HESI A2 ENTRANCE EXAM| PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS,
ANSWERS WITH LATEST VERSION 2026.
virulence - ANSWER: the ability to produce disease
efface - ANSWER: to wipe out, to rub out, do away with; (medical) the
thinning of the cervix during labor
ubiquitous - ANSWER: omnipresent, existing or being everywhere
osmosis - ANSWER: process of fluid passing through semi-permeable
membrane from higher to lower concentration
labile - ANSWER: apt or likely to change, changing quickly
-Because the children fever was very labile the nurse instructed the
unlicensed assistive personnel to check the temp frequently.
febrile - ANSWER: having or showing symptoms of a fever
dynamic - ANSWER: energetic, lively
insidious - ANSWER: dangerous, treacherous, so gradual as to not become
apparent for a long time
-The doctor explained that the cancer probably started years ago but had
not been detected because it spread was so insidious.
empathy - ANSWER: understanding another's pain, suffering alongside
someone else
anticipatory - ANSWER: showing anticipation, looking forward to
ominous - ANSWER: threatening, menacing
preferred - ANSWER: to set above or hold above another, to like better than
another
acute - ANSWER: sharp, intense, coming about quickly
chronic - ANSWER: (medical) refers to a disease or condition that is long-
lasting and reoccurring
exploratory - ANSWER: (medical) refers to a surgery or procedure used to
diagnose a disease or condition but not treat it
recessive - ANSWER: (genetics) A trait or a gene that can be dominated by
another (dominant) trait or gene
assent - ANSWER: To agree (not the same as ascend, to go up or higher), to
give consent
toxic - ANSWER: poisonous
subjective data - ANSWER: (medical) Symptoms. Information that is
apparent only to the person affected; that person is the only one who can
verify it. Examples are pain, fear, and itching.
, objective data - ANSWER: (medical) Signs. Information that can be detected
or measured by an observer against a standard. Examples are blood
pressure, body temperature, and observing a patient crying.
effect - ANSWER: more often used as a noun, meaning result or outcome
affect - ANSWER: Often seen as a verb, meaning to influence or to change.
In medical terminology, it may be used as a noun meaning a person's
emotional response or disposition.
overt - ANSWER: in the open, clearly visible, not hidden
anterior - ANSWER: toward the front
contract - ANSWER: pronounced with the accent on the second syllable
(and used as a verb), it means to draw up, to draw together
-The physical therapist exercises the patients muscles so they contract
and expand.
rigidity - ANSWER: stiffness, the stat of not being flexible
persecute - ANSWER: to harass or annoy constantly
longevity - ANSWER: long life
impervious - ANSWER: cannot be penetrated or affected
distension - ANSWER: swollen and protruding out further than normal
ambivalent - ANSWER: uncertain, having contradictory feelings, unable to
make a decision between two conflicting choices
patent - ANSWER: (medical) Pronounced with a long a ̅, refers to something
tube-shaped that is open and unblocked (such as an artery)
potent - ANSWER: powerful, producing a strong effect
-the medicine was very potent and it immediately relieved the pateint pain
adhere - ANSWER: to stick to, either literally or figuratively (to adhere to the
wall); to adhere to a strict diet
euthanasia - ANSWER: referred to as a "mercy killing," to choose to end the
life of someone who is terminally ill
prognosis - ANSWER: predicting the likely outcome of an illness
antigen - ANSWER: a foreign substance that causes the immune system to
make antibodies against it
abstain - ANSWER: to voluntarily refrain from
incidence - ANSWER: the rate at which something occurs, such as injuries
or illnesses
hydrophilic - ANSWER: attracted to water ("water loving")
hydrophobic - ANSWER: not attracted to water or water-repelling ("fear of
water")
occluded - ANSWER: blocked, closed; the opposite of patent
ANSWERS WITH LATEST VERSION 2026.
virulence - ANSWER: the ability to produce disease
efface - ANSWER: to wipe out, to rub out, do away with; (medical) the
thinning of the cervix during labor
ubiquitous - ANSWER: omnipresent, existing or being everywhere
osmosis - ANSWER: process of fluid passing through semi-permeable
membrane from higher to lower concentration
labile - ANSWER: apt or likely to change, changing quickly
-Because the children fever was very labile the nurse instructed the
unlicensed assistive personnel to check the temp frequently.
febrile - ANSWER: having or showing symptoms of a fever
dynamic - ANSWER: energetic, lively
insidious - ANSWER: dangerous, treacherous, so gradual as to not become
apparent for a long time
-The doctor explained that the cancer probably started years ago but had
not been detected because it spread was so insidious.
empathy - ANSWER: understanding another's pain, suffering alongside
someone else
anticipatory - ANSWER: showing anticipation, looking forward to
ominous - ANSWER: threatening, menacing
preferred - ANSWER: to set above or hold above another, to like better than
another
acute - ANSWER: sharp, intense, coming about quickly
chronic - ANSWER: (medical) refers to a disease or condition that is long-
lasting and reoccurring
exploratory - ANSWER: (medical) refers to a surgery or procedure used to
diagnose a disease or condition but not treat it
recessive - ANSWER: (genetics) A trait or a gene that can be dominated by
another (dominant) trait or gene
assent - ANSWER: To agree (not the same as ascend, to go up or higher), to
give consent
toxic - ANSWER: poisonous
subjective data - ANSWER: (medical) Symptoms. Information that is
apparent only to the person affected; that person is the only one who can
verify it. Examples are pain, fear, and itching.
, objective data - ANSWER: (medical) Signs. Information that can be detected
or measured by an observer against a standard. Examples are blood
pressure, body temperature, and observing a patient crying.
effect - ANSWER: more often used as a noun, meaning result or outcome
affect - ANSWER: Often seen as a verb, meaning to influence or to change.
In medical terminology, it may be used as a noun meaning a person's
emotional response or disposition.
overt - ANSWER: in the open, clearly visible, not hidden
anterior - ANSWER: toward the front
contract - ANSWER: pronounced with the accent on the second syllable
(and used as a verb), it means to draw up, to draw together
-The physical therapist exercises the patients muscles so they contract
and expand.
rigidity - ANSWER: stiffness, the stat of not being flexible
persecute - ANSWER: to harass or annoy constantly
longevity - ANSWER: long life
impervious - ANSWER: cannot be penetrated or affected
distension - ANSWER: swollen and protruding out further than normal
ambivalent - ANSWER: uncertain, having contradictory feelings, unable to
make a decision between two conflicting choices
patent - ANSWER: (medical) Pronounced with a long a ̅, refers to something
tube-shaped that is open and unblocked (such as an artery)
potent - ANSWER: powerful, producing a strong effect
-the medicine was very potent and it immediately relieved the pateint pain
adhere - ANSWER: to stick to, either literally or figuratively (to adhere to the
wall); to adhere to a strict diet
euthanasia - ANSWER: referred to as a "mercy killing," to choose to end the
life of someone who is terminally ill
prognosis - ANSWER: predicting the likely outcome of an illness
antigen - ANSWER: a foreign substance that causes the immune system to
make antibodies against it
abstain - ANSWER: to voluntarily refrain from
incidence - ANSWER: the rate at which something occurs, such as injuries
or illnesses
hydrophilic - ANSWER: attracted to water ("water loving")
hydrophobic - ANSWER: not attracted to water or water-repelling ("fear of
water")
occluded - ANSWER: blocked, closed; the opposite of patent
