How Do I Prepare for the HSRT Exam in 2026?
The HSRT is a 33–35 question critical thinking exam required by nursing and allied health programs in Minnesota, Texas, New Jersey, and Oregon. Unlike the TEAS or HESI, it tests reasoning ability — not medical knowledge. StudyBuddy is the only platform with dedicated HSRT preparation.
What's included
- 460+ Practice questions
- 64 Interactive lessons
- 10 Full mock exams
- 17 Video lectures
- AI tutor + personalized study plan
460+
Practice Questions
All 6 reasoning domains
38
Structured Lessons
Interactive textbook
10
Full Mock Exams
33–35 questions each
17
Video Lectures
Doctoral faculty
What is the HSRT?
The Health Sciences Reasoning Test (HSRT) is a timed, multiple-choice assessment developed by Insight Assessment. It measures six critical thinking skills — Analysis, Inference, Evaluation, Induction, Deduction, and Numeracy — through clinical and professional scenarios. No prior medical knowledge is required. All information needed is provided within each question. Most programs require scores of 65–74%, and most students need 4–6 weeks to prepare effectively.
Get 5 free HSRT practice questions — the only ones available anywhere
One question per skill area (Analysis, Inference, Evaluation, Induction, Deduction) with full explanations. Faculty-developed.
HSRT Resource Hub
Everything you need for the HSRT
Which programs require HSRT, score minimums by state
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Minimum scores by school, what counts as competitive
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64 lessons, 460+ questions, 10 mock exams
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How StudyBuddy compares to free resources
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Format, skills tested, who requires it — complete guide
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5 real HSRT questions with full explanations
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Structured prep plan covering all five skill areas
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Which exam does your program require?
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Every MN nursing program requiring HSRT with minimums
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TX respiratory care, dental hygiene, OTA programs
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How 19 programs use the HSRT differently in admissions
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What you actually need at each school — not just the floor
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Attempts, waiting periods, and score validity by school
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What the HSRT tests
Six critical thinking domains
Every HSRT question maps to one of these six skills. StudyBuddy tracks your performance in each domain and routes more practice to your weak areas.
Analysis
Break down clinical scenarios to identify decision-critical elements and underlying assumptions.
Inference
Draw warranted conclusions from evidence — neither too strong nor too weak.
Evaluation
Assess the credibility of sources and the logical strength of arguments.
Induction
Make reasoned judgments in ambiguous, uncertain, or risky situations.
Deduction
Apply formal logic to reach certain conclusions from given premises.
Numeracy
Interpret data, statistics, and quantitative reasoning in clinical contexts.
Exam comparison
HSRT vs. TEAS vs. HESI
Not sure which exam your program requires? Check your state below.
| Feature | HSRT | TEAS 7 | HESI A2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | Critical thinking only | Science, math, reading, English | Science, math, reading, English |
| Questions | 33–35 | 170 | ~300 |
| Time | Untimed (45–90 min) | 209 minutes | ~5.25 hours |
| Science knowledge needed? | No | Yes | Yes |
| Who uses it | MN nursing; TX allied health | Most US nursing programs | Many BSN/ADN programs |
| StudyBuddy coverage | ✅ Only dedicated platform | ✅ Full course | ✅ Full course |
Not sure which exam your program requires? Check your state →
“StudyBuddy is the only platform built specifically for the HSRT’s critical thinking format — not repurposed TEAS content, not generic logic drills.”
Verified 2026
Schools that require the HSRT
Ready to start your HSRT prep?
460+ practice questions, 10 full-length timed mock exams, AI tutor, and video lectures — built specifically for the HSRT-AD.
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See exactly what students experience
Click through the reader, flashcards, AI tutor, practice questions, and mock exams — exactly as your students will see them.
Get 5 free HSRT practice questions — the only ones available anywhere
One question per skill area (Analysis, Inference, Evaluation, Induction, Deduction) with full explanations. Faculty-developed.
Frequently asked questions
What is the HSRT exam?
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The Health Sciences Reasoning Test (HSRT) is a 33–35 question, untimed multiple-choice exam that measures critical thinking and logical reasoning. It is required for admission to nursing and allied health programs primarily in Minnesota, Texas, New Jersey, and Oregon. Unlike the TEAS or HESI, no medical knowledge is tested — all needed information is in the question.
Which schools require the HSRT?
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Minnesota has 7 nursing programs requiring HSRT: Anoka-Ramsey CC (min. 74%), M State (min. 60–73%), Northwest Technical College (min. 70%), Central Lakes College (min. 65–70%), South Central College (min. 70–74%), Century College, and RCTC. Texas allied health programs at Lone Star College, HCC Coleman, and Palo Alto College also require it. See the full list at studybuddy.live/exams/hsrt/schools.
What is a good HSRT score?
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For Minnesota nursing programs, 70–74% is competitive. Anoka-Ramsey requires a minimum of 74%. For Texas programs, there is no published minimum — higher always improves your ranking. A score above 70% puts you in a strong position at most programs.
Is the HSRT harder than the TEAS?
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Most students find HSRT harder because reasoning skills cannot be memorized — they take weeks to develop. TEAS tests facts you can study; HSRT tests how you think.
Can I retake the HSRT?
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Yes. Most programs allow retakes with a 14-day waiting period, up to 2 retakes per admission cycle. HSRT scores are typically valid for 1–2 years. Check your specific program for exact policy.
How long should I study for the HSRT?
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Most students need 4–6 weeks. Because HSRT tests reasoning rather than content, effective prep requires deliberate practice with feedback — not passive review.
Dig deeper into the HSRT
Every HSRT-requiring state works differently. Here's what students in each market actually face — score thresholds, application weighting, and how competitive your target program really is.
Practice
A free 33-question HSRT practice test — what to expect before you pay for prep
Sample questions with full answer explanations so you can see the exam's reasoning format before committing to a course.
Plan
How to prepare for the HSRT — a 4-week study plan
Week-by-week roadmap built around the 6 reasoning skills the HSRT tests, with daily practice targets.
Study Guide
The HSRT tests 6 distinct critical thinking domains — here's each one
Analysis, Inference, Evaluation, Induction, Deduction, and Numeracy. What each measures and how to practice it.
Comparison
HSRT vs TEAS — why they're completely different exams
TEAS prep won't help you on the HSRT. Here's why they test different skills and what that means for your study approach.
Minnesota
Minnesota HSRT score requirements by program (2026)
Every confirmed MN nursing program requiring HSRT — published minimums and what competitive actually looks like.
Texas
Texas allied health programs that require the HSRT
Respiratory therapy, dental hygiene, and OTA programs across Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio that use HSRT in selection.
New Jersey
New Jersey HSRT nursing programs
RCSJ is the only confirmed HSRT school in NJ. How their selection process works across nursing, LPN-RN bridge, and PTA.
Oregon
Oregon HSRT nursing programs — COCC, PCC, Clatsop, Columbia Gorge
Most OR programs use HSRT as a Phase II screen after an initial ranking. Here's how each one weighs it.
Scoring
HSRT score requirements by program (all 20+ schools)
Consolidated table of published minimums, weighting models, and competitive score targets for every HSRT-requiring institution.