HESI A2 Grammar Test – Prep Guide with Tips & Practice Questions
Aug 24, 2025HESI is an acronym for Health Education Systems Incorporated. The HESI Admissions Assessment test is an entrance exam used by nursing schools and colleges.
The HESI A2 Grammar test is one component of the HESI Admissions Assessment. Other aspects of the test include the HESI A2 Math Test.
In this article, you can learn what to expect during the HESI A2 Grammar test and find tips on how to stand the best chance of passing it.
What Is the HESI A2 Exam?
The HESI Admissions Assessment test is an entrance test used by nursing schools and colleges. It is used to assess a prospective student’s potential for success in an intensive nursing program.
The HESI test is designed to assess knowledge of Math, Science and English Language. The test comprises seven academic tests plus a personality profiling assessment.
The HESI A2 Exam is administered by Health Education Systems Incorporated.
The full test takes around five hours and 15 minutes to complete.
The grammar element of the test comprises 55 multiple-choice questions designed to test candidates on English language basics, overall knowledge of the English language and parts of speech.
If a candidate wants to pass the test, they must be able to identify and define different parts of speech, sentences, clauses, modifiers and common grammatical errors.
The purpose of the HESI A2 Grammar test is to determine whether a candidate can apply their knowledge of the English language to write sentences using the correct grammar.
HESI A2 Grammar Exam Format
The HESI A2 Grammar Exam contains a total of 55 multiple-choice questions.
Candidates must answer all of the questions within a 50-minute timeframe.
The topics covered in the test include:
- Parts of speech and how they should be used, including nouns, pronouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, conjunctions, prepositions and interjections
- Punctuation rules, including the use of question marks, commas, periods and apostrophes
- Capitalization of words
- Common grammatical mistakes, including troublesome word pairs such as their/they’re/there, its/it’s, effect/affect and lay/lie
HESI Exam Grammar Example Questions
Knowing what to expect during the HESI A2 Grammar test is vital.
Here are some examples of the type of questions on the test.
1. Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct?
a) The volleyball player ran quick to the net.
b) The volleyball player did run quickly to the net.
c) The volleyball player did ran quickly to the net.
d) The volleyball player ran quickly to the net.
The correct answer is: d) The volleyball player ran quickly to the net
'Ran' is a verb that requires the adverb form 'quickly' to modify it.
'Quick' is an adjective that is used to describe nouns, not verbs.
'Ran' is also the correct past tense to use.
2. Study the following sentence:
'The cat jumped into the air to catch the ball.’
Which word in the sentence is a noun?
a) Catch
b) Air
c) Jumped
d) Into
The correct answer is: b) Air
The nouns in the sentence are ‘cat’, ‘air’ and ‘ball’. The words ‘jumped’ and ‘catch’ are verbs, with ‘into’ being a preposition.
3. Which of the following phrases follows the rules of capitalization?
a) Rita and David
b) went to a bbq
c) they flew to paris last Summer
d) and saw taylor swift in concert
The correct answer is: a) Rita and David.
Rita and David are proper nouns, so they have been correctly capitalized.
In sentence c), bbq should be capitalized as BBQ, as it is an abbreviation of barbecue.
In sentence c), Summer should not be capitalized, but Paris should be.
In the final sentence, Taylor Swift should be capitalized a name is a proper noun.
4. Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct?
a) She could accept anything from him, accept a lie.
b) She could except anything from him, accept a lie.
c) She could accept anything from him, except a lie.
d) She could except anything from him, except a lie.
The correct answer is: c)
The definition of 'accept' is 'to receive'.
The word 'except' is normally a preposition, which means 'leaving out' or 'but'.
Option c) is the only example that uses both of these words correctly.
5. Read the following sentence, then choose the best word or combination of words to be placed into the blank space.
_____________ sure that with sufficient practice they could easily break the world record.
a) They’re
b) They have
c) Their
d) There
The correct answer is: a) They’re
'They’re' is a contraction of 'they are'. This is the only grammatically correct option for the sentence.
