Everything HPAT and Medicine 2013

0mega · 12-09-2012 11:46pm

standup wrote: »

I'm doing it on the 3rd and i'm actually so scared for it! do you have any tips on how to maximize timing? i have the book 600 UKCAT questions and it's really good. i've tried doing the questions in the advised time and it's just not working for me! should i first, kind of, get familiar with the type of questions first and then do the whole timing thing? or should keep the strict timing all the time?

I'm not doing them in the timing, the UKCAT is almost impossible to finish with that timing, its ridiculously challenging. My approach is going to be try and answer 80% of the questions correctly and then guess the final 20% rather than rushing through the entire paper and maybe only getting 40-50% of the questions right.

Sligo1 · 13-09-2012 1:51pm

Hey,

Is anyone interested in doing the MEDEN**Y HPAT prep course? Am looking for someone who wants to join as part of a group in Dublin. Apparently if 2 or more apply for the course together you pay 385 Euro instead of 625 Euro. PM me if you're interested. For me, 625 Euro seems a lot of money to pay when you can get it for 385!

Thanks

UnholyGregor · 14-09-2012 11:49am

hey sligo id definately be up for the group entry to the ******** course. pm me!!

0mega · 15-09-2012 8:08pm

Does anyone know what type of score you'll need to be getting in the UKCAT to be called for an interview in Queens?

UnholyGregor · 16-09-2012 9:09am

anybody interested in signing up for the meden**y prep course pm me, looking for the 50% group discount atm, you just need another person's name and phone number, and they put your one down, thats it and poof! 300 euro off

little sis... · 16-09-2012 10:42am

Really feel like giving up on my life long dream of doing medicine.... all because of this h-pat

People say you get better with practice, I've proved them all wrong because I've gotten worse :mad:
What really bothers me is that if doctors were told they must sit the h-pat now, I guarantee that more than half would not do great.
I wish I was sitting the leaving cert a few years ago where you only needed a good LC to get medicine, now theres people getting less than 500 in their LC yet are doing medicine:eek:

So long medicine, so long dreams

QueenOfLeon · 16-09-2012 10:49am

little sis... wrote: »

now theres people getting less than 500 in their LC yet are doing medicine:eek:

There aren't really, 500 + an exceptional HPAT of 230 wouldn't have gotten in this year. Won't go into the same argument again that people with LC's in the low 500's can still be well capable of studying medicine, just pointing it out that getting 600 doesn't necessarily make you any better.

Keep practicing the HPAT questions, and be aware that sample questions and tests aren't always realistic. I have no personal experience of any sample questions other than the official HPAT booklet (which is the closest you will get to proper questions) but results given to you by any other agency can't be all that reliable as the marking scheme of the HPAT has never been released.

little sis... · 16-09-2012 11:17am

QueenOfLeon wrote: »

There aren't really, 500 + an exceptional HPAT of 230 wouldn't have gotten in this year. Won't go into the same argument again that people with LC's in the low 500's can still be well capable of studying medicine, just pointing it out that getting 600 doesn't necessarily make you any better.

Keep practicing the HPAT questions, and be aware that sample questions and tests aren't always realistic. I have no personal experience of any sample questions other than the official HPAT booklet (which is the closest you will get to proper questions) but results given to you by any other agency can't be all that reliable as the marking scheme of the HPAT has never been released.

Yes you're right but some people are just naturally good at the h-pat sort of questions, which is a disadvantage for the rest of us who are not as good, but you can't really be naturally good at business (for example) and know definitions off by heart already without having to study them.

My point is there are some people who worked SO hard to get a good LC AND a good h-pat and some people just happened to do great in the h-pat (without necessarily having worked hard for it) and getting mid 500's in the LC.....
Life's not fair:(

0mega · 16-09-2012 11:37am

I did a prep exam yesterday and I was thoroughly disappointed with my results..

25/48 = Section 1
38/44 = Section 2
20/42 = Section 3

I'm so much better at Section 2 than the others, Section 3 in particular I find my mind just blanks when I'm looking at all these shapes and patterns. I wouldn't have a hope of getting into medicine with these kinda of scores, right?

QueenOfLeon · 16-09-2012 11:49am

0mega wrote: »

I did a prep exam yesterday and I was thoroughly disappointed with my results..

