HESI Exit Exam

The HESI exit exam is an assessment exam used by various nursing programs to determine whether a student is ready to take and pass either the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN exam.

The HESI exit exam is typically given in the last quarter or semester of a school’s nursing program. The test is built to mirror the content of the NCLEX exam.

The exam is delivered via computer similar to the NCLEX exams, with one crucial difference – it is not a Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) like the NCLEX.

The purpose of the HESI exit exam is to predict a student’s success in passing their NCLEX. Recent studies have found that the HESI exit exam has a 96%-99% prediction of success on the NCLEX exam (source).

What is on the HESI Exit Exam?

The HESI exit exam is designed to match the NCLEX test blueprint. Students can expect to be tested in 3 main subject areas when taking their HESI nursing exit exam:

  1. Nursing Process
  2. Client Needs
  3. Specialties

Nursing Process

Some of the subtopics you can expect to find in this content area include:

  • Assessment
  • Analysis
  • Planning
  • Implementation
  • Evaluation

Client Needs

Some of the subtopics you can expect to find in this content area include:

  • Safe Environments
  • Management of Care
  • Safety Control
  • Health Promotion
  • Integrity
  • Basic Care and Comfort
  • Pharmaceutical and Parenteral Treatments

Specialties

  • Nursing Fundamentals
  • Geriatrics
  • Critical Care
  • Community Health
  • Pediatrics
  • OBGYN
  • Medical-Surgical

An image showing an overview of the HESI Exit Exam

How Many Questions are on the HESI Exit Exam?

There are 150 questions on the HESI RN exit exam and either 150 or 75 questions on the HESI LPN exit exam.

  • HESI RN Exit Exam: 150 questions
  • HESI LPN Exit Exam: 150 or 75 questions

Question Format

The format of the questions are intended to simulate the types of questions a student will see on their NCLEX board exams.

The questions are more critically thinking based, versus a standard information/fact level like students see in their standard nursing courses.

The exam questions will be in one of the following four formats:

  1. Multiple Choice: These are the majority of the questions. Students will select an answer from one of four choices.
  2. Multiple Response: Students can choose one or more answers from five to seven choices.
  3. Fill in the Blank: Students calculate an answer and submit. An on-screen calculator is provided.
  4. Drop and Drag: Students will rank or sequence items.

HESI Exit Exam Scores

The HESI exit exam is scored from 0-950. Review the table below for more information.

ScoreProbability of Passing the NCLEX
Greater Than 950Outstanding probability
900-940Excellent probability
850-899Average probability
800-849Below average probability
750-799Additional prep needed
700-749Serious prep needed
650-699Danger of failing
Less Than 649Poor performance can be expected

Official HESI Website

HESI Exit Exam Practice Questions

Since the exam is used to predict success for the NCLEX and so closely mirrors the NCLEX exam, you can use NCLEX resource.

ResourceProvider
HESI RN Exit QuestionsStudyLast
NCLEX-RN QuestionsJ&B Learning
NCLEX-RN QuestionsExam Cram

Frequently Asked Questions

No, every program does not have this exam. Each program can decide if they want to give the exam to their students.

There are 2 exit exam. They are the HESI RN exit exam and the HESI LPN exit exam.

Nursing programs give this exam to help determine if their students are ready to pass the NCLEX.

Jan Olson
Dr. Jan Olson has her Bachelor's degree in nursing, Master's degree in nursing, and Doctorate in nursing.