How Columbia Gorge Community College uses the HSRT in admissions
Columbia Gorge uses a multi-phase admissions process. Phase II includes both the HSRT exam and proctored essays, evaluated together for final applicant selection. HSRT testing is scheduled for April 15–16, 2026. There is no published minimum HSRT score — your combined Phase II performance determines your rank among invited applicants.
Phase II is competitive — only top Phase I applicants are invited. Perform well on both the HSRT and the proctored essays to maximize your selection score.
HSRT testing at Columbia Gorge Community College
- Location: Columbia Gorge Community College campus (The Dalles, OR)
- Fee: Contact program (non-refundable)
- Format: 35 multiple-choice questions, ~50 minutes time limit. Unanswered questions scored as incorrect. You can navigate forward and backward during the exam.
- How to register: HSRT testing is scheduled for April 15–16, 2026 as part of Phase II. Testing is by invitation only — you must be selected from Phase I to participate. Proctored essays are administered during the same Phase II window.
Retake policy
Contact CGCC nursing admissions for retake policy.
Eligibility requirements
Residency: Contact program for residency requirements.
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 Columbia Gorge Community College, the HSRT-AD consists of 35 questions with a ~50 minutes time limit.
Oregon nursing programs use the HSRT to emphasize clinical reasoning ability over content memorization. The HSRT is designed to assess whether applicants can reason through novel problems — the core skill of clinical practice.
How to prepare for the HSRT at Columbia Gorge 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 (~50 minutes time limit at Columbia Gorge 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 Columbia Gorge Community College tests.
Prep timeline for Columbia Gorge Community College's Fall 2026 application deadline
With the deadline on Contact program for Phase I deadline, 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 Columbia Gorge Community College
HSRT testing is scheduled for April 15–16, 2026 as part of Phase II. Testing is by invitation only — you must be selected from Phase I to participate. Proctored essays are administered during the same Phase II window.
Contact: www.cgcc.edu/nursing