NursingPrep Central

Free HESI A2 Math guide

October 2026 HESI A2 Math Study Guide

HESI A2 Math is applied arithmetic rather than algebra for its own sake. Almost every question is framed the way a nurse meets it, which is why ratios, proportions and conversions carry most of the section.

HESI question counts and timings are set by your nursing programme rather than published centrally, so there are no official per-subject figures to show here. Confirm which subjects you sit before planning around any.

Every topic below has its own guide: the teaching, the terms, worked examples and a review quiz with the reasoning explained. 4 topics, free and with no account needed.

Math

Fractions, decimals and percentages The same value written three ways. A fraction is a division waiting to happen, a decimal is that division carried out, and a percentage is the decimal per hundred. Converting between them quickly is the single most reusable skill in this section, because dosage and concentration questions move between the three forms without warning. Read the full guide Factors and multiples Factors divide into a number exactly; multiples are what you get by multiplying it. You need them to simplify fractions to their lowest terms and to find a common denominator before adding or subtracting, both of which appear inside longer questions rather than on their own. Read the full guide Solving equations Finding an unknown value by doing the same thing to both sides until the unknown stands alone. On the A2 this is nearly always one unknown in a single step or two, and it is usually dressed as a word problem rather than presented as algebra. Read the full guide Everyday math skills Measurement conversion, ratio and proportion, military time, Roman numerals and basic statistics. These are grouped because they share a shape: real information given in one unit or format, and an answer required in another. Ratio and proportion is the workhorse, since it is how nearly every dosage calculation is set up. Read the full guide

Other sections

Reading Comprehension Vocabulary Grammar Anatomy and Physiology Biology All 6 sections

You have read the section. Now find out what you actually retained.

Build a practice set from this section alone and read the rationale on everything you miss.

Practise this section free See the HESI course
  • No card required
  • Instant access
  • Rationale on every question

Keep reading

More HESI Resources

Guides and tools across the HESI course.

HESI A2 Exam Prep

Subjects and format

HESI A2 FAQ

Scoring, retakes, test day

Which HESI Am I Taking?

A2, specialty or exit exam

Which Subjects Will I Sit?

The full Elsevier menu

HESI Math

4 topics · ratios and conversions

HESI Reading

16 topics · inference and tone

HESI Vocabulary

9 topics · affixes and word choice

HESI Grammar

7 topics · usage and punctuation

HESI Anatomy & Physiology

16 topics · one system at a time

HESI Biology

13 topics · cells and genetics

HESI Plans & Pricing

Choose your access

Start HESI Prep

Create your account

Ask Your Programme

What to confirm before you book

HESI A2 Study Guide

Six covered subjects, free

6-Week Study Plan

Week-by-week schedule

HESI Cheat Sheet

Formulas and high-yield facts

TEAS vs HESI A2

Which exam to take