HESI A2 Reading Comprehension: 8 Strategies to Score 90%+

The HESI A2 Reading Comprehension section has 55 questions in 60 minutes, giving you barely a minute per question. Many students underestimate this section because they assume reading is “easy.” It’s not — the HESI tests specific comprehension skills that require practice. Here are 8 strategies our tutors use to help students consistently score 90%+.

What the HESI Reading Section Actually Tests

Unlike a casual reading test, the HESI A2 reading section focuses on:

• Identifying the main idea of a passage (vs. supporting details)
• Making inferences — conclusions NOT directly stated
• Understanding context clues for unfamiliar vocabulary
• Distinguishing fact from opinion
• Identifying author’s purpose and tone
• Analyzing logical conclusions

Strategy 1: Read the Questions Before the Passage

This is the single most impactful strategy for timed reading tests. Before you read the passage, scan the questions that follow it. This tells your brain what to look for, so you’re reading with purpose instead of passively.

Look for keywords in the questions: specific names, dates, processes, or phrases. When you spot them in the passage, you’ll know you’ve found the answer zone.

Strategy 2: Find the Main Idea in the First and Last Sentences

HESI passages follow standard academic structure. The main idea is almost always in the first sentence or last sentence of the first paragraph. When you see a “main idea” question, go straight to these sentences.

A common trap: the test often includes a detail that’s true but too specific to be the main idea. The main idea should cover the entire passage, not just one paragraph.

Strategy 3: Inference = Evidence + Logic

Inference questions ask “What can be concluded from this passage?” or “The author would most likely agree that…” The correct answer is never directly stated but must be strongly supported by the text.

Test this way: For each answer choice, ask “Can I point to specific sentences that support this?” If yes, it’s likely correct. If you have to assume or imagine information, it’s wrong.

Strategy 4: Context Clues Have Patterns

When asked the meaning of a word you don’t know, look for these patterns in the surrounding sentences:

• Definition clue: “Hemostasis, which is the process of stopping bleeding…”
• Example clue: “Pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi…”
• Contrast clue: “Unlike acute pain, chronic pain persists for…”
• Restatement clue: “The prognosis — the likely outcome — was positive.”

Strategy 5: Fact vs. Opinion — Look for Signal Words

Fact statements contain verifiable information: numbers, dates, measurements, scientific data. Opinion statements contain judgment words: “should,” “best,” “important,” “believe,” “unfortunately.”

Tricky cases: statements with statistics that include an opinion qualifier. “An impressive 95% of students passed” is an opinion because “impressive” is a judgment.

Strategy 6: Author’s Purpose Falls Into 3 Categories

Every passage exists to inform, persuade, or entertain. HESI passages are almost always informational or persuasive. Look for:

• Inform: Neutral tone, presents facts without strong opinions
• Persuade: Uses phrases like “should,” “must,” “it is essential”
• Entertain: Rare on the HESI but uses narrative/storytelling

Strategy 7: Eliminate Extreme Answers

HESI answer choices that use extreme words are almost always wrong. Watch for: “all,” “none,” “always,” “never,” “only,” “completely.” Academic texts rarely make absolute claims. The correct answer usually uses qualified language: “most,” “some,” “often,” “generally.”

Strategy 8: Time Management — The 60-Second Rule

With 55 questions in 60 minutes, you have just over a minute per question. Here’s how to manage it:

1. Spend 30 seconds skimming the passage (not close-reading)
2. Spend 20-30 seconds per question
3. If you’re stuck past 90 seconds, pick your best guess and move on
4. Reserve the last 5 minutes for review and flagged questions

Practice Makes Permanent

The best way to improve your HESI reading score is consistent, timed practice. Try our free HESI practice questions to test these strategies. Read one passage per day for two weeks and watch your score improve.