HESI A2 guideHESI A2 in 2027
HESI A2 Learning Style, Personality Profile, and Critical Thinking: Extra Sections in 2027
Some 2027 nursing and health programs add sections beyond the seven academic exams. See which ones are scored, how many items and how much time they add, what Critical Thinking measures, and whether you need to prepare for them.
Short answer
Beyond the seven academic exams Elsevier describes, some programs add up to three extra HESI sections. The Learning Style assessment (14 items) and the Personality Profile (15 items) are unscored, according to program pages such as Heritage University's, and you don't need to study for them. Critical Thinking is scored and appears in some programs' setups; Prometric lists the HESI Admission Assessment with Critical Thinking as a separate exam type. For 2027, Indian River State College's Summer and Fall section list includes the 14-item Learning Style assessment. Check your program's list, because the extra sections add time even when they don't count.
The extra sections at a glance
Elsevier's 2022 paper describes the A2's academic core as seven exams: Reading Comprehension, Grammar, Vocabulary and General Knowledge, Basic Math Skills, Anatomy and Physiology, Biology, and Chemistry. Program pages add up to three more sections:
| Section | Items | Scored? | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Learning Style | 14 | No | Identifies a preferred learning style and offers study and test-taking tips |
| Personality Profile | 15 | No | Classifies personality style using concepts related to introversion and extroversion |
| Critical Thinking | Not listed on the program pages checked | Yes | Assesses skills such as analyzing data and arguments, prioritizing care, solving problems, and resolving biases and ethical dilemmas |
The item counts and scored status come from Heritage University's HESI page, checked on October 26, 2026. Prometric, one of the HESI testing providers, lists the HESI Admission Assessment with Critical Thinking (A2CT), for RN or PN programs, as a separate exam type from the standard A2 for RN, PN, or health professions programs, so a Critical Thinking section belongs to a specific setup rather than every sitting.
What 2027 programs are asking for
Programs decide which sections you sit. Two current examples:
- Indian River State College lists six parts for its Summer and Fall 2027 applicants: Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary and General Knowledge, Basic Math Skills, Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, and a 14-item Learning Style Assessment, in a three-hour sitting.
- Heritage University lists all seven academic exams plus Critical Thinking, Personality Profile, and Learning Style, with a total time of 5.5 hours, and requires 75% in each academic category.
Neither list is a national rule. The 2027 requirements guide compares more programs.
Do the unscored sections matter?
They don't change your admission scores, but they still matter in two practical ways:
- Time and energy. They add items and minutes to the sitting. Heritage's full setup runs 5.5 hours. Plan breaks, food beforehand, and a realistic start time.
- Honest answers. There are no right or wrong answers on a learning style or personality inventory. Answer quickly and honestly; trying to guess a "best" profile only wastes time.
You don't need to study for either one. The tips the Learning Style report suggests can help your later coursework, but they're advice, not a score.
Critical Thinking: prepare if it's on your list
Critical Thinking is different because it's scored. If your program includes it, prepare the way you would for reasoning-based nursing questions:
- read each scenario for the problem being asked, not just the clinical details
- practice prioritizing: which action comes first, and why
- separate facts in the scenario from assumptions you're adding
- check the answer against the ethical and safety principles your program emphasizes
Ask the program whether Critical Thinking counts toward a minimum, a ranking, or neither. If it's not on your list, don't spend time on it.
Questions to ask your program for 2027
- Which sections will I sit, including any unscored ones?
- Which scores count toward admission, and is Critical Thinking among them?
- How long is the full sitting, and are breaks scheduled?
- Is the exam configured through Evolve on campus or at a Prometric center?
The HESI A2 overview explains the seven academic exams, and the exam length guide helps you plan the day.
Trust the source
Official sources
Exam policies can change. Use these primary sources for the most current details.