring valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID matching your registration name. If your documents do not match, confirm with the provider in advance; do not assume you will be admitted.
Follow the proctor's instructions on personal items. Phones, smartwatches, notes, and study materials are typically prohibited at the workstation and must be stored; confirm with the provider what is allowed.
Do not bring your own calculator or scratch materials unless the provider has explicitly told you they are permitted. The test is computer-delivered, and site rules on calculators and scratch paper vary.
Breaks are not guaranteed and are governed by the proctor and the sections you are taking. Confirm with the provider the break policy for your sitting, and never leave the testing room without permission.
Scoring is set by the receiving program, not by a universal national cutoff. Confirm with your program which sections are required, how each is scored, and what minimum you must meet.
Retake and reschedule policies, including fees and waiting periods, are set by the provider and site. Confirm with the provider before you rely on a retake as a backup plan.
Request accommodations such as extended time before test day and through the proper process. Accommodations are generally not granted at check-in; confirm with the provider the deadline and required documentation.
Arrive on time. Late arrival may result in refusal of entry and may be treated as a missed appointment under the provider's no-show policy; confirm with the provider the arrival window and consequences.