HSRT scoring
How is the HSRT scored?
The HSRT reports an overall score plus a score for each reported skill. The Standard HSRT reports eight skills: Analysis, Interpretation, Inference, Evaluation, Explanation, Induction, Deduction, and Numeracy. The HSRT-AD reports six: Analysis, Inference, Evaluation, Induction, Deduction, and Numeracy. Some programs use only the overall score; others use specific skill scores. Programs choose the form, so confirm with your program which one you will sit and which scores it uses.
What is a good HSRT score?
Most HSRT-requiring programs set minimum cutoffs in the 60-75% range. Competitive admissions typically require 75-85%. Anoka-Ramsey Community College in Minnesota requires 74. M State requires between 60-73% depending on program. Programs at Lone Star College and Houston Community College do not publish minimums but use HSRT scores in ranking. Always verify the cutoff at your specific target program.
What is the average HSRT score?
We do not quote an average HSRT score because we do not have a public source for one. What is public is each program's own requirement. For example, Anoka-Ramsey Community College requires 74 and M State requires between 60-73% depending on program. Ask your admissions office what scores recent admitted applicants have had.
Which HSRT subscale matters most?
Analysis is the highest-stakes subscale at several Minnesota programs because it is used as the first tie-breaker between applicants with equal total points. Other programs weight Inference and Evaluation more heavily. M State publishes that Analysis correlates with clinical reasoning ability, which is why it is prioritized. For ranking-based programs, the overall score is usually what counts. Ask your program which scores it uses.
Are HSRT scores percentiles or raw scores?
It depends on what your program asks for. The score report gives an overall score and skill scores, and it may include a percentile comparison to a reference group. The programs listed on this page state their minimums on a 0 to 100 scale. Check which number your program uses.
Schools that require the HSRT
Which schools require the HSRT?
The HSRT is required by 35+ programs across 8 states, including Minnesota (Anoka-Ramsey, M State, Central Lakes, Northwest Technical, Century College, South Central, RCTC), Texas (Lone Star College, Houston Community College, College of the Mainland, Palo Alto College), New Jersey (Rowan College), and Oregon (COCC, Columbia Gorge, PCC). Most are nursing programs in Minnesota; in Texas, the HSRT is more commonly used in allied health.
Does Anoka-Ramsey Community College require the HSRT?
As of recent admissions cycles, Anoka-Ramsey has used the HSRT as part of its nursing program admissions, with a minimum score requirement of 74. The HSRT contributes 55% to the total admissions score (alongside experiential factors and essay). Verify current requirements directly with Anoka-Ramsey before applying since admissions criteria can change.
Do all Minnesota nursing programs require the HSRT?
No. Several Minnesota nursing programs require the HSRT, but not all. Notable HSRT-requiring MN programs include Anoka-Ramsey, M State, Central Lakes College, Northwest Technical College, Century College, South Central College, and RCTC. Other MN programs use the TEAS or have no standardized admissions exam. Check your specific target program.
Do Texas nursing programs require the HSRT?
Most Texas nursing programs require the HESI A2 or TEAS, not the HSRT. However, several Texas allied health programs (respiratory care, dental hygiene, OTA) use the HSRT for admissions ranking. Lone Star College, Houston Community College, College of the Mainland, and Palo Alto College all have HSRT-requiring programs in allied health.
Why does my program require the HSRT?
Programs use the HSRT because clinical judgment correlates with reasoning skill better than with content knowledge. The TEAS and HESI test what you know; the HSRT tests how you think. Programs that have switched to the HSRT report that it predicts clinical reasoning ability more accurately than content tests, which is why it is gaining adoption in nursing and allied health admissions.
Try the StudyBuddy HSRT prep course
StudyBuddy offers a full HSRT preparation course. 1,331 questions across all eight reported reasoning skills, 10 timed mock exams in the Standard HSRT format (38 questions, 55 minutes), faculty-developed strategy content. Free sample questions with explanations are on the practice test page, no sign-up needed.
Try free HSRT practice test →Preparing for the HSRT
How long does it take to study for the HSRT?
Most students benefit from 4-8 weeks of structured preparation. Students with strong reasoning backgrounds (philosophy, debate, law, prior LSAT prep) may need only 2-3 weeks. Students newer to formal logic should plan for 6-8 weeks. Daily practice is more effective than long weekend sessions for this type of skill-based preparation.
