Your nursing program decides — most require one specific exam. The TEAS is one standardized test (170 questions, 209 minutes, ~$81) that every candidate takes identically. The HESI A2 is configurable: your school picks 4–6 of its 8 sections, its length, and its cutoffs (~$40–110). Applying to multiple schools? Check every requirement first — you may need both, and the overlap makes dual prep efficient.
Unlike choosing between the Series 65 and 66 in finance, TEAS-vs-HESI is rarely your call. Programs standardize on one exam (occasionally accepting either), so the practical workflow is: list your target schools, pull each one's required exam, required sections (for HESI), minimum scores, and score validity window — then build one study plan around the superset. Everything below helps you understand what you're walking into and how to prep if you need both.
| ATI TEAS | HESI A2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Publisher | ATI (Ascend Learning) | Elsevier |
| Structure | Fixed: same 4 sections for everyone | Configurable: school picks 4–6 of 8 sections |
| Sections | Reading, Math, Science, English | Math, Reading, Vocab, Grammar, Biology, Chemistry, A&P, Physics |
| Questions | 170 (150 scored) | ~25–55 per required section |
| Time | 209 minutes | School-set; ~2–4 hours |
| Question formats | MC, select-all, fill-in, ordered, hot spot | Multiple choice |
| Backtracking | Within a section, yes | No — answers are final |
| Scoring | 0–100% composite + sections | Per-section percentages |
| Competitive score | ~70–80%+ composite | ~75–80%+ per section |
| Cost | ~$81 ATI direct; $100–120 via schools | School-set; ~$40–110 |
| Typical users | Most ADN/BSN programs | Programs on the Elsevier platform |
Its select-all-that-apply, ordered-response, and hot-spot items give no partial credit, and its 50-question Science section runs deep on A&P under a strict clock. Every candidate faces the identical gauntlet, which also means prep is perfectly predictable.
Vocabulary and chemistry (and occasionally physics) reach beyond the TEAS's subject list, you can't return to a question once answered, and per-section minimums mean one weak subject can sink an otherwise strong result. Its shape also varies by school — the prep burden depends entirely on your section list.
The efficient order: build the shared core first — math (fractions, ratios, conversions), reading comprehension, grammar, and A&P cover the majority of both exams. Then bolt on the deltas: TEAS question-format practice on one side; HESI vocabulary plus any school-required chemistry/physics on the other. Score validity windows (typically around two years, program-set) should drive your test dates if applications span cycles.
Both exams test recall of foundations you learned semesters ago, and both punish the re-reading study style that builds recognition instead. Retrieval practice, spaced repetition, and immediate correction of misses are what reload old coursework into producible knowledge — and they work identically across both exams' shared core.
Trelos covers both the TEAS and HESI A2 with the same retention engine: it teaches each concept, drills it in exam style, and schedules reviews so the material sticks — letting you prep the shared core once and the exam-specific deltas precisely.
Start TEAS or HESI prep on Trelos — freeNo credit card. Feel the retention engine work in your first session.