How Anoka-Ramsey Community College uses the HSRT in admissions
ARCC uses holistic admissions with three components: Metrics (55%) includes your HSRT total score, course grades, and resident credits. Experience (31%) evaluates healthcare work, volunteer hours, LPN status, and prior degrees. Attributes (14%) are two 250-word essays. The HSRT score range used is 74–100. Applicants below 74 are ineligible.
74 is the floor, not the target. The HSRT score is weighted within the 55% Metrics category alongside GPA and credits. Scoring 80+ significantly improves your ranking. Ask ARCC what the average admitted HSRT score was last cycle.
HSRT testing at Anoka-Ramsey Community College
- Location: ARCC campus only (Coon Rapids or Cambridge) — must test through ARCC
- Fee: Contact ARCC Testing Services for current fee (non-refundable)
- Format: 33 multiple-choice questions, Untimed time limit. Unanswered questions scored as incorrect. You can navigate forward and backward during the exam.
- How to register: HSRT testing is open November 1 through February 1 for fall applicants, and April 1 through July 1 for spring applicants. Contact Testing Services at ARCC to schedule. A TEAS score is NOT accepted — only the HSRT.
Retake policy
The HSRT can be taken once per application cycle at ARCC. Scores are valid for 2 years. The highest score is used if you have multiple valid scores. Scores from other institutions do NOT transfer to ARCC.
Eligibility requirements
Residency: No in-district residency requirement. Additional credit awarded if 4+ courses completed through ARCC or Anoka Technical College.
About the HSRT exam
The Health Sciences Reasoning Test is developed by Insight Assessment. Unlike the TEAS or HESI, it does not test science, math, or vocabulary. It measures five critical thinking skills: analysis, inference, evaluation, inductive reasoning, and deductive reasoning. At Anoka-Ramsey Community College, the HSRT-AD consists of 33 questions with a Untimed time limit.
Minnesota nursing programs adopted the HSRT after the MANE consortium dissolved, shifting toward holistic admissions models that emphasize critical thinking ability over content knowledge. Research in nursing education suggests that reasoning ability — more than prerequisite GPA — predicts clinical performance and NCLEX success.
How to prepare for the HSRT at Anoka-Ramsey Community College
Because there is no content to memorize, HSRT preparation looks different from TEAS or HESI prep. Effective preparation involves:
- Understanding the five skill areas tested on the HSRT
- Taking a baseline diagnostic to identify your weakest subscale
- Practicing argument analysis, inference, and logical reasoning with HSRT-format questions
- Completing full-length practice exams under realistic conditions (Untimed time limit at Anoka-Ramsey Community College)
- Reviewing every wrong answer by skill area, not just overall score
StudyBuddy is the only dedicated HSRT prep platform — 463 practice questions across 10 skill assessments, 38 interactive lessons, and 10 timed practice exams, all built for the specific format and skill areas that Anoka-Ramsey Community College tests.
Prep timeline for Anoka-Ramsey Community College's Spring 2027 application deadline
With the deadline on July 1, 2026, here are two recommended study plans:
4-week plan (recommended if you have time):
- Week 1: Analysis + Evaluation — learn to break down arguments and assess evidence
- Week 2: Inference + Induction — practice drawing conclusions from incomplete data
- Week 3: Deduction + Numeracy — work through logical reasoning and quantitative scenarios
- Week 4: Full practice exams + review weak areas. Take at least 3 timed exams.
2-week sprint (if your deadline is close):
- Week 1: Take the diagnostic. Focus all study time on your 2 weakest skill areas. Complete 100+ practice questions.
- Week 2: Take 3–4 full practice exams. Review every wrong answer. Retake your diagnostic to measure improvement.
Registration at Anoka-Ramsey Community College
HSRT testing is open November 1 through February 1 for fall applicants, and April 1 through July 1 for spring applicants. Contact Testing Services at ARCC to schedule. A TEAS score is NOT accepted — only the HSRT.
Contact: arccwebstorage.blob.core.windows.net/media/6908/nursing-program-admissions-criteria.pdf