United States · Entrance examThe two exams side by side
| ATI TEAS | HESI A2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | ATI | Elsevier |
| Sections | Reading, Math, Science, and English and Language Usage | Your school picks from math, reading, vocabulary, grammar, biology, chemistry, and anatomy and physiology, plus optional Critical Thinking |
| Length | 170 questions in 209 minutes | Set by your school |
| Passing score | None from ATI. Each school sets its own | None from Elsevier. Each school sets its own |
| Price | $120 plus tax at ATI or PSI as of October 2026. Schools set their own price | Set by your school. No public price from Elsevier |
| Where | Online with ATI, your school or PSI, or in person at a school or PSI center | At your school, at a Prometric center, or online with ProProctor or ProctorU |
| How you sign up | Through your ATI account | Through your school’s link and an Evolve account |
TEAS vs HESI A2: which should you take?
The one each of your programs lists. If you’re applying to several and they ask for different exams, you’ll need both. If a program accepts either, compare the format: the TEAS covers four fixed subjects, while the HESI A2 can split them into smaller sections, like vocabulary, grammar, chemistry, and anatomy and physiology, depending on what the school picks.
Neither ATI nor Elsevier publishes a comparison of how hard the two are. A practice set in each will tell you more about your own fit.
Sources: ATI · ATI Help Center · Elsevier and 4 more. Checked October 2026.
- ATI: TEAS exam details ↗
- ATI Help Center: How much does the ATI TEAS exam cost? ↗
- ATI Help Center: What score do I need on the ATI TEAS? ↗
- Elsevier: HESI A2 Exam Process Faculty Guide (PDF) ↗
- Elsevier: HESI A2 and A-la-carte Remote Proctoring Faculty Guide (PDF) ↗
- Elsevier Support: How do I locate a Prometric or Distance Testing Center? ↗
- Elsevier: Admission Assessment Exam Review, 6th edition ↗
Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.
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