25/48 = Section 1
38/44 = Section 2
20/42 = Section 3

I'm so much better at Section 2 than the others, Section 3 in particular I find my mind just blanks when I'm looking at all these shapes and patterns. I wouldn't have a hope of getting into medicine with these kinda of scores, right?

Just so you're aware, the HPAT is not a combination of your percentages for each section (for example, for this test you wouldn't be getting 52+86+48=186 out of 300). The marking scheme has never been released but the assumption is that questions are weighted separately depending on how many answered that question correctly. For example, if you answered a question correct that a huge percentage also answered correctly, this would be worth very little. However, if you were one of only a few who answered a question correct this might be worth a lot more.

So for those reasons its impossible to say if those scores would be enough. For all we know, they could be worth 100 or 200. Look back at the ones you got wrong and see exactly what you did wrong. Look up any words you didn't understand. One of the most important things is to get yourself used to proper timing - try to do every test in exam conditions, with the proper timing, and be aware of the exact rules regarding timing etc.

Slow Show · 16-09-2012 1:13pm

0mega wrote: »

I did a prep exam yesterday and I was thoroughly disappointed with my results..

25/48 = Section 1
38/44 = Section 2
20/42 = Section 3

I'm so much better at Section 2 than the others, Section 3 in particular I find my mind just blanks when I'm looking at all these shapes and patterns. I wouldn't have a hope of getting into medicine with these kinda of scores, right?

Sup me, sucks doesn't it?

I seem to finish Section 2 with looooads of time to spare and getting very few wrong but the other two...ugh. If there was no such thing as time constraints, I think Section 1 would be fine, I can do the vast majority of the questions, I just don't have the time to do them all (or even half) well. I think for me it's going to be a case of devising a decent strategy. As for S3, I hate it. :pac: My only consolation is that I'm not as awful at it as I was a few weeks ago, so that's something I guess, long way to go until March I guess.

But yeah, trying to remain positive about it all. It'd be worse if I was awful at everything, at least I have Section 2 to not stress out about! :pac: And I'm just gonna keep ticking away at 1 and 3, at the moment I have as good a chance of any as achieving 180 (oh God if I ended up getting over 200 I actually think I'd bawl for about three hours with delight), but yeah, just gotta chill and keep going I guess.

/personal pep talk

Slow Show · 16-09-2012 1:18pm

Sorry for the double post but...

http://www.hpat-ireland.acer.edu.au/news/currency-of-results1

Eh? That's news.

JDOC1996 · 16-09-2012 2:52pm

Slow Show wrote: »

Sorry for the double post but...

http://www.hpat-ireland.acer.edu.au/news/currency-of-results1

Eh? That's news.

What does this mean? It's quite vague...

QueenOfLeon · 16-09-2012 3:20pm

JDOC1996 wrote: »

What does this mean? It's quite vague...

Afaik, at the minute the HPAT results last for 2 years. This might mean that they are considering having results only last 1 year, or for a longer period of time. I'd be assuming the former.

Glee_GG · 16-09-2012 6:58pm

little sis... wrote: »

Yes you're right but some people are just naturally good at the h-pat sort of questions, which is a disadvantage for the rest of us who are not as good

Yes but you could apply the same logic to the other side of the argument that people who aren't good at rote learning are at a disadvantage in the leaving cert to those who are.

At the end of the day, this is the system that we're currently stuck with and while it mightn't be the best system or suit everyone, its just what we've got to deal with

little sis... · 16-09-2012 7:07pm

Glee_GG wrote: »

Yes but you could apply the same logic to the other side of the argument that people who aren't good at rote learning are at a disadvantage in the leaving cert to those who are.

At the end of the day, this is the system that we're currently stuck with and while it mightn't be the best system or suit everyone, its just what we've got to deal with

Yeh thats true:rolleyes:

Maybe medicine is just not for me then....... It's just so upsetting to have something you've always wanted to just not be an option any more

0mega · 16-09-2012 7:30pm

little sis... wrote: »

Yeh thats true:rolleyes:

Maybe medicine is just not for me then....... It's just so upsetting to have something you've always wanted to just not be an option any more

Well you have no chance if you give up! Keep trying I'd say. Better to fail and say you did your best than looking back with regrets thinking you should've tried (if you'll excuse the cliché philosophy moment).

TehFionnster · 16-09-2012 7:50pm

Just tried my first ever section of a HPAT paper, got 28/44. I don't know what to make of that result, looking back I think I was reading too fast and I missed a good few small words, also some questions I just had no idea how to tackle. What's the score like? Below average? Average?

