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partyatmygaff · 24-08-2011, 20:52

I may be possibly repeating the HPAT next year, so i'm checking in I suppose.

As an aside, i'm also planning on running another one of my surveys. Except this time it will revolve around the HPAT, repeats and prep courses. What i'm looking to do is to establish whether or not there is a link between repeating the HPAT / taking a preparation course and higher scores. Also, i'd hope to establish which section is improved the most by repeating / taking a preparation course.

Ideally, people will enter the overall scores they achieved in 2009, 2010, 2011 (Leaving blank where not applicable) and the section scores for the three years (Again leaving leaving blank where not applicable) as well whether or not they repeated/took a prep course.

There is a problem however. The spreadsheet work that would be required to generate all of this data will be even more elaborate and time consuming than my previous two surveys. That's why I want to ask first whether or not people think this is a worthwhile idea and whether or not people will participate.

Laika_ · 24-08-2011, 21:51

Yep, I think this is a v. good idea, partyatmygaff. I went from 88th to 96th %ile this year after a vast amount of practice and the infamous prep course (twice). My friends also improved- out of five of us, four did better.

jumpguy · 24-08-2011, 22:08

Good idea imo, Gaffster, although if you just asked people to fill in the following fields:

Did you undertake a HPAT prep course? Y/N
Did you find it helpful? Y/N
How many points did you score in the HPAT in 2009? (If done)
2010? (If done)
2011? (If done)

Would it be an easier spreadsheet to design?

partyatmygaff · 24-08-2011, 22:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by jumpguy

Good idea imo, Gaffster, although if you just asked people to fill in the following fields:

Did you undertake a HPAT prep course? Y/N
Did you find it helpful? Y/N
How many points did you score in the HPAT in 2009? (If done)
2010? (If done)
2011? (If done)

Would it be an easier spreadsheet to design?

Not really that much easier no. The algorithm for generating the data of the overall scores can be reused for the section scores.

I'd say what i'll do is have the following questions

Did you undertake a HPAT preparation course?
Were you ultimately successful in getting an offer for undergraduate medicine in Ireland?

S1 2009
S2 2009
S3 2009

S1 2010
S2 2010
S3 2011

S1 2011
S2 2011
S3 2011

(With "If applicable" at the end of each question)
Comments, leave blank if no comment.

The response looks good enough to get started. No ETA on when it will be ready though.

Allie79 · 24-08-2011, 22:33

Just to give you my two cents worth, imho someone has to show you how to do section three - it's not easy to figure out the tricks on your own, you have to have decent vocab/ ability to be able to score well in section one, section two isn't something that can really be taught - your personality and life experience will come through unless you find some way to learn the types of responses they're after. I'm a mature student and I did a similar test when I was 18 and scored very badly in this section and this time round it was my best mark so things change. After that I think it's purely down to how quickly you can answer the questions, everyone who would be aiming for med can answer them - given enough time. If that is true, then it follows that if you have the ability to answer the questions, you'll score highly if you can answer them quickly and manage your time well- hence practising the types of questions can only help improve your score which is why repeat students and those who are doing prep courses are improving/ scoring well. I did a one day prep course which also gave me a practise test to do at home. I did it and the two booklets from ACER in the two days before and on the day I answered all questions in all sections excepting the last two questions in section 3 which I ran out of time for and had to guess. It was the lowest of my three marks and think if I'd done more prep it would have been better.
I'm rambling but I guess my overall point is that I think you definitely can improve your score by a. knowing how to approach section three and b. getting quicker at answering the types of questions in all three sections and managing the time you've got.

Good luck with the spreadsheet partyatmygaff. It'll be interesting to see what you find!

KizzyMonster · 24-08-2011, 22:59

Anyone know where I can get a few sample questions without paying for them?
Just as a taster like...

Allie79 · 24-08-2011, 23:10

If you google UMAT sample questions there are a few Australian companies that offer free downloads - it's practically the same test as the HPAT but has been around longer.

drrkpd · 25-08-2011, 00:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Siobhnk

No, I think they've thought up something for that, they'll only give you a certain amount of points, maybe 5 or something. Kind of like if you get 600 points you only get 565+ whatever your HPAT is.

I don't have a clue if that made any sense to anyone, it did in my head

Thanks do you have link to support this??

drrkpd · 25-08-2011, 00:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allie79

If you google UMAT sample questions there are a few Australian companies that offer free downloads - it's practically the same test as the HPAT but has been around longer.

It is exactly the same exam Google both of them. This is why doing M******y platinum course makes so much sense

jumpguy · 25-08-2011, 00:25

Personally, I felt that how you feel on the day affects your HPAT performance more than anything. That said, I did Médentry too. It wasn't worth 350€, I can tell ya that.

I think repeats go up mainly because they feel more comfortable with the exam after taking it once and then "preparing" themselves for it.

Although there is a big question mark over section 3, I do feel I got better at that with practice (and it was my best section in the HPAT).

Ally7 · 25-08-2011, 00:25

Another hopeful medical student here

Is the hpat definitely going to be around for 2012?

jumpguy · 25-08-2011, 00:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ally7

Another hopeful medical student here

Is the hpat definitely going to be around for 2012?