What books should I use to prepare for the HSRT?
There is no widely available HSRT-specific textbook. The closest analog is introductory informal logic texts (such as "Thinking Critically" by John Chaffee). Some students use LSAT Logical Reasoning materials because the question types are similar, though more difficult. StudyBuddy offers a dedicated HSRT prep course built specifically for the exam.
Can I prepare for the HSRT in 2 weeks?
Possible if you have strong reasoning skills already. Most students benefit from at least 4 weeks. A 2-week intensive can work if you focus on practice questions (not content review) and spend 1-2 hours per day. Two weeks is unrealistic if you have not done formal logic or critical thinking exercises before.
What is the best HSRT prep course?
StudyBuddy offers HSRT-focused prep built around the eight reported reasoning skills. Generic critical thinking or LSAT Logical Reasoning courses cover related skills but are not built around the HSRT format or its specific subscale structure. Insight Assessment's test description page is a useful free source of format information, though it does not include practice materials.
Test day, cost, and retake policies
Can I retake the HSRT?
Yes, the HSRT can be retaken. Retake policies are set by your program, not by Insight Assessment. Some programs allow unlimited attempts; others limit you to 2-3 per application cycle. Most programs require a waiting period between attempts (typically 30-90 days). Check your specific program for the exact retake policy.
How long are HSRT scores valid?
HSRT scores are typically valid for 2-3 years for admissions purposes, though policies vary by program. Some programs accept scores up to 5 years old; others require scores within 1 year of application. If you took the HSRT more than 2 years before applying, verify with your program whether your score is still valid.
How much does the HSRT cost?
HSRT pricing varies by institution. Some schools include it in application fees; others charge separately, typically in the $30-60 range. Insight Assessment publishes the test through institutional accounts, so individual students cannot register directly with Insight Assessment, you register through your program.
Where do I take the HSRT?
The HSRT is administered by your program, typically at a proctored testing center on campus or at a partner testing site. Some programs offer remote proctoring options. Contact your specific program admissions office for HSRT scheduling and location information.
Does my practical nursing program use a different version of the HSRT?
It may. Insight Assessment publishes more than one form of the HSRT, and your program chooses which form it uses. The Standard HSRT has 38 questions in 55 minutes and reports eight skills. The HSRT-AD, which the publisher positions for associate degree and certificate programs, has 35 scenario-based questions in 50 minutes and reports six skills. Other forms exist. Ask your admissions office which form you are registered for, because your score report and any published cutoff refer to that specific form.
Do I need to send my HSRT score to the school myself?
Usually not. Because you register through your program rather than directly with Insight Assessment, your results are reported back to the institution that opened the testing session. If you are applying to a second program with a score from the first, that program decides whether it will accept a transferred score and what documentation it wants. Ask before you pay for a retake.
HSRT vs other exams
HSRT vs TEAS — which is harder?
They test entirely different skills. TEAS questions have right answers based on factual knowledge, if you have studied A&P, you can answer A&P questions. HSRT questions require careful reading and reasoning even when you know the topic. Most students find the HSRT harder because the test format is unfamiliar and content review does not help. Students with strong reading comprehension typically find the HSRT easier than TEAS Science.
HSRT vs HESI A2 — which should I take?
You take whichever your program requires. Some programs require both. The HESI is content-based (vocabulary, math, reading, science). The HSRT is reasoning-based (analysis, inference, evaluation). They are not interchangeable. Confirm your program's specific requirement before deciding.
Is the HSRT the same as the reading test on other nursing admission exams?
No. The HSRT (published by Insight Assessment) is a critical thinking exam. The reading sections on other nursing admission exams are separate tests with different formats and scoring. The HSRT is administered by individual programs through Insight Assessment. Some schools accept more than one admission exam; most accept only one.
Is the HSRT like the LSAT?
The HSRT shares some skills with the LSAT Logical Reasoning section, argument analysis, inference, identifying assumptions, and evaluating reasoning. However, the HSRT is a single short test (38 questions on the Standard HSRT, 35 on the HSRT-AD), has a different scoring system, and uses health-related scenarios. LSAT Logical Reasoning practice can build relevant skills, but it is not a substitute for HSRT-focused practice.
Get 5 free HSRT practice questions with full explanations
One question per skill area (Analysis, Inference, Evaluation, Induction, Deduction) with full explanations. Faculty-developed.