0mega · 16-09-2012 8:01pm

TehFionnster wrote: »

Just tried my first ever section of a HPAT paper, got 28/44. I don't know what to make of that result, looking back I think I was reading too fast and I missed a good few small words, also some questions I just had no idea how to tackle. What's the score like? Below average? Average?

I'd say that's average to borderline above average.

TehFionnster · 16-09-2012 8:16pm

0mega wrote: »

I'd say that's average to borderline above average.

WOOHOO! :pac: Well, that's good news. I'm gonna do the independent academy's HPAT prep course, I think. It's an awfully daunting exam, if I'm honest.

Slow Show · 16-09-2012 8:19pm

little sis... wrote: »

Yeh thats true:rolleyes:

Maybe medicine is just not for me then....... It's just so upsetting to have something you've always wanted to just not be an option any more

Don't give up. You're in 5th year, right? You have loads of time to improve. If it's what you want to do, you do whatever you can to make it happen and don't let anyone or anything tell you that you can't. I'm at the point of almost laughing at how diabolical I am at Section 3 but I just have to hope that I'll improve by March and it'll all work out. And if it doesn't, so be it. There are more ways than one to achieve your dream, whatever it is. There are more medical schools than the five (six if you count UL) in Ireland, and different ways of entry. There are other ways to get into medicine in Ireland, even if the path is slightly longer and more winding. It's easy to see one, clear path but there's loads of others, you just have to look a bit harder for them. It'll work out, but it won't if you don't try.

Don't stress, don't feel disheartened, it'll all work out for the best in the end, really!

CookieMonster.x · 16-09-2012 8:56pm

I feel awful, my ukcat is in 2 weeks and I haven't done anything for it at all

I bought a book but bring totally honest I haven't had time to practice. I start my homework at about 5.15 and some nights I finish at 10.30 or 11 and I am just too tired to even think about it then! I feel awful thinking that I will do badly and throw away my chances of medicine if it is going to be like this for the Hpat. I haven't even done one practice test

and for the pictures for the ukcat I have no idea what the answer is! Why does everything have to be so stressful

laurenl123 · 16-09-2012 9:02pm

Hey I really want to do med but i'm in lc now and i'm not sure if it's too late to start studying hard for both the lc and the hpat?? any advice? Also any general advice on what to do about the hpat like get a prep course or not. Thanks:)

little sis... · 16-09-2012 9:21pm

Slow Show wrote: »

Don't give up. You're in 5th year, right? You have loads of time to improve. If it's what you want to do, you do whatever you can to make it happen and don't let anyone or anything tell you that you can't. I'm at the point of almost laughing at how diabolical I am at Section 3 but I just have to hope that I'll improve by March and it'll all work out. And if it doesn't, so be it. There are more ways than one to achieve your dream, whatever it is. There are more medical schools than the five (six if you count UL) in Ireland, and different ways of entry. There are other ways to get into medicine in Ireland, even if the path is slightly longer and more winding. It's easy to see one, clear path but there's loads of others, you just have to look a bit harder for them. It'll work out, but it won't if you don't try. Don't stress, don't feel disheartened, it'll all work out for the best in the end, really!

Thank you, that's some really uplifting advice

I can always count on a nice person on boards to cheer me up

0mega · 16-09-2012 10:15pm

CookieMonster.x wrote: »

I feel awful, my ukcat is in 2 weeks and I haven't done anything for it at all I bought a book but bring totally honest I haven't had time to practice. I start my homework at about 5.15 and some nights I finish at 10.30 or 11 and I am just too tired to even think about it then! I feel awful thinking that I will do badly and throw away my chances of medicine if it is going to be like this for the Hpat. I haven't even done one practice test and for the pictures for the ukcat I have no idea what the answer is! Why does everything have to be so stressful

I'm just going to be totally honest and say make time. Getting into medicine > doing homework (which is often pointless assignments anyway).

2 hours a night for the next two weeks and at the very least you'll feel more confident going into the exam. I know it may sound like I've got a bad attitude, but if you find that some pieces of homework aren't important or aren't likely to be checked by the teacher, perhaps put them aside for the next two weeks. You have to prioritise.