I would say almost certain tbh. Any changes that could be done now at this stage would be a revert to the old system, which ain't gonna happen.

KizzyMonster · 25-08-2011, 00:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Siobhnk

Kind of like if you get 600 points you only get 565+ whatever your HPAT is.

wut?

Ally7 · 25-08-2011, 01:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by jumpguy

I would say almost certain tbh. Any changes that could be done now at this stage would be a revert to the old system, which ain't gonna happen.

Thanks, better start ordering my practise papers so!

Allie79 · 25-08-2011, 08:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by jumpguy

Personally, I felt that how you feel on the day affects your HPAT performance more than anything. That said, I did Médentry too. It wasn't worth 350€, I can tell ya that.

I think repeats go up mainly because they feel more comfortable with the exam after taking it once and then "preparing" themselves for it.

Although there is a big question mark over section 3, I do feel I got better at that with practice (and it was my best section in the HPAT).

I agree with that too, how you feel will definitely affect your performance and I also there's a fair bit of luck with the questions on the day too!

24-08-2011, 22:33	#20
Allie79 Registered User Join Date: May 2011 Location: Dublin Posts: 61 Adverts \| Friends	Just to give you my two cents worth, imho someone has to show you how to do section three - it's not easy to figure out the tricks on your own, you have to have decent vocab/ ability to be able to score well in section one, section two isn't something that can really be taught - your personality and life experience will come through unless you find some way to learn the types of responses they're after. I'm a mature student and I did a similar test when I was 18 and scored very badly in this section and this time round it was my best mark so things change. After that I think it's purely down to how quickly you can answer the questions, everyone who would be aiming for med can answer them - given enough time. If that is true, then it follows that if you have the ability to answer the questions, you'll score highly if you can answer them quickly and manage your time well- hence practising the types of questions can only help improve your score which is why repeat students and those who are doing prep courses are improving/ scoring well. I did a one day prep course which also gave me a practise test to do at home. I did it and the two booklets from ACER in the two days before and on the day I answered all questions in all sections excepting the last two questions in section 3 which I ran out of time for and had to guess. It was the lowest of my three marks and think if I'd done more prep it would have been better. I'm rambling but I guess my overall point is that I think you definitely can improve your score by a. knowing how to approach section three and b. getting quicker at answering the types of questions in all three sections and managing the time you've got. Good luck with the spreadsheet partyatmygaff. It'll be interesting to see what you find! Last edited by Allie79; 25-08-2011 at 08:42. Reason: Forgot to actually make my point about Section 3!

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24-08-2011, 20:52	#16
partyatmygaff Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 10,171 Adverts \| Friends	I may be possibly repeating the HPAT next year, so i'm checking in I suppose. As an aside, i'm also planning on running another one of my surveys. Except this time it will revolve around the HPAT, repeats and prep courses. What i'm looking to do is to establish whether or not there is a link between repeating the HPAT / taking a preparation course and higher scores. Also, i'd hope to establish which section is improved the most by repeating / taking a preparation course. Ideally, people will enter the overall scores they achieved in 2009, 2010, 2011 (Leaving blank where not applicable) and the section scores for the three years (Again leaving leaving blank where not applicable) as well whether or not they repeated/took a prep course. There is a problem however. The spreadsheet work that would be required to generate all of this data will be even more elaborate and time consuming than my previous two surveys. That's why I want to ask first whether or not people think this is a worthwhile idea and whether or not people will participate.

24-08-2011, 21:51	#17
Laika_ Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 25 Adverts \| Friends	Yep, I think this is a v. good idea, partyatmygaff. I went from 88th to 96th %ile this year after a vast amount of practice and the infamous prep course (twice). My friends also improved- out of five of us, four did better.

24-08-2011, 22:08	#18
jumpguy Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Your retina Posts: 8,158 Adverts \| Friends	Good idea imo, Gaffster, although if you just asked people to fill in the following fields: Did you undertake a HPAT prep course? Y/N Did you find it helpful? Y/N How many points did you score in the HPAT in 2009? (If done) 2010? (If done) 2011? (If done) Would it be an easier spreadsheet to design?

24-08-2011, 22:59	#21
KizzyMonster Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ashtown, D7 Posts: 259 Adverts \| Friends	Anyone know where I can get a few sample questions without paying for them? Just as a taster like...

24-08-2011, 23:10	#22
Allie79 Registered User Join Date: May 2011 Location: Dublin Posts: 61 Adverts \| Friends	If you google UMAT sample questions there are a few Australian companies that offer free downloads - it's practically the same test as the HPAT but has been around longer.

25-08-2011, 00:25	#25
jumpguy Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Your retina Posts: 8,158 Adverts \| Friends	Personally, I felt that how you feel on the day affects your HPAT performance more than anything. That said, I did Médentry too. It wasn't worth 350€, I can tell ya that. I think repeats go up mainly because they feel more comfortable with the exam after taking it once and then "preparing" themselves for it. Although there is a big question mark over section 3, I do feel I got better at that with practice (and it was my best section in the HPAT).

25-08-2011, 00:25	#26
Ally7 Closed Account Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 1,265 Adverts \| Friends	Another hopeful medical student here Is the hpat definitely going to be around for 2012?