How Century College uses the HSRT in admissions
Century College publishes its exact holistic admissions breakdown: HSRT = 40%, Essay Questions = 40%, Previous Degrees or Certifications = 10%, Quiz on Program Information = 10%. The HSRT and the essay each carry equal weight — together they determine 80% of the admissions decision. There is no published minimum score; your HSRT score is ranked against every other applicant in your cohort cycle. A one-point difference in HSRT score at Century has more impact on your admissions outcome than at any other Minnesota nursing program.
With the HSRT carrying exactly 40% of your admissions rank, preparation matters more at Century than at any other MN program. There is no floor to clear — you are competing against the full applicant pool. Aim for the highest possible score. Every point is amplified by the weighting formula.
HSRT testing at Century College
- Location: Century College West Campus, 3401 Century Ave N, White Bear Lake, MN 55110 — Room 2470 (Testing Center)
- Fee: Contact Testing Center for current fee (non-refundable)
- How to register: Register through Century College's official HSRT portal (linked from century.edu/programs/nursing). Bring a photo ID — verification is required before testing. A simple (non-scientific) calculator is allowed; phone and watch calculators are not. No other electronic devices permitted. Arrive 15–30 minutes early — late arrivals are not admitted and will not be refunded.
Retake policy
Contact Century College admissions for current retake policy. Because the HSRT is taken at the Century Testing Center under controlled conditions, retake scheduling is coordinated directly with the program.
About the Century College nursing program
Century College publishes the most transparent admissions breakdown of any Minnesota nursing program. The holistic criteria are: HSRT (40%), Essay Questions (40%), Previous Degrees or Certifications (10%), Quiz on Program Information (10%). This means your HSRT score and your essay each carry equal, substantial weight — together they determine 80% of the decision before any credentials or program knowledge are considered. Cohorts of 72 students are accepted each fall and spring. The program runs full-time, daytime only, over 4 semesters (64 credits total). Clinical experiences may include some evening rotations. Century is located in White Bear Lake and draws from the Twin Cities east metro — applicants include recent prereq completers, career changers, and CNA-certified students. The absence of a published HSRT minimum means the competition is entirely relative: your score is ranked against every other applicant in your cycle. The practical implication is that underprepared applicants are not just below a floor — they are ranked below better-prepared applicants who understood what the HSRT actually tests.
Watch Century College nursing program videos →
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. The Standard HSRT reports an overall score plus eight critical thinking skills: analysis, interpretation, inference, evaluation, explanation, induction, deduction, and numeracy. The HSRT-AD form reports six of those skills (it does not report interpretation or explanation separately). Programs choose which HSRT form they administer. The Standard HSRT is 38 questions in 55 minutes, and the HSRT-AD is 35 questions in 50 minutes. Confirm with Century College admissions which form and time limit you will sit.
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 Century College
Because there is no content to memorize, HSRT preparation looks different from TEAS or HESI prep. Effective preparation involves:
- Understanding the skill areas the HSRT reports (eight on the Standard HSRT, six on the HSRT-AD)
- Taking a baseline diagnostic to identify your weakest subscale
- Practicing argument analysis, inference, and logical reasoning with original HSRT-style practice questions
- Completing full-length practice exams under realistic conditions
- Reviewing every wrong answer by skill area, not just overall score
StudyBuddy is a dedicated HSRT prep platform: 1,331 questions across eight skill modules (one per reported skill) and a mixed-reasoning module, 70 interactive lessons, and 10 timed mock exams in the Standard HSRT format (38 questions, 55 minutes). It is designed to build the reasoning skills publicly described for the HSRT. Our questions are original practice material and do not reproduce the proprietary exam. If Century College uses the HSRT-AD, the same course applies, and the pace per question is about the same (about 86 to 87 seconds).
Prep timeline for Century College's Program application deadline
With the deadline on March 1 (fall start) · October 1 (spring start), here are two recommended study plans:
4-week plan (recommended if you have time):
- Week 1: Analysis, Interpretation + Evaluation, learn to break down arguments, read what claims mean, and assess evidence
- Week 2: Inference, Explanation + Induction, practice drawing and justifying 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 Century College
Register through Century College's official HSRT portal (linked from century.edu/programs/nursing). Bring a photo ID — verification is required before testing. A simple (non-scientific) calculator is allowed; phone and watch calculators are not. No other electronic devices permitted. Arrive 15–30 minutes early — late arrivals are not admitted and will not be refunded.
Contact: www.century.edu/programs/nursing/
