How M State uses the HSRT in admissions
M State uses point-based selection. Applicants earn points from prerequisite GPA, course completion, and optional "beneficial admission criteria." All eligible applicants are ranked by total points. In the event of a tie, the HSRT-AD overall score breaks the tie. If still tied, the Analysis sub-score is used, then Inference.
The minimum is 60% for most programs (70% for Bridge, 73% for Sonography). But since HSRT is the tie-breaker, scoring well above the minimum is critical when the applicant pool exceeds seats. Focus on Analysis — it breaks the first tie.
HSRT testing at M State
- Location: M State campuses only (Fergus Falls, Wadena, Detroit Lakes, Moorhead)
- Fee: $50 (no refunds or reschedules) (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: Register and pre-pay 48 hours in advance via E-services. No remote testing. For accommodations, contact arteam@minnesota.edu at least 7 business days before test date.
Retake policy
Up to 2 attempts per application cycle. Must wait 14 calendar days between attempts. Scores expire 1 year after test date and must be valid at application deadline. Must test at an M State campus.
About M State's ADN / LPN / Sonography / Med Lab program
M State administers the HSRT-AD across its Fergus Falls, Wadena, Detroit Lakes, and Moorhead campuses and uses it inside a point-based selection model: prerequisite GPA and course completion earn the points, and the HSRT-AD overall score breaks ties between applicants (the Analysis sub-score breaks the next tie, then Inference). A strong score matters most in cycles when applicants outnumber seats. M State's only official preparation is a single free sample quiz, and it is released only to students who have already been admitted, so applicants still working toward a seat cannot access it; Insight Assessment's own materials are sold separately. If you are preparing before you have a seat, you need practice that is actually available to you now: StudyBuddy is designed to build the reasoning skills publicly described for the HSRT, including all six skills the HSRT-AD reports, using original practice questions that do not reproduce the proprietary exam. Its timed mock exams use the Standard HSRT format (38 questions in 55 minutes), which is about the same pace per question as the 35-question, 50-minute HSRT-AD that M State uses.
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). M State lists its HSRT as 35 questions with a 50 minutes time limit. 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 M State admissions which form and time limit you will sit.
Minnesota allied health programs use the HSRT because adn / lpn / sonography / med lab requires strong clinical decision-making ability. 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 M State
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 (50 minutes time limit at M State)
- 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 M State 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 M State's Fall 2027 cycle — check program site
With the deadline on Fall 2026 rounds closed. Fall 2027 cycle deadlines not yet published — check minnesota.edu/hsrt-exam for updates., 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 M State
Register and pre-pay 48 hours in advance via E-services. No remote testing. For accommodations, contact arteam@minnesota.edu at least 7 business days before test date.
Contact: minnesota.edu/hsrt-exam
