HESI Passing Score 2026: What Score Do You Need?

There is no universal HESI A2 passing score. Each nursing program sets its own minimum requirements. Most programs require 75–80% on the sections they test, while competitive BSN programs often require 80% or higher on science sections. Your program's specific cutoff is typically listed on its nursing admissions page. Scoring above the minimum, especially 85% or higher, can strengthen a competitive application and carries no penalty.

The way you prepare directly shapes your outcome. When you use quality resources like those provided by Testavia, you increase your chances of hitting your target score on the first attempt.

Here's what most websites miss: there is no single HESI passing score that applies everywhere.

The HESI A2 is a modular admissions exam — up to eight scored academic sections, with your nursing program choosing which ones you sit — used by most US nursing programs to screen applicants for academic readiness. Elsevier builds and administers it, but Elsevier does not set a passing score. That part is entirely up to your nursing program.

So the score you need depends on exactly one thing: where you are applying. A community college ADN program might require 70. A competitive BSN program might require 85 on science sections alone. Prepping to 75 when your program requires 80 is a plan to fall short.

Related reading: what the HESI A2 exam is, the HESI A2 anatomy and physiology and math sections, and HESI A2 practice tests. The guide helps you understand how programs set their cutoffs, what separates a competitive score from a qualifying one, and what to do if your first attempt does not get you there.

Is There a Universal HESI Passing Score?

No. There is no universal HESI passing score that applies to every nursing program in the country.

Elsevier builds and administers the HESI A2 through its Evolve platform. But setting a minimum score? That is entirely the nursing program's job. Two students can take the exact same exam on the same day and need completely different scores depending on where they are applying.

Here is how scoring works at the section level:

• Each section is scored on a 0 to 100 scale

• Students receive an individual percentage score for every subtest they complete

• Programs also calculate a cumulative score which is the average of all required sections

• Programs then set minimums based on individual sections and/or that composite average

The specific approach, whether per-section or composite, is determined by your program. Not Elsevier.

This is the detail most prep websites skip entirely. They post "75 is the passing score" without clarifying that 75 is a common threshold at many schools, not a rule set by the exam publisher. If your program requires 80 and you prepare for 75, that gap costs you an entire application cycle.

Typical HESI A2 Score Requirements: What Most Programs Set

Most nursing programs cluster their HESI A2 score requirements in a predictable range, but the variation within that range is meaningful enough to change your entire prep strategy.

Here is a breakdown by program type:

These ranges are backed by named program data. South Texas College requires a minimum of 75% per section for ADN applicants. Baylor University's Louise Herrington School of Nursing requires 80% on both Math and English composites. Louisiana State University requires a cumulative score of 80% while Chamberlain University sets its minimum at 73%.

That spread between 73 and 80 across named programs alone should tell you everything about why a single universal number is misleading.

Per-Section Minimums vs. Composite Averages

This distinction changes how you prepare.

Per-section programs require you to hit the minimum on every individual subtest. One weak section disqualifies you regardless of how well you performed elsewhere. Composite programs calculate your average across all required sections, meaning a strong performance in four sections can offset one lower score.

Laurel Ridge Community College illustrates how differentiated section minimums work in practice. The program requires at least 82% in reading but only 69% in anatomy and physiology. That is not a typo. Different sections carry different thresholds at the same school.

Always check your program's admissions page to confirm which model they use before you decide where to focus your study time.

A Note on Science Sections

Anatomy and Physiology is the hardest section on the HESI A2, with average student scores sitting between 65 and 72%. Chemistry averages 68 to 75%. Biology averages 70 to 76%.

BSN programs weigh these sections heavily because performance in A&P and Chemistry predicts success in nursing coursework better than most other subtests. If your program requires 80 on science and the average student scores 68 on their first attempt, that section deserves the most preparation time on your calendar.

How Do Nursing Programs Set Their HESI A2 Cutoffs?

The cutoff your program publishes is not arbitrary. Programs land on a specific number through a combination of four factors.

1. Cohort Competitiveness

Programs with limited seats and high applicant volume use the HESI A2 minimum score as both a hard gate and a ranking tool. When 400 people apply for 60 seats, the floor rises. Programs that admitted at 75 last year may require 78 this year simply because the applicant pool got stronger. The published minimum on the admissions page reflects the current cycle. A number quoted on a third-party prep website may be from two or three cycles ago.

