This page has a HESI A2 math review that explains all of the math skills and concepts that you need for the day of your HESI exam.
Your HESI A2 math exam will have both multiple-choice questions, with answer choices A, B, C, and D, as well as open-ended questions, for which you will need to find a solution on your own.
HESI A2 Math Review Questions
Free sample HESI A2 math questions are provided below.
For more practice test problems, with answers and step-by-step solutions, please get our study guide.
The publication is entitled: HESI A2 Math Practice Questions with Step-by-Step Solutions by Test Prep Guides.
The practice book contains three sample HESI math practice tests with explanations that guide you through all of the math concepts you need for the exam.
Click on the book cover image or the link below for more information on the book.
HESI A2 Math Practice Book on Amazon
The 24 hour clock
A nurse’s usual shift is from 0000 to 0800. What time of day does he work?
A) 8 AM to midnight
B) noon to 8 AM
C) noon to 8 PM
D) midnight to 8 AM
Tip:
Remember that when telling time with the 24-hour clock 0000 is midnight and 1200 is noon.
Answer:
The correct answer is D. The nurse’s usual shift is from 0000 to 0800.
0000 is midnight and 0800 is 8 AM, so answer D is correct.
Weight conversion
A piece of surgical equipment weigh s 12,538 grams. What is the weight in kilograms?
Tip:
There are 1,000 grams in a kilograms so the conversion factor is 1,000.
Answer:
This is an open-ended question, so you need to work out the answer by yourself, rather than selecting a multiple-choice answer.
The correct answer is 12.538 kilograms.
The equipment weighs 12,538 grams.
1 gram = 0.001 kilograms
12,538 × 0.001 = 12.538 kilograms
Liquid conversions
You need to order 200,000 milliliters of an intravenous drug, but the order form has to be filled out in pints and ounces. How many pints and ounces should you order?
Tips:
1 milliliter = 0.035 ounce
1 pint = 16 ounces
Answer:
The correct answer is 437 pints and 8 ounces. We are converting milliliters to pints and ounces, and we have 200,000 milliliters. First, convert the milliliters to ounces.
1 milliliter = 0.035 ounce
200,000 × 0.035 = 7,000 ounces
Then convert the total ounces to pints and ounces. We have 7,000 ounces, and the formula states that: 1 pint = 16 ounces. The formula is for converting pints to ounces, but we are converting ounces to pints. Since we are working the formula backwards, we need to divide by the conversion factor.
7,000 ounces ÷ 16 = 437.5 pints
Finally, you have to convert the decimal to the number of ounces.
0.5 pints × 16 ounces = 8 ounces
So, the answer is 437 pints and 8 ounces.
Temperature conversion
What temperature in Fahrenheit is equivalent to 49° Celsius?
Tip:
Use the equation to convert to Fahrenheit: °F = 1.8(°C) + 32
Answer:
The correct answer is 120.2 °F.
The temperature is 49° Celsius.
Use the equation above to convert to Fahrenheit: °F = 1.8(°C) + 32
°F = 1.8(°49) + 32
°F = 88.2 + 32
°F = 120.2°
Distance
You recommend that certain weight-loss patients should walk 21,000 feet per week. How many yards should they walk per day?
Tip:
1 yard = 3 feet
Answer:
The correct answer is 1,000 yards per day. The patients need to walk 21,000 feet per week. The formula states that: 1 yard = 3 feet. However, the equation is converting yards to feet, not feet to yards. So, we need to divide by the conversion factor.
21,000 feet per week ÷ 3 = 7,000 yards per week
7,000 yards per week ÷ 7 days in a week = 1,000 yards per day
Fractions
In a particular hospital,1/3 of the patients are currently being treated for orthopedic problems. If twelve patients have orthopedic problems, how many patients are in the hospital in total?
A) 15
B) 16
C) 36
D) 38
Tip:
You can think of this problem as three data sets: 12 patients with orthopedic problems and two other groups with 12 patients each.
Answer:
The correct answer is C. The twelve patients with orthopedic problems represent one-third of the total. Since one-third of the patients have orthopedic problems, we can think of the patients as being divided into three groups:
Group 1: The 12 patients with orthopedic problems; Group 2: 12 patients with other health concerns; Group 3: 12 more patients with other health concerns. So, the hospital has 36 patients in total.
In other words, we need to multiply by three to find the total number of patients:
12 × 3 = 36
Rate
A pharmacist in a local drug store filled 250 prescriptions in 40 hours. Assuming that each prescription takes the same amount of time, how many minutes should it take the pharmacist to fill a single prescription?
A) 0.16 minutes
B) 1.6 minutes
C) 3.75 minutes
D) 9.6 minutes
Tip:
Determine the total time in minutes. Then determine how many minutes are needed per prescription.
Answer:
The correct answer is D.
Step 1 – Calculate the total time in minutes:
40 hours × 60 minutes = 2400 minutes
Step 2 – Take the result from Step 1 and divide by the number of prescriptions to solve:
2400 minutes ÷ 250 prescriptions = 9.6 minutes each
What’s on the HESI A2 Math Test?
HESI A2 math includes various mathematical concepts that you will need to review for your career in nursing or another health-related field.
You will need to review the following skills for your HESI A2 math test:
- basic arithmetic, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division
- fractions, decimals, and percentages
- proportions, ratios, and rates
- calculating dosages and making measurement conversions
What is the format of the HESI math exam?
The exam has 50 questions and you will be allowed 50 minutes to take it.
There are 147 questions on the exam in total, including the English and science sections of the HESI A2 test.
To pass the entire HESI A2 test, you need to get at least 75% on the math section.
You will usually take the test on a computer, and you will be allowed to use an on-screen calculator for the more difficult questions.
How should I complete my HESI A2 math review?
When reviewing math for your HESI A2 exam, remember that many of the questions on the HESI exam will be in narrative form, as practical problems.
So certain questions will ask you to solve a problem, while other problems will be provided in the context of a healthcare situation.
For example, a question may ask you to calculate the amount of materials you might need to conduct a patient’s treatment or the cost of supplies needed for a particular program.
Topics for HESI A2 Math Review
To be well prepared for the exam, you should practice the following skills as part of your HSI A2 math review.
Fractions, Decimals, and Percentages
Remember that many of the questions will be practical problems. So a question could ask you to compute your pay after having worked a fraction or percentage of hours at the hospital.
But there will also be traditional math questions. These simply ask you to perform a mathematical calculation, like adding or multiplying two decimals.
Proportions, Ratios, and Rates
You may need to calculate the proportion of ingredients to administer to a patient.
In other questions, you may need to calculate a patient’s heart rate or the ratio of admitted versus discharged patients.
Measurement conversion
In measurement and conversion problems, you will need to convert units of one type to another, such as US to metric. You may also need to then perform other basic calculations.
Conversion questions might be given in an example situation other than healthcare. This will depend on the nature of the calculation.
For example, a question may ask you to convert feet to meters in a technical context.
More math review questions
Try our math quiz.
Please note:
The HESI A2 exam is a trademark of Health Educations Systems Inc. and Elsevier Inc., which are neither affiliated with nor endorse this website.