How Utah Valley University uses the HSRT in admissions
Utah Valley University ranks Dental Hygiene applicants on three criteria: prerequisite course grades, cumulative GPA, and HSRT score. The top 24 applicants are admitted. There is no published minimum HSRT score.
No published minimum or average. Score as high as possible since ranking is competitive against the full applicant pool.
HSRT testing at Utah Valley University
- Location: UVU Testing Services, or any convenient proctored testing center.
- Fee: Contact UVU Testing Services for the current fee. (non-refundable)
- Format: 38 multiple-choice questions, 55 minutes time limit. Unanswered questions scored as incorrect. You can navigate forward and backward during the exam.
Retake policy
No limit on attempts, but the HSRT must be completed between September 1 and January 30 of the application year; you must retake it if you reapply in a later year.
About Utah Valley University's Dental Hygiene program
Utah Valley University in Orem is one of two confirmed Utah Dental Hygiene programs using the HSRT. Applications are reviewed by number only; the HSRT must be completed in the September to January window before the February 1 deadline.
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). Utah Valley University lists its HSRT as 38 questions with a 55 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 Utah Valley University admissions which form and time limit you will sit.
Utah allied health programs use the HSRT because dental hygiene 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 Utah Valley University
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 (55 minutes time limit at Utah Valley University)
- 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 Utah Valley University uses the HSRT-AD, the same course applies, and the pace per question is about the same (about 86 to 87 seconds).
Registration at Utah Valley University
Registration for the HSRT is coordinated through Utah Valley University'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.
