Two entrance exams, one question that matters: which does your program require?
The HESI A2 (from Elsevier) and the TEAS (from ATI) are the two common nursing school entrance exams. They exist for the same purpose, testing academic readiness before admission, and schools typically require one specific exam. So the comparison that matters is not which exam is better; it is which one your program lists. Check that first, then prep for that exam specifically.
Both exams test math, reading, and English language skills, and both reach into science. The shape differs: the HESI A2 is modular, your program picks sections from a menu of seven, each section scored separately on its own timer. The TEAS is one fixed exam with four areas (reading, math, science, English) delivered in a single sitting with a composite score.
That modularity is the biggest real world difference. For the HESI A2, two applicants at different schools may sit different exams, and your prep should match exactly the sections your program requires. The HESI A2 sections and format are on the sections and timing page.
Neither is universally harder; they are differently shaped. What actually determines difficulty for you is which subjects each exam emphasizes against your own weak spots, and what score your program demands. A program requiring HESI A2 anatomy and physiology at 80 percent is a taller order than one requiring the core four at 75, regardless of exam branding.
If you have a genuine choice between programs using different exams, pick based on the program, not the exam. Entrance exam difficulty is a few weeks of studying; the program is years.
Substantially, yes. Arithmetic, ratios, and conversions; reading comprehension; grammar and usage; and anatomy and physiology fundamentals serve both exams. What does not transfer is format practice: question style, pacing, and section structure are exam specific, and timed mocks only help when they mirror the exam you will actually sit.
Our app preps the HESI A2 specifically: 1005 questions across its seven sections, mocks at its real counts and timers. If your program requires the TEAS instead, use TEAS specific materials; honest prep is exam shaped.
Do nursing schools accept either exam?
Some accept either, most specify one. The program's admissions page is definitive. If it accepts both, pick the exam whose required sections best match your strengths, and confirm score deadlines for each.
Are HESI A2 scores and TEAS scores comparable?
Not directly. They use different scales and sections, and programs set exam specific requirements. A program that accepts both will publish separate score bars for each.
Can I prepare for both at once?
The academic core overlaps, so foundational study serves both. But sit down knowing which exam you are taking and do your timed practice in that exam's format only.
HESI and HESI A2 are trademarks of Elsevier Inc. This app is an independent study aid and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Elsevier, any nursing school, or any exam provider. Practice content is original and is grounded in openly licensed textbooks. Schools choose which sections they require and set their own passing targets, so always confirm the current requirements with your program.