CookieMonster.x · 17-09-2012 5:41pm

0mega wrote: »

CookieMonster.x wrote: »

I feel awful, my ukcat is in 2 weeks and I haven't done anything for it at all I bought a book but bring totally honest I haven't had time to practice. I start my homework at about 5.15 and some nights I finish at 10.30 or 11 and I am just too tired to even think about it then! I feel awful thinking that I will do badly and throw away my chances of medicine if it is going to be like this for the Hpat. I haven't even done one practice test and for the pictures for the ukcat I have no idea what the answer is! Why does everything have to be so stressful

I'm just going to be totally honest and say make time. Getting into medicine > doing homework (which is often pointless assignments anyway).

2 hours a night for the next two weeks and at the very least you'll feel more confident going into the exam. I know it may sound like I've got a bad attitude, but if you find that some pieces of homework aren't important or aren't likely to be checked by the teacher, perhaps put them aside for the next two weeks. You have to prioritise.

I've done that

I know it's more important but nearly every teacher checks homework but I will probably leave a good amount out or the next few weeks.
How has everyone else been getting on with it? Those pictures are actually awful!

Slow Show · 17-09-2012 8:30pm

Lolz it must seem like all I ever do is refresh the HPAT website but if anyone was curious about the whole practise paper debacle...

http://hpat-ireland.acer.edu.au/prepare/practice-material/

Meh, I was hoping for something more dramatic like the complete abolishment of Section 3. :pac:

TehFionnster · 17-09-2012 9:00pm

Slow Show wrote: »

Lolz it must seem like all I ever do is refresh the HPAT website but if anyone was curious about the whole practise paper debacle...

http://hpat-ireland.acer.edu.au/prepare/practice-material/

Meh, I was hoping for something more dramatic like the complete abolishment of Section 3. :pac:

Or practice paper 3 :pac: I was hoping it might be a nice light green.

TehFionnster · 17-09-2012 9:03pm

Sorry, for the double post. But try the BMAT too no? Seems a lot easier time-wise. But you'd definitely have to have done the three sciences to have a good chance at it. You'd have to go to Oxford or Cambridge or a few London colleges though.

0mega · 17-09-2012 10:43pm

CookieMonster.x wrote: »

I've done that I know it's more important but nearly every teacher checks homework but I will probably leave a good amount out or the next few weeks.
How has everyone else been getting on with it? Those pictures are actually awful!

It's definitely more difficult than the HPAT.. particularly the abstract reasoning. I find it hard getting quantative reasoning done in the time too. The verbal reasoning is mostly okay and I haven't looked at decision analysis too much, it just looks odd to me..

Hermione Granger · 18-09-2012 11:50am

Hi guys!

Can some one tell me what the story is with the new practise e tests are they just the same as the hard copy booklets or is there an actual change in the format of the hpat ???

Also what is up with this currency of results stuff? Only valid for one year or something else crazy. On my first reading I thought it might mean that the HPAT might be worth less or more ... Anyone agree or disagree?

And last but not least was anyone at that HPAT information evening in UCC last night ? Was it any good? Night head to the Galway one tonight but I dont know whether its worth my while :P

lolocheese · 18-09-2012 10:27pm

I'm planning on sitting the hpat in 2013 do I want to do a course before christmas. Does anyone know what the best course is? Which is better out of the med- entry, leeson street and the independent academy etc?

Thanks!

mayo4sam12 · 18-09-2012 11:11pm

My HPAT result doesn't tell the colleges how hard I would work if I got into medicine. Absolute joke!

ShatterResistant · 18-09-2012 11:45pm

lolocheese wrote: »

I'm planning on sitting the hpat in 2013 do I want to do a course before christmas. Does anyone know what the best course is? Which is better out of the med- entry, leeson street and the independent academy etc?

Thanks!

General consensus from what I hear is med- entry, but don't pay the full price, get the group deal with a fellow boardsie, if you don't know anyone else willing to do it.

CookieMonster.x · 19-09-2012 9:24pm

I did the practice test for the ukcat on the Internet today. I did really badly and I feel so disheartened. I only got about half of the questions done in 3 sections and even then I didn't do very well. I obviously need to work on my timing but I really didn't expect to do as badly. I feel as if I have no chance

I'm good at maths and problem solving yet quantitative reasoning was my worst. Also I just don't know what's going on in the pictures and when I'm nervous or stressed i panic and my mind goes blank. Does anyone have any advice?