2. Predictive Validity

Programs track outcomes. They know which HESI A2 score ranges correlate with students who pass nursing coursework and which ranges predict early attrition. Cutoffs are calibrated to that internal data over years of cohort tracking. This is why two programs in the same state offering the same degree can have meaningfully different minimums.

3. NCLEX Pass Rate Pressure

The NCLEX national pass rate for first-time US educated candidates is a publicly reported metric. Programs with strong pass rates protect them. The HESI A2 functions as an early academic readiness screen and programs that want to maintain high NCLEX outcomes tend to set higher admission thresholds.

4. State Board of Nursing Standards

Some state Boards of Nursing set program approval conditions that indirectly influence admission standards. Writers and applicants should check their state's Board of Nursing requirements directly because no federal or AACN-wide mandate requires a specific HESI A2 score for program approval. The influence is indirect but real.

Why cutoffs change year to year: If a nursing program had 400 applicants for 60 seats last year and set a 75 minimum, they may raise it to 78 this cycle if more applicants are scoring above 80. Always verify the current cycle's published minimum. Do not rely on what a classmate was told in a different year

What Is a Competitive HESI A2 Score?

Meeting the minimum makes you eligible. It does not make you competitive. Those are two very different things and confusing them is one of the most common mistakes applicants make.

The Three Score Bands

Think of your score relative to your program's published minimum rather than as an absolute number.

At or just above the minimum (within 0 to 3 points)

You technically qualify to apply. But at programs with more applicants than seats, this band is precarious. Admissions committees reviewing two otherwise similar applications will favor the higher scorer every time.

Solidly above the minimum (5 to 10 points above)

This is where most successful admits at competitive programs land. You have cleared the threshold with enough margin to absorb any variance in how programs weight different application components.

Significantly above the minimum (10 or more points above)

This becomes a differentiating factor. A score in this band signals academic strength that goes beyond basic eligibility and strengthens your overall application, particularly in programs where HESI A2 score contributes a weighted percentage to the admissions decision.

New Mexico State University's School of Nursing, for example, counts the HESI A2 score as 50% of the total BSN admission score. In a program like that, scoring 10 points above the minimum versus just at it is a substantial competitive advantage.

Set Your Practice Target Correctly

If your program's minimum is 75, your practice target should be 82 to 85. That buffer accounts for exam-day variability and positions your application competitively in limited-seat cohorts.

Admissions advisors at competitive Texas BSN programs report that average accepted scores can reach 89% even when the published minimum is 75. The minimum is what gets you in the door for consideration. The average accepted score is what actually gets you a seat.

HESI A2 Is One Factor, Not the Only Factor

A 90 on the HESI A2 does not overcome a 2.4 GPA at most programs. Programs review your HESI A2 score alongside prerequisite GPA and overall academic performance. Treat your HESI A2 score as a critical component of a complete application, not a standalone admission ticket.

If you want to know exactly where you stand section by section before exam day, Testavia's HESI A2 prep platform tracks your performance across every subtest and shows you precisely where you are falling short. With a 99% pass rate across nursing students, it is built to close the gap between your current score and your program's actual target, not just the published minimum.

What Happens If You Don't Pass the HESI A2?

Failing a section or missing your program's minimum is not the end of the road. Most programs allow retakes and with the right plan, one targeted sprint is enough to turn a first attempt into an admission.

Retake Policies Vary Widely

There is no universal retake policy any more than there is a universal HESI A2 passing score. Programs set their own rules on attempts and waiting periods.

Here is what the range looks like across named programs:

• Arizona College of Nursing allows up to 3 attempts within a 12-month period with only a 3-day waiting period between the first and second attempt

• Gateway College requires a 2-week waiting period before retesting and limits students to two attempts per eligibility period

• Some programs enforce waiting periods of 60 to 90 days or longer between attempts

• Most schools allow 2 to 3 attempts per year though this varies significantly

The "30-day wait" figure that circulates online is one common example within a much wider range. Check your program's admissions page for the exact policy before you book your first test date.