6. Read the following sentence and choose the grammatically correct option to fit into the blank space:
The project team ______ looking forward to meeting everyone at the event next week.
a) Are
b) Is
c) Were
d) Be
The correct answer is: b) Is
'Team' is a collective noun, so it requires a singular verb. The phrase 'next week' indicates that the team is looking forward to the event, so a present-tense verb is needed. 'Is' is both singular and present tense.
7. Identify the dependent clause in the following sentence:
Rachel is unable to attend the meeting because she crashed her car.
a) Attend the meeting
b) Rachael is unable to attend the meeting
c) Her car
d) Because she crashed her car
The correct answer is: d)
A group of words that contains a subject and a verb or verb phrase is known as a clause. An independent clause refers to a complete thought, whilst a dependent clause does not. In this example, you are looking for the dependent clause.
A dependent clause often begins with words such as although, because, before, after, if until, what, who, where, when, which or why.
In this example, the dependent clause 'because she crashed her car' includes the subject 'she' and the verb 'crashed'.
8. Read the following sentence, then choose the best punctuation mark to add to the blank space.
Here are the directions you need to follow to find the meeting venue ______ turn left at the intersection, drive five miles until you reach the second stop sign, turn right, then continue driving for three miles until you see the venue’s parking lot on the left-hand side.
a) Colon (:)
b) Dash (-)
c) Semicolon (;)
d) Comma (,)
The correct answer is: a) Colon
A colon is used to introduce either a definition or items in a list. This sentence gives the reader a list of directions, so the colon is the most appropriate form of punctuation to use in the blank space.
9. Read the following sentence. Which of the words has been used incorrectly?
Rhonda sat among her two colleagues at the business conference.
a) Business
b) Colleagues
c) Her
d) Among
The correct answer is: d)
The word “among” must not be used when a sentence refers to two objects or people.
In this context, the correct word to use is 'between' – Rhonda sat between her two colleagues at the business conference.
10. Read the following sentence and choose the correct word to put into the blank space.
Robbie was a wonderful friend to ________, and he always shared his chocolate with us!
a) Me and Rachel
b) Rachel and I
c) Them
d) We
The correct answer is: a) Me and Rachel
'Rachel and I' should only be used when talking about the subject of the sentence. In this case, the subject of the sentence is Robbie, so the correct option is 'me and Rachel'.
'Them' does not make sense in this sentence, as it goes on to say 'us'. Adding 'we' into the blank space would not be grammatically correct in this example.
How to Prepare for the HESI Grammar Test: Study Guide & Tips
As with any exam or assessment, you must prepare for the HESI Grammar test.
Understanding the format of the test is vital. This will help you to feel confident on the day of your test.
The structure of the HESI A2 Grammar test is as follows:
- Eight Parts of Speech
- Nine Important Terms to Understand
- 10 Common Grammatical Mistakes
- Five Suggestions for Success
- 15 Troublesome Word Pairs
As well as understanding the test format, you should also aim to cover the following areas during your test preparation:
Create a Study Schedule
When setting up your study plan, consider your schedule and how much time you can dedicate to test preparation.
Think about what time of the day you tend to be most productive, and aim to schedule your study sessions accordingly.
You should also consider the different exam elements, allocating sufficient time to each.
Revisit the Basic Rules of English Grammar
Make a list of the essential rules of English grammar and practice using these within sentences and paragraphs.
Use an HESI Grammar Practice Test Paper
Completing HESI grammar practice tests is a useful way to identify your strengths and weaknesses.
Once you have this information, you can adjust your study time to focus on those areas where you need more practice.
However, you should still aim to spend some time practicing the elements you are confident with.
Use Varied Study Materials
Incorporating informal elements into your study schedule helps keep you motivated.
This can include anything from reading different materials (such as books, magazines and formal study guides) to watching educational videos dedicated to language learning.
Set up Your Own Flashcards To Help Consolidate Your Knowledge
These are especially useful if you want to find ways to remember word pairings.