0mega · 19-09-2012 10:23pm

CookieMonster.x wrote: »

I did the practice test for the ukcat on the Internet today. I did really badly and I feel so disheartened. I only got about half of the questions done in 3 sections and even then I didn't do very well. I obviously need to work on my timing but I really didn't expect to do as badly. I feel as if I have no chance I'm good at maths and problem solving yet quantitative reasoning was my worst. Also I just don't know what's going on in the pictures and when I'm nervous or stressed i panic and my mind goes blank. Does anyone have any advice?

Don't stress about the time and just try get as many correct as you can.

If you run out of time and need to guess the rest in the section, always pick one option and one option only. Statistically you've got more of a chance being right always picking A, than picking A, then D, then C, etc.

robert12345 · 20-09-2012 5:11pm

Hey, does anyone know if you can repeat a subject another year if it's needed to get into a medicine course. I do ordinary Irish and 7 higher level subjects. If I get enough points in both HPAT and LC but I fail Irish can I just repeat Irish the next year to get into the medicine course.

I've seen all the medicine colleges repeat the same requirements needed 'In the same sitting of your Leaving Cert'. I don't know what to make of it!

Sunny!! · 20-09-2012 5:25pm

robert12345 wrote: »

Hey, does anyone know if you can repeat a subject another year if it's needed to get into a medicine course. I do ordinary Irish and 7 higher level subjects. If I get enough points in both HPAT and LC but I fail Irish can I just repeat Irish the next year to get into the medicine course.

I've seen all the medicine colleges repeat the same requirements needed 'In the same sitting of your Leaving Cert'. I don't know what to make of it!

you cant

Edenhart · 20-09-2012 7:42pm

Hi I would also like to join a group for a discounted hpat course - thinking of the 3/11 one in Dublin, Griffith College thank you

Edenhart · 20-09-2012 7:48pm

Nwaezy wrote: »

Just wondering if anyone is hoping to do med entry this yr and would like someone to go in together as a group. could u pls let me know.

Yes I am interested - can you pm me please?

little sis... · 21-09-2012 10:18pm

http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0921/hpat-medicine.html

Hope this changes things for the better

GoldenPoppy · 22-09-2012 3:28pm

Hi, does anyone know what qualifies as good UKCAT points for undergraduate medicine?

0mega · 22-09-2012 3:45pm

GoldenPoppy wrote: »

Hi, does anyone know what qualifies as good UKCAT points for undergraduate medicine?

I think 600+ is considered good.

spalpinfanach · 22-09-2012 5:28pm

seriously struggling with section one... hopefully it will all light up after i do the preparation course

little sis... · 22-09-2012 7:24pm

spalpinfanach wrote: »

seriously struggling with section one... hopefully it will all light up after i do the preparation course

same, section 1 is by far my worst.....:(

GoldenPoppy · 22-09-2012 7:38pm

Anybody know of any good HPAT preparation websites?

TehFionnster · 23-09-2012 12:42pm

spalpinfanach wrote: »

seriously struggling with section one... hopefully it will all light up after i do the preparation course

Section 3 is the worst. I would sooner do one hundred section ones than even one section 3.

CookieMonster.x · 23-09-2012 12:51pm

GoldenPoppy wrote: »

Hi, does anyone know what qualifies as good UKCAT points for undergraduate medicine?

600 or aroud that is average. Each college uses the scores in different ways though, some don't place too much emphasis on the ukcat while others have a high cut off mark.

0mega · 23-09-2012 1:53pm

CookieMonster.x wrote: »

600 or aroud that is average. Each college uses the scores in different ways though, some don't place too much emphasis on the ukcat while others have a high cut off mark.

Does anyone know what it is for Queens? I wanted to ask that at Higher Options, but they had no stall.

CookieMonster.x · 23-09-2012 4:03pm

0mega wrote: »

CookieMonster.x wrote: »

600 or aroud that is average. Each college uses the scores in different ways though, some don't place too much emphasis on the ukcat while others have a high cut off mark.

Does anyone know what it is for Queens? I wanted to ask that at Higher Options, but they had no stall.

They give 4 points for every A up to 9 As for JC results and then add on points for the ukcat result. You can get a maximum of 6 marks for ukcat, it's marked from 0-6. I think it's on the Queen's website under something specific for medicine admissions. If I am on the laptop an I find it I'll post it here

*Everything HPAT and Medicine 2013*

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Everything HPAT and Medicine 2013