HESI A2 Math Calculator Rules and Passing Scores by Program

Yes, you get a calculator, but not your own. College testing pages describe a basic HESI A2 math calculator built into the exam screen, and personal or phone calculators are banned. There is no single passing score: each nursing program sets its own. In the programs we checked, the math minimum is usually 75% or 80%, and some schools look only at a composite.

Why you need your school’s rules, not a single answer

Elsevier publishes the HESI A2 (Admission Assessment), but it does not post a public calculator policy or a passing score that we could find and check. What exists are the rules each nursing program and testing center publishes for its applicants. So this guide quotes those college pages by name. Treat them as examples, and confirm the rules with the program you are applying to.

HESI A2 math calculator: what colleges say

The pattern is clear: you use the calculator the test provides, usually a basic on-screen one, and you never bring your own. ECU adds that scratch paper “may or may not be provided,” so ask your testing center.

HESI A2 math passing score by program

Scores are reported as percentages. Here is what eight programs publish:

Two lessons stand out. First, “passing” can mean a hard cutoff (CTC’s 80% math) or a ranking advantage (ECU’s points). Second, the number of math questions also depends on how your school sets up the exam: NMSU DACC describes a 50-item math exam, while CVTC lists 55 math questions.

What this means for you

Aim above your program’s minimum, not at it. Programs that rank applicants reward every extra point, and retake limits are strict: ECU allows two attempts in total with a three-month wait, Baylor allows three attempts with 60 days between tests, and Mesa allows three in 12 months. Because the calculator is basic, the math you need to own is setting up conversions, proportions and time problems on paper.

Worked examples: HESI-style math by hand

1. Military time

Convert 3:15 PM to military time. For PM hours after noon, add 12 to the hour: 3 + 12 = 15, so it is 1515. Going the other way, 0045 is 12:45 AM, because hour 00 is the midnight hour.

2. Household to metric volume

A patient drinks three 8-oz cups of water. Using 1 oz = 30 mL, the intake is 3 × 8 = 24 oz, and 24 × 30 = 720 mL.

3. Tablet dosage

The order is 0.75 mg, and the tablets are 0.25 mg each. Divide what you want by what you have: 0.75 ÷ 0.25 = 3 tablets. Sanity check: 0.25 + 0.25 + 0.25 = 0.75.

4. Ratio and mixture

A solution is 1 part concentrate to 4 parts water, and you need 500 mL in total. There are 1 + 4 = 5 parts, so each part is 500 ÷ 5 = 100 mL. You need 100 mL of concentrate and 400 mL of water.

5. Dividing fractions

How many 1/8-cup servings are in 3/4 cup? Flip the divisor and multiply: 3/4 × 8/1 = 24/4 = 6 servings.

6. Reading your own score like a program does

Suppose your five ECU section scores are 82, 90, 78, 88 and 85. The total is 423, and 423 ÷ 5 = 84.6%. ECU uses the unrounded average, so 84.6% falls in the 81–84.9% band and earns 2 points, not 3. Raising one section by 2 points would make the total 425 and the average exactly 85.0%, worth 3 points.

Common mistakes and myths

• “Elsevier sets the HESI passing score.” Not in practice. Each school decides its cutoff, and some use only a composite.
• “I can bring my own basic calculator.” Every school page we checked bans personal calculators.
• “The calculator does the conversion for me.” It only does arithmetic. You still need to know that 1 oz = 30 mL and how military time works.
• “A score from any school counts everywhere.” Score age and attempt limits vary. LSU Health requires a score less than a year old; Mesa and NMSU DACC accept scores for two years.
• Rounding up. ECU says averages are not rounded, so 84.96% is still 2 points.

How to prepare

First, download your program’s HESI page and write down the math minimum, the attempt limit and whether it uses a composite. Then practice with a plain four-function calculator so the on-screen one feels familiar, and do conversions and military time by hand until they are automatic.

Our HESI A2 math practice and review hub has a focused math practice set and a quick review. For nursing-specific problems, work through math for nurses: dosage and IV calculations and the ratios and proportions guide. The HESI A2 online center covers the other sections.

HESI A2 math calculator and scores practice quiz: 10 questions

Test yourself with 10 multiple-choice questions. Choose an answer and press Submit to see if you are right and why. Your score appears at the end.

Frequently asked questions

Do you get a calculator on the HESI A2?

Yes, for the math section. College testing pages such as East Carolina University's and Mesa Community College's describe a basic calculator that appears within the testing program, and one Wisconsin college provides a TI-30XS for onsite testing. In every case we checked, you cannot bring your own calculator or use your phone.

What is a passing score on the HESI A2 math section?

It depends on your program. Among the schools we checked, Mesa and Scottsdale Community Colleges and NMSU Doña Ana require 75% in math, Central Texas College requires 80%, and Baylor requires 80 on the Math Composite. LSU Health New Orleans and East Carolina University use an overall or average score instead of a math cutoff.

Is 75 a good HESI A2 math score?

A 75% meets the math minimum at several programs, including Mesa and Scottsdale Community Colleges, but it falls short at programs that require 80%. At competitive programs that rank applicants, such as ECU, a higher average earns more points. Aim for at least 80% to keep more doors open.

How many math questions are on the HESI A2?

It varies with how your school sets up the exam. NMSU Doña Ana Community College describes a 50-item math exam, and Chippewa Valley Technical College lists 55 math questions. Central Texas College gives 50 minutes for math. Ask your program which sections you will take and how long you will have.

What kind of calculator is on the HESI A2?

Most school pages describe a basic on-screen calculator that pops up within the testing program. Central Texas College adds that scientific and programmable calculators are not allowed. Chippewa Valley Technical College is an exception that provides a TI-30XS for onsite testing, which shows why you should check your own testing site's rules.

Sources

• East Carolina University College of Nursing, BSN HESI A2 Exam FAQs (PDF) (checked November 2026)
• Mesa Community College, Evolve Reach Nursing Admission Assessment Exam (HESI) (checked November 2026)
• Scottsdale Community College, HESI A2 Exam Information (checked November 2026)
• NMSU Doña Ana Community College, HESI A2 FAQ (PDF) (checked November 2026)
• Central Texas College, HESI A2 info sheet (PDF) (checked November 2026)
• Baylor University School of Nursing, HESI A2 Information (checked November 2026)
• LSU Health New Orleans School of Nursing, HESI A2 FAQs (PDF) (checked November 2026)
• Chippewa Valley Technical College, HESI (checked November 2026)