You can also find various grammar games and quizzes online, which are a fun and educational way to aid your preparation.
HESI Grammar Study Guide – Preparing for the HESI A2 Grammar Exam
As well as formal preparation, you should consider self-care as part of your preparation for the HESI A2 Grammar Exam.
This might include:
Get Enough Rest
Getting enough sleep in the days leading up to the exam is important, and you are more likely to perform well if you are well-rested.
Be Realistic
Working out your strengths and weaknesses is key to planning your study schedule. You must be realistic about how much time you can dedicate to studying.
For example, you might be able to take a step back from your social activities, but if you have caring responsibilities you will still need to allow yourself adequate time for these.
Remember, you do not have to study every element of the test.
Understanding the areas you need to improve in is key to your success.
Once you have spent some time focussing on these areas, take another HESI A2 grammar practice test to gauge whether you have improved.
Learn How To Stay Calm
Sitting for an exam can be stressful. Focus on strategies that will help you to remain calm under pressure
Frequently Asked Questions
What is HESI grammar?
HESI grammar is one aspect of the HESI admissions assessment.
The HESI grammar test assesses many different aspects of a candidate’s knowledge of the English language, including word pairs, common grammatical errors and troublesome word pairs.
How to do well in the grammar portion of HESI?
If you want to do well in the grammar portion of HESI, you must dedicate adequate time to preparation.
Focus on identifying any areas of weakness, ensuring that you spend additional time revising those areas.
One of the best ways to prepare for the grammar portion of HESI is to sit a few of the free HESI grammar practice test papers that you can find online.
How to pass HESI A2 grammar section?
To pass HESI A2 grammar section, you must achieve a minimum score of 80%.
Scores between 70 and 79% will require remediation.
If you want to pass HESI A2 grammar section, setting up a study schedule and planning your time wisely in the days and weeks leading up to the test is important.
What grammar is on the HESI A2 exam?
The HESI A2 exam comprises 55 questions, which are designed to test parts of speech, important terms, common grammatical mistakes, suggestions for success and troublesome word pairs.
Where to study grammar for HESI A2?
You can study grammar for HESI A2 in several different ways.
There are many useful resources online, including HESI A2 grammar practice questions, tests and study guides, such as the ones on TestPrep-Online.
How many grammar questions on HESI A2?
The HESI A2 Grammar test comprises 55 questions, which candidates must answer within 50 minutes.
Where can I get sample questions for HESI A2 grammar?
You can find sample questions for HESI A2 grammar within this article.
Using a search engine to search for sample HESI A2 grammar questions or example HESI A2 grammar test questions should bring up a range of relevant results.
How hard is the HESI for grammar?
Some people find the HESI for grammar more difficult than others. It depends on your aptitude for grammar and the English language.
Preparing for the test is the best way to achieve the best score.
How to improve grammar for HESI?
Revisiting the basic rules of grammar is the best way to improve grammar for HESI.
Answering HESI A2 grammar practice questions and reviewing your results will help you to identify your areas of strength and weakness.
Once you have identified these, you can tailor your study schedule accordingly and make improvements to any areas that require it.
Where can I get the best HESI grammar practice tests?
You can find the best HESI grammar practice tests on websites such as TestPrepOnline.
What is the best way to study for HESI grammar exam?
There are several good ways to study for HESI grammar exam.
These include reading a variety of different texts and materials, completing practice tests and playing educational games and quizzes.
Using a variety of preparation methods should help you to stay engaged with studying for the test.
Final Thoughts
If you are preparing to take the HESI A2 Grammar test, becoming familiar with the test format should be a key part of your preparation.
Knowing what to expect will help you revisit any areas you need to improve. It will also help you to feel more confident on the day of the actual test.
Completing HESI A2 grammar practice test papers is a helpful way to prepare for this type of test. It helps you to get an idea of the type of questions you will be required to answer.
It is also a good way of getting used to working against the clock and improving your time management skills.
