5 Best HESI A2 Test Prep Books (2022)
If you’re going through nursing school (or looking to enroll), the HESI tests are probably already on your radar. The HESI is a wall that you may need to surmount multiple times during your schooling, depending on how far you would like to go with your degree.
Fortunately, there are many different types of HESI books out there, so there are plenty of good options to help you study, no matter which kind of HESI test you’ll be taking. We’ll show you a few of these exam study books in the sections below.
Do keep in mind that the study guides we include below all have to do with the A2 Exam, or the HESI entrance exam.
Table of Contents
Top 5 HESI Prep Books
1. Admission Assessment Exam Review, 5th Edition
Publisher: Elsevier
Year: 2020 (5th Edition)
Number of Pages: 170
ExamCave Grade: A-
The makers of the HESI – Elsevier Evolve – create this exam review textbook, so you know the study guide will be an accurate representation of what’s on the test.
Overall, this is an excellent exam review book. The most significant benefit of this book is that, since the makers of the HESI created it, it’s the best possible book to prepare you for the actual exam from a knowledge standpoint.
The subject areas covered by the book are accurate overall except for the A&P (Anatomy and Physiology) section. While it’s a good idea to supplement your knowledge with several resources anyway, we recommend doing a little extra outside research for this subject.
In particular, the math section of this book is solid. It comes with full, detailed explanations and answers to the sample questions.
In addition to sample questions and illustrations, this study guide also has the following notable features:
- A companion site with two online practice exams
- 25-question pre-test for before you get started
- 50-question post-test to review once you finish
Pros
- Comes with a wealth of practice questions and exams
- Made by the makers of the HESI test
- Has a solid math section
Cons
- Weak A&P section
- Expensive
2. HESI A2 Secrets Study Guide: HESI A2 Test Review for the Health Education Systems, Inc. Admission Assessment Exam
Publisher: Mometrix Media LLC
Year: 2016
Number of Pages: 323
ExamCave Grade: A-
This guide is unique in that it helps you “get inside” your test questions, helping you figure them out from multiple angles.
The creators of this guide promise that their techniques can teach you how to apply the knowledge you learn while studying and have a better chance of picking the right answer when you don’t know what it is.
While this is a great skill to have, the most crucial advantage that comes with this book is their accessible email helpline. If you need a detailed answer to a question, all you need to do is type it up in an email, and someone on the other end will help walk you through what you did wrong.
This test also provides access to online videos to help you deepen your knowledge even further. You can also request to receive a physical DVD. However, this book doesn’t come with any online practice tests, unlike the previous book.
Overall, this is an excellent guide covering all topics well, though it seems to have more than necessary on some items. This is an excellent primary resource for your studies.
Pros
- Strong in all topics
- Online video resources (and DVD by request)
- Teaches you how to “get inside” your test questions
Cons
- Online resources must be purchased separately
3. Apex Test Prep HESI A2 Study Guide 2021-2022
Publisher: APEX Test Prep
Year: 2021
Number of Pages: 243
ExamCave Grade: B+
This book emphasizes detailed answers and explanations to help you understand the material and get you fully prepared for the HESI test.
While the last textbook we looked at focused more on test accuracy and thoroughness, this book instead emphasizes readability and accessibility. This makes it an excellent option for those searching for a book that’s a bit easier to understand.
However, while this book advertises thorough, detailed answers to help you prepare yourself for the exam, it does better in some sections than others. The grammar section, for example, is complete and easy to understand, but the math section falls a bit short.
There are even some incorrect equations in the math section (and accompanying false explanations), so those who purchase this book may want to look for any known mistakes online and mark them in the book before they get started.
This book also includes a bonus DVD of extra content for those looking for a little extra help. It’s unclear why they would mail a physical copy of a DVD to customers instead of providing an online resource, but the additional content is helpful to have nonetheless.
This book could use a few more practice questions to help students prepare for the A2 test, but overall, it seems to do its job well.
Pros
- Strong grammar, reading, and vocabulary sections
- Detailed answers to each question
- Affordably priced
Cons
- Weak math section with some incorrect equations
- Could use more practice questions
4. HESI A2 Study Guide 2022-2023
Publisher: Trivium Test Prep
Year: 2021
Number of Pages: 268
ExamCave Grade: B+
This guide comes complete with test-taking strategies, plenty of practice questions, and explanations of correct answers.