How Programs Handle Multiple Scores

Not all programs treat multiple attempts the same way. Some take your highest section score. Others use your most recent attempt. A few require that all scores come from within the same eligibility period. GCTC, for example, takes the highest score from each test within a single eligibility period. Knowing which model your program uses changes whether you should retake immediately or wait until you are fully prepared.

Score Validity

Most programs accept HESI A2 scores taken within 2 years of the application date. Some set a shorter window. GCTC sets validity at 18 months. Confirm your program's validity window before registering, especially if your scores are approaching the cutoff.

What to Do After a Failed Section

Do not book a retake the moment the waiting period ends. That approach rarely improves outcomes.

Step 1: Identify exactly which sections fell short and by how many points.

Step 2: Diagnose the root cause. Is it a content knowledge gap? A timing issue where you ran out of time on questions? Or test anxiety that affected performance on exam day?

Step 3: Build a 2 to 4 week targeted study sprint on the weak sections only. Do not re-study areas where you already scored above the minimum.

Step 4: Take full-length practice tests under timed conditions before booking the retake. Your practice scores should be consistently 5 to 8 points above your program's minimum before you sit again.

Plan Around Your Application Deadline

This is the part most applicants do not think about until it is too late. If your program's application deadline is 6 weeks away and your program enforces a 30-day waiting period, a failed first attempt leaves you with almost no margin. Book your first test date at least 6 weeks before the application deadline to preserve a realistic retake window.

If you are using that retake window to rebuild a weak section, Testavia's topic-based video library and weekly study plans are built exactly for this scenario. You work through the specific content areas that cost you points and track your improvement in real time before committing to another test fee.

Bottom Line

The HESI passing score is not a single number. It is whatever your specific nursing program published on its admissions page for the current application cycle.

The most common range is 75 to 80 per section and competitive BSN programs frequently require 80 or higher on science sections. Getting to the minimum qualifies you to apply. Scoring 5 to 8 points above it is what makes you competitive in cohorts where seats are limited.

If you do not pass a section on the first attempt, most programs allow retakes. The waiting period varies from days to months depending on the program. Plan your original test date early enough to allow a full retake cycle before your application deadline closes.

Know your program's actual cutoff. Target above it. Track your section scores so you know exactly where you stand before exam day. Start your 7-day free trial with Testavia today and prep by section, score by section, and walk into test day ready to clear the number that actually matters for your application.

FAQ

Q1: What is the passing score for the HESI A2?

There is no universal passing score for the HESI A2. Each nursing program sets its own requirements. Many programs require 75–80% on individual sections, while competitive BSN programs may require 80% or higher, especially in science subjects. Always check your target program's admissions requirements.

Q2: Is 75 a passing score on the HESI A2?

Often, yes. A score of 75 meets the minimum requirement at many nursing programs. However, some programs require higher scores, and others use a composite score rather than section-by-section minimums. Verify the specific standard used by your program.

Q3: What is a good HESI A2 score?

A good score is one that exceeds your program's minimum requirement. If your program requires 75%, aiming for 82–85% provides a comfortable margin. If the minimum is 80%, targeting 85–88% can strengthen your application and improve competitiveness.

Q4: What happens if I don't pass the HESI A2?

Many nursing programs allow at least one retake, often after a waiting period of about 30 days. Review your weak areas, spend 2–4 weeks on focused preparation, and retest if permitted. Scheduling your first attempt well before the application deadline provides time for a retake if needed.

Q5: Can I still get into nursing school with a low HESI A2 score?

If your score falls below a program's minimum requirement, you typically cannot apply during that admission cycle. If your score is above the minimum but lower than the average admitted applicant, admission may still be possible depending on how the program weighs test scores, GPA, and other factors.

Q6: Do I need to pass every HESI A2 section?

It depends on the program. Some schools require a minimum score on each tested section, while others use a composite average across all required sections. Understanding your program's scoring policy can help you focus your preparation effectively.

Q7: How long is a HESI A2 score valid?

Many nursing programs accept HESI A2 scores for up to two years, but validity periods vary. Always confirm score expiration policies with your target program before applying or scheduling a retest.