How Riverland Community College uses the HSRT in admissions
Riverland Community College requires the HSRT for its nursing tracks and Radiography program. The RN (ADN) track requires a cut score of 75 or higher; the LPN track requires 70 or higher. Admission is points-based: the HSRT score divided by 10 is added to the prerequisite course GPA (minimum 2.75) to rank applicants. The exam is 35 questions in 50 minutes and costs $45, taken in person at a Riverland campus; the online version and outside scores are not accepted.
The RN cut score is 75 and the LPN cut score is 70; these are gates. Because admission is ranked by HSRT points plus GPA, aim well above the cut to improve your position.
HSRT testing at Riverland Community College
- Location: Riverland campus only (Austin / Albert Lea, MN); online version not accepted
- Fee: $45 (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.
Retake policy
Scores are valid one year. Up to two attempts before the application deadline, with at least 14 days between attempts.
About the Riverland Community College nursing program
Riverland Community College in Austin, Minnesota requires the HSRT for its RN (ADN), LPN, and Radiography programs. Unlike many HSRT schools, Riverland publishes hard cut scores: 75 for the RN track and 70 for the LPN track. Admission is strictly points-based, where the HSRT score divided by 10 is added to the prerequisite GPA, so every point above the cut directly improves ranking. The exam must be taken in person at a Riverland campus; the online version and scores from other institutions are not accepted, and scores are valid for one year.
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 Riverland Community College, the HSRT-AD consists of 35 questions with a 50 minutes time limit.
Minnesota allied health programs use the HSRT because adn (rn) / lpn / radiography 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 Riverland 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 Riverland Community College)
- Reviewing every wrong answer by skill area, not just overall score
StudyBuddy is the only dedicated HSRT prep platform, 1,700+ practice questions across 10 skill assessments, 64 interactive lessons, and 10 timed practice exams, all built for the specific format and skill areas that Riverland Community College tests.
Registration at Riverland Community College
Registration for the HSRT is coordinated through Riverland Community 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.
