The HESI A2 personality profile confuses many applicants, since it’s unlike every other section on the exam. There’s no studying involved, no right or wrong answers, and no passing score.
This guide covers 5 things you need to know about the HESI A2 personality profile before test day.
1. The HESI A2 Personality Profile Isn’t Scored Pass or Fail
Unlike math, reading or science, the personality profile doesn’t have a correct answer. It’s designed to describe your personality traits and tendencies, not to measure academic ability. Some programs review it as part of a holistic application, while others don’t use it in admissions decisions at all.
2. It Measures Traits, Not Knowledge
The HESI A2 personality profile typically asks you to respond to statements about how you think, work and interact with others. It may touch on traits like conscientiousness, extroversion or how you handle stress, though the exact framework can vary by exam version.
3. Honesty Matters More Than Strategy
Since there’s no right answer, trying to guess what admissions committees “want to see” usually backfires. Answer based on how you genuinely behave, not how you think you should behave. Most assessments like this are designed to catch inconsistent or overly idealized answers.
4. It May Be Paired with a Learning Style Assessment
Many versions of the HESI A2 include a learning style assessment alongside the personality profile. This section identifies whether you tend to learn best through visual, auditory, reading or hands-on methods. Like the personality profile, it’s not scored right or wrong.
5. How Schools Use the Results Varies Widely
Some nursing programs use the personality profile and learning style results only as supplementary context, perhaps to connect you with academic support resources after admission. Others don’t factor it into admissions decisions at all. Confirm with your specific program how, or if, these sections affect your application.
How to Approach the HESI A2 Personality Profile
- Don’t study for it. There’s no content to review, since it’s not an academic section.
- Answer naturally and consistently. Avoid overthinking individual questions.
- Save your energy for scored sections. Since it doesn’t count toward your academic score, don’t let it eat into time or focus you need for math, reading or science.
- Ask your program directly if you’re unsure how the results factor into admissions.
Focus Your Prep on What’s Actually Scored
While the personality profile needs no preparation, your academic sections do. If you haven’t already, take a free practice test to see where you stand on the sections that actually affect your HESI A2 passing score.
FAQ
Can you fail the HESI A2 personality profile?
No. It’s not scored as pass or fail, since it measures traits rather than academic ability. Programs that use it typically do so for context, not for a cutoff score.
Should I prepare for the HESI A2 personality profile?
There’s nothing to study, since there are no right or wrong answers. The best approach is to answer honestly and move on to the academic sections that do count toward your score.
Don’t Let the Personality Profile Distract You
The HESI A2 personality profile is low-stakes compared to your academic sections. Answer honestly, don’t overthink it, and put your real preparation time into the sections that determine your admission.
Ready to focus on what counts? Explore our complete HESI A2 study bundle and connect with other applicants in our HESI A2 study group on Facebook.
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