What Is a Good HSRT Score?
Updated September 2026
A good HSRT score is one that clears the published minimum for your program. Among the 8 programs on our list that publish a minimum, the range is 60 to 75. Many other programs publish no minimum and use the score to rank applicants. Required scores vary by school and program, so confirm the minimum for the exact program you are applying to.
The most important thing to understand about HSRT scores: the published minimum is the cutoff below which your application is rejected, not the score that gets you admitted. Programs that rank applicants by score do not publish the scores of admitted students, so ask the admissions office how your score will be used.
Which published minimums does a score clear?
| Score | Published minimums met |
|---|---|
| 80 | 8 of 8 |
| 75 | 8 of 8 |
| 74 | 7 of 8 |
| 70 | 4 of 8 |
| 66 | 3 of 8 |
| 60 | 1 of 8 |
Counts only programs that publish a minimum. Where a program sets different minimums by track, the lowest is used. Verify minimums directly with your program.
Published HSRT minimums by program
The minimum gets your application reviewed. It is not a prediction of the score that gets you admitted.
| Program | State | Published min |
|---|---|---|
| Riverland Community CollegeADN (RN) / LPN / Radiography | Minnesota | 75 |
| Anoka-Ramsey Community CollegeNursing AS / LPN | Minnesota | 74 |
| South Central CollegeASN / PN | Minnesota | 74 |
| Rowan University Respiratory Therapy (BSRT)BS Respiratory Therapy (Entry into Practice) | New Jersey | 72 |
| Northwest Technical CollegeADN / LPN / Cardiac Sonography | Minnesota | 70 |
| Anoka Technical CollegePractical Nursing (PN) | Minnesota | 66 |
| Central Lakes CollegeADN / LPN / Advanced Standing | Minnesota | 65 |
| M State (Minnesota State)ADN / LPN / Sonography / Med Lab | Minnesota | 60 |
Always verify with your program. See requirements for every school →
What your HSRT score report includes
The HSRT returns an overall score plus a score for each reported skill: eight on the Standard HSRT, six on the HSRT-AD (which does not list Interpretation or Explanation separately). Programs use your overall score for admissions cutoffs. Subscale scores matter for two reasons: some programs review them during holistic admissions, and they tell you exactly where to focus if you retake.
Analysis
Interpretation
Inference
Evaluation
Explanation
Induction
Deduction
Numeracy
If you are retaking the HSRT, your lowest subscale score is your highest-leverage preparation target. A 10-point improvement in your weakest domain has more impact on your overall score than spreading preparation evenly across every skill.
How long does the HSRT take?
The Standard HSRT has 38 multiple-choice questions in a timed 55-minute window. The HSRT-AD has 35 scenario-based questions in a timed 50-minute window. Programs choose the form, so confirm with your program which one you will sit. Unlike the TEAS, which has strict per-section timers, either form gives you about 86 to 87 seconds per question, so manage your pace and leave time to review your answers.
This changes how you should approach it. The biggest timing mistake is moving too quickly. Because the exam measures reasoning quality, not speed, students who slow down, read each argument twice, and eliminate wrong answers systematically consistently outperform students who rely on first impressions.
38
Questions (Standard HSRT)
55 min
Time limit (Standard HSRT)
~87 sec
Per question
Find out where you stand before test day
Get 10 free HSRT-style practice questions with full explanations. See which skills you need to target.
Specific score questions
Is a 70 a good HSRT score?
A 70 meets the published minimum at 4 of the 8 programs on our list that publish one. It is below the minimum at Riverland CC (75), Anoka-Ramsey CC (74), South Central College (74), Rowan University Respiratory Therapy (BSRT) (72). If one of those is your target program, plan to prepare for a retake.
Is a 75 a good HSRT score?
A 75 meets the published minimum at 8 of the 8 programs on our list that publish one. The highest published minimum is 75 (Riverland CC). At programs that rank applicants by score, a higher score still raises your rank.
Does a score above 80 help?
An 80 clears every published minimum on our list. Above the minimum, a higher score helps only where the program ranks applicants by score or gives it points (Century College, for example, weights the HSRT at 40% of its admissions rank). Ask your program whether it uses the HSRT as a cutoff, a ranking factor, or both.
Related HSRT resources
Frequently asked questions
What is a good HSRT score?
A good HSRT score is one that clears the published minimum for the exact program you are applying to. Among the 8 programs on our list that publish a minimum, the range is 60 to 75, from M State (Minnesota State) (60) to Riverland CC (75). Many programs publish no minimum and use the score to rank applicants, so ask the admissions office how your score will be used.
What is the average HSRT score for admitted nursing students?
Most programs do not publish average admitted scores, and we do not have a public source for a national average, so we do not quote one. What is public is each program's minimum: published minimums at HSRT-requiring programs range from 60 to 75. Because admission is competitive, plan to score above your program's published minimum, and ask the admissions office what recent admitted scores have looked like.
What HSRT score do I need for Anoka-Ramsey?
Anoka-Ramsey Community College publishes a minimum HSRT score of 74 for its nursing program. The HSRT is part of the Metrics component of its holistic admissions score (HSRT, GPA, and credits together are 55%), and scores from 74 to 100 feed a points formula, so a score above the minimum still adds points.
What is the highest possible HSRT score?
The programs listed on this page state their HSRT requirements on a 0 to 100 scale, so 100 is the top of that scale. Alongside the overall score, the Standard HSRT reports eight skill scores (Analysis, Interpretation, Inference, Evaluation, Explanation, Induction, Deduction, Numeracy) and the HSRT-AD reports six (Analysis, Inference, Evaluation, Induction, Deduction, Numeracy). Programs may weight skill scores differently.
Is a 70 a good HSRT score?
A 70 meets the published minimum at 4 of the 8 programs on our list that publish one. It is below the minimum at Riverland CC (75), Anoka-Ramsey CC (74), South Central College (74), Rowan University Respiratory Therapy (BSRT) (72). Some programs set different minimums by track, so check the exact track you are applying to.
Is a 75 a good HSRT score?
A 75 meets the published minimum at 8 of the 8 programs on our list that publish one; the highest published minimum is 75 (Riverland CC). At programs that rank applicants by score, a higher score still raises your rank, so ask the program how it uses the HSRT.
How long does the HSRT take to complete?
It depends on the form your program uses. The Standard HSRT has 38 questions in 55 minutes. The HSRT-AD (the Associate Degree form) has 35 scenario-based questions in 50 minutes. Both work out to about 86 to 87 seconds per question. Programs choose the form and the administration conditions, so confirm the form and time limit with your program and prepare as if it is timed.
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. Your overall score is the primary metric programs use for admissions cutoffs. Subscale scores are provided for diagnostic purposes and may be reviewed during holistic admissions processes.
Can I retake the HSRT to improve my score?
Retake policies vary by program. Some programs accept your most recent score, others take your highest, and some limit the number of attempts. Always check with your specific program before registering for a retake. If you are retaking, targeted preparation on your weakest reasoning subscale is the most effective use of your study time.
Hit your target HSRT score
1,331 original practice questions across all eight reported HSRT skills. 10 timed mock exams (38 questions, 55 minutes). Start with a free diagnostic to see your baseline, then target the subscales that will move your score most.
Developed by doctoral-level health sciences faculty