HESI A2 study plan
HESI A2 · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Anatomy and Physiology & Vocabulary and General Knowledge
Label every major organ system and state its primary function on a blank outline diagram
Trace blood through the heart, naming chambers, valves, and both circuits in order from memory
Describe how the respiratory, digestive, and urinary systems each maintain homeostasis in 3–4 sentences apiece
Build a 60-term vocabulary deck covering health-science and general-knowledge words and run it through 4 spaced review sessions
Your checkpoint
Hand-drawn heart diagram with 12 structures labeled correctly plus a 60-card vocabulary deck scoring at least 80% on a self-administered quiz.
Anatomy and Physiology & Biology
Explain neuron structure, action-potential propagation, and synaptic transmission in a 5-sentence written summary
Match at least 8 endocrine glands to their hormones and target-organ effects in a comparison table
Sequence the steps of skeletal muscle contraction and name the roles of calcium and ATP
Diagram the cell cycle and each mitotic phase, listing one defining event per phase
Add 60 new vocabulary terms and review both decks in 3 spaced sessions
Your checkpoint
Self-written 40-question anatomy and physiology quiz scored at 85% or higher, with every missed item re-explained in writing.
Biology & Chemistry
Compare prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell structures and state the function of 12 organelles
Sequence DNA replication, transcription, and translation with the enzymes involved at each step
Compare photosynthesis and cellular respiration, including ATP yield and location
Solve 10 genetics problems covering Mendelian ratios, incomplete dominance, and codominance
Determine proton, neutron, and electron counts and electron shell arrangement for the first 20 elements
Your checkpoint
One-page written summary of the central dogma plus a worked 10-problem genetics set scored at 90% accuracy.
Chemistry & Basic Math Skills
Balance 15 chemical equations, including combustion and single-replacement reactions
Convert among moles, grams, and particles across 10 stoichiometry problems
Distinguish ionic from covalent bonding and correctly name or write formulas for 20 common compounds
Calculate molarity and classify substances as acid or base using the pH scale
Compute accurately with fractions, decimals, percentages, and proportions in 20 items
Your checkpoint
30-question chemistry problem set scored at 85% or higher plus a one-page metric and unit-conversion reference sheet written from memory.
Basic Math Skills & Grammar
Solve 15 dosage, rate, and unit-conversion word problems showing each step
Convert fluently among metric and household units in 20 items
Isolate variables in linear equations and apply ratios to solve proportion problems
Identify all eight parts of speech and correct subject-verb agreement errors in 20 sentences
Fix pronoun case, misplaced modifiers, and run-on sentences across 20 items
Your checkpoint
Timed 25-problem math set completed at 1.5 minutes per item or faster with 90% accuracy, plus a grammar correction log documenting 20 fixed sentences with the rule applied.
Grammar & Reading Comprehension
Punctuate 30 sentences correctly using commas, semicolons, colons, and apostrophes
Classify 20 clauses as independent or dependent and repair fragments accordingly
Identify main idea, supporting details, and stated versus inferred information in 5 passages
Summarize each passage in one sentence and name the author's purpose and tone
Apply context clues to define 25 unfamiliar words inside reading passages
Your checkpoint
Timed reading set of 3 passages and 15 questions scored at 85% or higher, plus a 20-sentence editing test scored at 90%.
Physics & Anatomy and Physiology
Apply Newton's three laws to calculate force, mass, and acceleration in 8 problems
Compute speed, velocity, and acceleration and interpret basic motion graphs
Distinguish work, power, and energy and calculate each in 8 problems
Relate frequency, wavelength, and wave speed and apply Ohm's law to simple circuits
Re-drill the two lowest-scoring domains from prior weeks using targeted practice sets
Your checkpoint
25-problem physics set scored at 85% or higher plus a ranked list of the 5 weakest remaining topics with one page of corrective notes for each.
Reading Comprehension & Vocabulary and General Knowledge & Grammar & Basic Math Skills & Biology & Chemistry & Anatomy and Physiology & Physics
Complete 3 full-length timed practice tests under exam-day conditions
Write a rationale for every missed question identifying the underlying concept
Re-run the full vocabulary deck to 95% recall
Rehearse test-day logistics including timing per section and permitted materials
Your checkpoint
Score log across the 3 practice tests showing an upward trend, with every wrong answer paired to a written correction and all domains at or above the target score.
Milestones
Week 2: Score 85% or higher on the self-made 40-question anatomy and physiology quiz and demonstrate 80% recall on the first 60 vocabulary cards.
Week 4: Score 80% or higher on a 40-question mixed science set drawn from anatomy, biology, and chemistry.
Week 6: Score 85% or higher on both the timed reading set and the grammar editing test, and finish the math set within the per-item time cap.
Week 8: Score at or above target on 3 consecutive full-length timed practice tests with no domain more than 10 points below the others.