This book has all of the features of the books we’ve looked at so far, but their particular takeaway is the emphasis of effective test-taking strategies. However, the question is whether this guide does these things well enough to warrant buying it over the others.
Overall, this book does the job. It stands out from the other books in this lineup because, rather than merely preparing you for the questions that will be on the exam, this resource is designed to be much harder than the exam itself.
This way, not only will you be prepared for the questions you cover in this guide, but you’re also more likely to be ready for any questions you don’t see in this guide. After all, it’s better to be over-prepared than under-prepared.
However, this also means that this textbook might be more difficult for some people to follow. If the book we looked at above is designed to be easy to understand, this one is designed to challenge and test you.
As such, this is a great resource to use if you’re already feeling confident in your ability to take the test (or absorb and understand basic concepts), but it may be too much if you’re just getting started and feeling a little rusty.
Pros
- More difficult than the test itself
- Strong across all categories
- Covers many helpful test-taking strategies
Cons
- May cover too much
- Difficult to understand at times
5. HESI A2 Practice Test Questions Book
Publisher: Ascencia Test Prep
Year: 2020
Number of Pages: 292
ExamCave Grade: B
This review book can help students prepare for the HESI Admission Assessment Exam. This book includes three full-length practice tests, as well as answer explanations and a study guide.
The practice tests are a great way to prepare for the nursing entrance exam. They are similar in format and content to the actual exam, so they can help students become familiar with the test format and the types of questions that will be asked.
The answer explanations are also helpful, as they explain why each answer is correct or incorrect. Many users mention achieving a higher test score after reviewing this book.
One downside of this book is that it does not include a complete guide to the exam. Students may need to find additional resources to help them understand the test content. Overall, it is a helpful review book that can help students prepare for the HESI Admission Assessment Exam.
Pros
- Contains practice tests
- Similar in format and content to the actual exam
- The answer explanations are also helpful, as they explain why each answer is correct or incorrect
Cons
- The book does not include a complete guide to the exam
- Students may need to find additional resources to help them understand the test content
FAQ
Do you still have a few questions about the HESI, how to study for it, and how it can help you? If so, we may be able to answer these questions in this section.
What Is the HESI Exam?
The HESI, in general, is a type of test that helps gauge your readiness for different medical and health exams. HESI stands for Health Education Systems, Inc. There are many types of HESI exams, but the most common are entrance exams, exit exams, and specialty context exams.
What Is a Good HESI Score?
What’s considered a passing HESI score all depends on the requirements of the school you’re in (or trying to get into).
For example, if your prospective school requires an 85 on the HESI to enter their nursing program, an 85 would be average, below that would be slightly below average (requiring some remedial courses), and above that would be excellent.
How to Study for the HESI Exam
Studying for the HESI can be very different depending on which exam you take.
For example, the HESI entrance exam generally tests common core knowledge, such as math, science, and reading comprehension, just like the SAT and ACT. All this can be covered with general exam study books.
However, if you’re taking a mid-semester HESI exam or an exit exam, your questions will be much more specific and challenging.
Hopefully, you’ve been paying attention in class and absorbing the material. Still, if not, you should consider investing in a specialized HESI study textbook like the ones we’ve listed in this guide.
Conclusion
In all situations, the book that you use to study for your HESI exam should change based on what you need it for most. Does doing a lot of practice questions help you most? If so, consider buying one with plentiful practice resources.
If not, consider purchasing a book with more informational content instead.
The best options on this list are the Admission Assessment Exam Review, 4th Edition, and the HESI A2 Secrets Study Guide: HESI A2 Test Review for the Health Education Systems, Inc. Admission Assessment Exam.
The first resource provides more practice content, while the second focuses more on information and test-taking strategies, though both are useful. You may want to consider buying them both.
Also, keep in mind that while we have rated the Admission Assessment Exam Review, 5th Edition with a C grade right now, once its online companion content is available, it may be a better study option. Until October, though, it’s best to stick with the 4th Edition.
