Brainerd, Minnesota·Community College·Official program page ↗

Central Lakes College: HSRT Requirements

Central Lakes College in Brainerd, MN requires the Health Sciences Reasoning Test (HSRT) for admission to its ADN / LPN / Advanced Standing program. The published minimum score is 65. RN: 70% minimum. LPN/PN: 65% minimum. Rolling admission while seats are available — apply early. Advanced Standing track available for LPNs.. The HSRT is a critical thinking exam — it tests reasoning ability, not science or medical content knowledge.

Last verified: March 2026 · Verify with program ↗

65
Published min.
33
Questions
Untimed
Format

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How Central Lakes College uses the HSRT in admissions

Central Lakes College requires a minimum HSRT score of 65. RN: 70% minimum. LPN/PN: 65% minimum. Rolling admission while seats are available — apply early. Advanced Standing track available for LPNs..

Published minimums are floors, not targets. Competitive applicants typically score 5–10 points above the minimum. Aiming for 78 or above is advisable at Central Lakes 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. The exam is approximately 33 questions and most students complete it in 45–90 minutes.

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 Central Lakes College

Because there is no content to memorize, HSRT preparation looks different from TEAS or HESI prep. Effective preparation involves:

  1. Understanding the five skill areas tested on the HSRT
  2. Taking a baseline diagnostic to identify your weakest subscale
  3. Practicing argument analysis, inference, and logical reasoning with HSRT-format questions
  4. Completing full-length practice exams under realistic conditions
  5. 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 Central Lakes College tests.

Registration at Central Lakes College

Registration for the HSRT is coordinated through Central Lakes College's admissions office. You will receive a direct link and access code to the Insight Assessment online testing platform. Do not attempt to register independently — the test requires a program-issued access code.

Contact: clcmn.edu/health-sciences-reasoning-test-hsrt

Central Lakes College HSRT questions

Does Central Lakes College require the HSRT?
Yes. Central Lakes College in Brainerd, Minnesota requires the Health Sciences Reasoning Test (HSRT) for admission to its ADN / LPN / Advanced Standing program. The HSRT is a critical thinking assessment developed by Insight Assessment — it does not test science or medical content knowledge.
What HSRT score do I need for Central Lakes College?
Central Lakes College requires a minimum HSRT score of 65. Published minimums are the floor — competitive applicants typically score higher. Ask the program what the average HSRT score was among last year's admitted cohort.
How do I register for the HSRT at Central Lakes College?
Registration for the HSRT is coordinated through Central Lakes College's admissions office. You will receive a direct link and access code to the Insight Assessment online testing platform. Do not attempt to register independently — the test is access-code protected.
Can I retake the HSRT at Central Lakes College?
Retake policies are set by Central Lakes College, not by Insight Assessment. Most programs allow 1–2 retakes per application cycle. Contact the admissions office directly for the current retake policy before testing.
How is the HSRT different from the TEAS or HESI?
The TEAS and HESI test academic content knowledge — science, math, reading, and English. The HSRT tests only critical thinking and reasoning ability across five domains: analysis, inference, evaluation, inductive reasoning, and deductive reasoning. No science or medical knowledge is required. Central Lakes College uses the HSRT to emphasize clinical reasoning ability over content memorization.
How long does it take to prepare for the HSRT for Central Lakes College?
Most students benefit from 2–6 weeks of structured HSRT preparation. Because the HSRT tests reasoning skills rather than memorized content, preparation involves practicing argument analysis, inference, and logical reasoning — not reviewing science notes. StudyBuddy's HSRT prep covers all five skill areas with 463 practice questions, 38 interactive lessons, and 10 timed practice exams.

Prepare for the HSRT at Central Lakes College

463 practice questions, 38 interactive lessons, 10 timed practice exams, and an AI tutor — the only dedicated HSRT prep platform.

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