The TEAS and HESI A2 are not the same exam. They are two separate nursing school entrance tests made by different companies, covering different subjects, and scored on different scales. The reason they get confused is that they serve the same basic purpose: helping nursing programs evaluate whether applicants are academically prepared. But individual schools choose one or the other, and rarely both, so which test you need depends entirely on where you’re applying.
Who Makes Each Test
The TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) is made by ATI, a company called Assessment Technologies Institute. The current version is TEAS Version 7. The HESI A2 (Health Education Systems, Inc. Admission Assessment) is made by Elsevier, a major publisher of nursing and medical textbooks. Both tests are widely accepted across the United States, but each nursing program decides which one to require. Some community colleges use the TEAS, while a four-year university down the road might require the HESI A2. You’ll need to check with each program you’re applying to.
What Each Exam Covers
The biggest practical difference is in the subjects tested. Both exams include reading and science, but the specific sections are quite different.
The TEAS has four sections:
- Reading: 39 scored questions, 55 minutes
- Math: 34 scored questions, 57 minutes
- Science: 44 scored questions, 60 minutes
- English and Language Usage: 33 scored questions, 37 minutes
That adds up to 150 scored questions, plus 20 unscored “pretest” items scattered throughout that don’t count toward your score (you won’t know which ones they are). The total time limit is 209 minutes, or about three and a half hours.
The HESI A2 is structured differently. At some schools, the required sections include:
- Reading Comprehension: 55 items
- Vocabulary and General Knowledge: 55 items
- Biology: 30 items
- Anatomy and Physiology: 30 items
That totals 170 questions across these four sections. The HESI A2 also has optional modules in math, chemistry, and physics, but many schools don’t require them. This is one of the trickiest parts of the HESI: the sections you take can vary by school. You might buy a review guide that covers chemistry and physics only to find out your program doesn’t test those subjects. Always confirm with your specific school which HESI modules are required before you start studying.
How the Science Sections Differ
If you’re comparing the two exams side by side, the science content is where the gap is most noticeable. The TEAS science section is a single 44-question block that covers a broad range of topics, from human body systems to scientific reasoning and life sciences. The HESI A2 splits its science content into separate, more focused sections. Biology covers cells, molecules, cellular respiration, and metabolism. Anatomy and physiology covers body systems and anatomical structures. This means the HESI tends to go deeper into biology-specific material, while the TEAS casts a wider net.
The HESI A2 also includes a dedicated vocabulary section focused on terms used in English and healthcare, which the TEAS doesn’t have as a standalone section. On the other hand, the TEAS always includes a math section, while math is optional on the HESI at many programs.
Scoring
The scoring systems are completely different, which makes comparing results between the two exams almost impossible. The TEAS gives you a composite score from 0 to 100 percent, along with category breakdowns for each of the four sections. Schools set their own minimum composite scores for admission, commonly somewhere in the 60 to 80 percent range depending on the program’s competitiveness.
The HESI A2 scores each section individually and provides an overall score. The scoring scale is proprietary to Elsevier, and schools set their own cutoffs for each section. Some programs look at your cumulative score, while others focus on individual section scores. A score of 75 or above on each section is a common minimum, though competitive programs often expect higher.
Cost and Registration
Both exams cost roughly the same amount, though fees vary by testing location. The TEAS typically runs around $65 for the exam fee charged by ATI, plus a proctoring fee from the testing site that can bring the total to around $113. The HESI A2 costs approximately $94 to $103, depending on whether your school requires the optional critical thinking portion.
Registration works differently for each. For the TEAS, you can schedule through ATI’s website or through the school where you plan to test. For the HESI, registration is typically handled through the nursing program or testing center where you’re applying. Neither exam is offered at general testing centers like Prometric or Pearson VUE in the way that some professional licensing exams are.
Retake Policies
If you don’t hit the score you need, both exams allow retakes, but the rules vary. For the TEAS taken through ATI directly, there’s a 14-day waiting period between attempts. If you take the TEAS at a school’s testing center, many institutions enforce a 30-day waiting period. Some programs also cap the total number of attempts you can make within a certain time frame, so check with your school.
HESI A2 retake policies are set almost entirely by individual schools. Some allow a retake after 30 days, others after 60 or 90 days, and some limit you to two or three total attempts per year. There’s no single universal rule, which means you’ll need to look up the policy at each program you’re considering.
Which One Should You Study For
You don’t get to choose between the TEAS and HESI A2 based on which one sounds easier. Your nursing program dictates which exam you need, and in most cases that’s non-negotiable. If you’re applying to multiple schools, it’s possible you’ll need to take both. Start by making a list of every program you plan to apply to and checking their admissions requirements.
If you do find yourself in the rare situation where a school accepts either exam, consider your strengths. The TEAS always includes math, so if math isn’t your strong suit and the school’s required HESI sections don’t include it, the HESI might play to your advantage. If you’re comfortable with broad science but haven’t taken anatomy and physiology yet, the TEAS science section might feel more manageable than the HESI’s dedicated anatomy module. Study materials for both exams are widely available through ATI (for the TEAS) and Elsevier (for the HESI), along with plenty of third-party prep books and practice tests.