HESI scores are used by nursing schools to review applications during the admissions process.
Schools use the HESI score to help identify if a student will have success in their nursing program.
Summary: Learn everything you need to know about HESI scores. To start studying, visit our free HESI practice test home.
HESI Scores
The HESI is unique because every school can choose which sections to administer. Every school also sets their own passing scores and score requirements.
There are a total of 8 potential sections that can be administered, but all 8 are usually not given. These sections are all scored separately on a percentage scale from 0 to 100.
Most schools like to see their students score above the 70-75% range.
How is the HESI Exam Scored?
The exam is scored on a percentage scale from 0% to 100%.
Example: If a student got 50 of the 55 questions correct on the math section, they would receive a 91% on that section of the exam.
WHile each section of the exam is scored separately, students will also receive a cumulative score. This cumulative score is the average of all their subtest scores.
Example: If a student got a 91% in math, 85% in grammar, 82% in reading comprehension, and a 88% in vocabulary, their cumulative score would be 86.5%.
Some schools may require students to have a cumulative score above a certain number (usually above 70%). Other schools may require students to score above a certain percentage for each subtest they take. The requirements by school and program will vary.
If the program you are applying to is a competitive program, it is likely a more competitive score will be required. A higher score will help you stand out when compared to other candidates.
Recommended HESI Prep
If you want to raise your HESI score, consider using our recommended HESI Test Prep
HESI Score Conversion Chart
Many students are curious about what their scores actually mean. You can reference the HESI conversion score chart below to get a better idea of what your score means.
| Percentage Score | Meaning |
| 90% + | Excellent |
| 80% to 90% | Above Average |
| 75% to 80% | Average |
| Below 75% | Potential to Fail |
What is a Good HESI Score?
A good HESI score is any score that allows you to get into the nursing program of your choice. Since every school has their own guidelines, this is not set in stone.
You program will most likely provide some guidance on a specific HESI passing score, but some programs do not. For help preparing for this exam, consider our recommended HESI prep course.
In general, you should be shooting for a HESI score above 75%.
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HESI Score Calculator
Many students want to know how many questions they need to answer correctly to pass the exam. While every school has their own requirements, a score of 75%+ is a good starting point.
We have calculated the minimum number of questions you would need to answer correctly for each subject to achieve a 75%.
| Subject | # of Questions Answered Correctly | Total # of Questions | % HESI Score |
| HESI Math | 42 | 55 | 75% |
| HESI Reading | 42 | 55 | 75% |
| HESI Vocab | 42 | 55 | 75% |
| HESI Grammar | 42 | 55 | 75% |
| HESI Biology | 23 | 30 | 75% |
| HESI Chemistry | 23 | 30 | 75% |
| HESI Anatomy and Physiology | 23 | 30 | 75% |
| HESI Physics | 19 | 25 | 75% |
Each section has some unscored questions, so the number of questions you need to answer correctly may slightly vary.
If you are shooting for a high score, you can create your own HESI score calculator. Simply take the number of questions you expect to answer correctly and divide by the total number of questions.
HESI Math Scores
The math section of the HESI is designed to evaluate a student’s basic mathematical skills. A basic 8th/9th grade knowledge is sufficient.
| Score Percentage | Notes | Classification |
| 90% to 100% | Shows that a student is able to calculate basic arithmetic at an 8th or 9th grade level. As a result, they are able to calculate medication supervision at all levels. | Excellent Score |
| 80% to 90% | Shows that a student is able to perform basic calculations and administer medication at an above average level. However, there is still room for improvement. | Above Average Score |
| 75% to 80% | Shows that a student is only capable of rudimentary mathematics and will need supervision when administering medication. | Average Score |
| Below 75% | Shows that a student needs to study mathematics more before they will be admitted into nursing school. | Failure Score |
HESI Vocabulary and General Knowledge Scores
This exam tests a student’s general knowledge and vocabulary on a 10th grade level.
| Score Percentage | Notes | Classification |
| 90% to 100% | This score indicates that a student reads at a 10th grade level. For nursing schools, it proves that an applicant can read and comprehend the knowledge contained in textbooks. | Excellent Score |
| 80% to 90% | Shows that a student will be able to find success in nursing school but might require additional time when reading texts. They will also need more time to memorize certain medical definitions. | Above Average Score |
| 75% to 80% | Students will find the advanced curriculum to be quite challenging so many schools won’t admit individuals with a score lower than 80%. | Average Score |
| Below 75% | Students should seek additional help in vocabulary before applying to nursing school. | Failure Score |
HESI Reading Comprehension Scores
This exam tests a student’s ability to understand basic 8th grade level text.
| Score Percentage | Notes | Classification |
| 90% to 100% | Indicates that a student is able to read and comprehend text that will be found in nursing school textbooks. | Excellent Score |
| 80% to 90% | This score shows that a student is able to comprehend text in textbooks but they will need to dedicate more time to their studies. | Above Average Score |
| 75% to 80% | Students who score in this range will likely struggle with some of the textbooks and will have trouble keeping up with the curriculum. | Average Score |
| Below 75% | This score indicates that a student is not ready for the complex text found in some of the textbooks they will be reading. | Failure Score |
HESI Grammar Scores
The grammar exam tests basic high school level grammar skills to ensure students are able to navigate the learning resources that will be present in their program.
| Score Percentage | Notes | Classification |
| 90% to 100% | Indicates that a student is able to produce written text that is grammatically correct. Furthermore, they can do this without difficulty. | Excellent Score |
| 80% to 90% | Shows that a student is able to produce grammatically correct text but it will take them longer to produce such text. | Above Average Score |
| 75% to 80% | Students who score in this range will struggle with written assignments and verbal communications. | Average Score |
| Below 75% | This score indicates that a student should seek further grammar lessons before applying to nursing school. | Failure Score |
HESI Subject Test Scores
Chemistry, biology, anatomy, and physics exams are all tested and used to determine whether a student is able to keep up with the curriculum found in nursing school.
| Score Percentage | Notes | Classification |
| 90% to 100% | Indicates that a student possesses exceptional knowledge in all of these essential sciences and will be able to keep up with their studies. | Excellent Score |
| 80% to 90% | Students who score in this range will be able to keep up with the curriculum but they still have some room for improvement. | Above Average Score |
| 75% to 80% | Indicates that a student possesses adequate knowledge of these sciences but they will need to seek additional assistance with the curriculum. | Average Score |
| Below 75% | Shows that a student should seek further lessons in the subject before applying to the program. | Failure Score |
As stated above, each program and school will have their own requirements. With that being said, most schools require a score above 75% to be considered for their program. Students should strive to get the highest score possible to stand out against their peers.
If you want to start your preparation, use our HESI A2 practice test to begin your studies.
HESI Score FAQs
What is a passing HESI score?
With that being said, you can generally expect to need to score above the 70-75% range in order to “pass” the exam.
