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. It measures five critical thinking skills: analysis, inference, evaluation, inductive reasoning, and deductive reasoning. At Utah Valley University, the HSRT consists of 38 questions with a 55 minutes time limit.
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 six 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 (55 minutes time limit at Utah Valley University)
- Reviewing every wrong answer by skill area, not just overall score
StudyBuddy is the only dedicated HSRT prep platform, 1,000+ practice questions across 10 skill assessments, 64 interactive lessons, and 10 timed practice exams, all built for the specific format and skill areas that Utah Valley University tests.
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.
