*Everything HPAT and Medicine 2012*

BL1993

Might as well get the party started. :cool:

Sunny!!

yes, new fresh thread:D

Bbbbolger

It might just be us repeats for a while!

Sunny!!

Bbbbolger wrote: »

It might just be us repeats for a while!

haha :L, at least theres someone in the same boat:p

Bbbbolger

I'd say there's a lot more than just me! God...never thought I'd be getting ready to go back to my old school next Monday. Still hasn't hit me!

Sunny!!

Bbbbolger wrote: »

I'd say there's a lot more than just me! God...never thought I'd be getting ready to go back to my old school next Monday. Still hasn't hit me!

the sacrifices :L, i'm excited:p getting stuck in again

jumpguy

Sunny!!

jumpguy wrote: »

did you miss out by 1 or 2 points?

Just Like Heaven

I'll be giving it a stab this year. I'm expecting to be repeating the following year though, serious faith in my ability.

Bbbbolger

Dont think like that mate! A year is a lot of study time. If you put in the effort you'll be rewarded. That was the most obvious thing I saw after the results in my school. It was the people who did a lot of work as opposed to the lazy but gifted types who did well.

Sunny!!

you have lots of time, make sure you apply yourself,and even if you do not get it, you shouldnt be far off and repeating will be easier:)

drrkpd

Hi,

I seem to remember buried in the hpat 2011 thread something about bonus maths points. Is it true if you did Higher LC maths this year ie 2011 and got a D3 or above then you will get the bonus points in 2012?? So if you got say 500 LC will that now be 525 LC points??


25 points are massive in terms of hpat scores-won't this skew the combined points for medicine in favour of those that have done higher maths?????????

Siobhnk

drrkpd wrote: »

Hi,

I seem to remember buried in the hpat 2011 thread something about bonus maths points. Is it true if you did Higher LC maths this year ie 2011 and got a D3 or above then you will get the bonus points in 2012?? So if you got say 500 LC will that now be 525 LC points??


25 points are massive in terms of hpat scores-won't this skew the combined points for medicine in favour of those that have done higher maths?????????

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 :P

KizzyMonster

I sat the LC in 2007, did a natural science course and only got a 2.2 so no graduate med (Despite getting enough GAMSAT points) for me...

Therefore here I am:
Doing a hDip in IT as well as sitting the HPAT as well as resitting the GAMSAT (In the hopes of getting into grad med UK) while also resitting the Leaving Cert.
I've got from now until June to start completely from scratch, taking up physics and chemistry and also upping to higher level maths...
Gosh I'mma be in for a rough year...

BL1993

KizzyMonster wrote: »

I sat the LC in 2007, did a natural science course and only got a 2.2 so no graduate med (Despite getting enough GAMSAT points) for me...

Therefore here I am:
Doing a hDip in IT as well as sitting the HPAT as well as resitting the GAMSAT (In the hopes of getting into grad med UK) while also resitting the Leaving Cert.
I've got from now until June to start completely from scratch, taking up physics and chemistry and also upping to higher level maths...
Gosh I'mma be in for a rough year...

Trust me....we all are.

partyatmygaff

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_

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

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

jumpguy wrote: »

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

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

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

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.

drrkpd

Siobhnk wrote: »

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 :P

Thanks do you have link to support this??

drrkpd

Allie79 wrote: »

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

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

Another hopeful medical student here

Is the hpat definitely going to be around for 2012?

jumpguy

Ally7 wrote: »

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

Siobhnk wrote: »

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

wut?

Ally7

jumpguy wrote: »

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

jumpguy wrote: »

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!

drrkpd

Siobhnk wrote: »

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 :P

found the post in 2011 thread from jumpguy
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=73814164&highlight=bonus+points#post73814164

it says-

#1363 jumpguy
Moderator
| Friends
Mod: Leaving Cert


Quote:
Originally Posted by Nulzy
Just wondering if I decide to repeat the Hpat next year, the points for med will obv sky rocket with the 20 extra points for passing higher level maths..would we be able to get these extra points if we have already sat HL maths? It would be majorly hard to compete with people who get these extra points, and frustrating if we actually have already sat a HL leaving cert paper just not in 2012.
If we aren't entitled to those points I wonder if there's any point in repeating the hpat this year cos the points for med will go up considerably i assume?

I emailed the CAO a few months ago asking if the bonus points for HL maths will be added onto points for people who took HL maths in years prior to 2012. This was the reply I got:

Quote:
From 2012 the HL Maths bonus scheme will also be
used when calculating points for sittings of the
Leaving Certificate taken prior to 2012.
So I take that to mean that the 25 extra points will be added onto your HL maths score from 2011 if you apply for any course in 2012




So if you get 500 LC with D3 maths or above you will be 525.

And the maximum points are now 565-600 LC+ 25 Bonus Maths calculated as 1 point for every 5 over 550.!!!

degausserxo

Probably going to sit the HPAT next year. Medicine isn't my first choice, but it'll probably be choices 2, 3 and 4 on my CAO.

JamJamJamJam

What's everyone doing to prepare?

Random_Person

JamJamJamJam wrote: »

What's everyone doing to prepare?

IOE Prep Course and I'll consider getting the two official ACER practice booklets.

Anyone else doing the IOE Course in October?

kate.m

Sorry about asking this but could someone post a link or something about the whole bonus points in med?

I get thy there are bonus points, but is it definite that the max for having HL maths along with 5 other subjects is now 565 over the usual 560?

I know it's logical but a friend of mine told me it wasn't working like that and as a prospective repeat I would love to know. Thanks.

Siobhnk

KizzyMonster wrote: »

Siobhnk wrote: »

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

wut?

Sorry I really don't explain myself properly if you get 600 points and are applying for med I think you count it as 565 points??

Just Like Heaven

Siobhnk wrote: »

Sorry I really don't explain myself properly if you get 600 points and are applying for med I think you count it as 565 points??

I think they meant if you got 625 in the leaving cert. It's the new 600 :cool:

Siobhnk

fewtinsoffroth wrote: »

I think they meant if you got 625 in the leaving cert. It's the new 600 :cool:

Yeah these bonus points are really confusing! :rolleyes:

fleeflyfloflum

I'm considering going for medicine...though the giant point increases are very disheartening..

I haven't even considered HPAT prep yet...perhaps I should buy a book or something.

jenny18

hey repeating did hpat and got 179 redoing it and doing the med---entry prep course anyone want to go in with me 4 group discount? got 430 this year in leaving but didnt put in the work hopefully go up to 550. honours maths should help. I got 64 section one 60 section 2 56 section 3.

jenny18

Random_Person wrote: »

IOE Prep Course and I'll consider getting the two official ACER practice booklets.

Anyone else doing the IOE Course in October?

i heard ioe course bad med---entry better defo get acer booklets thats all i used and got 8oth percentile

jamie-obraonain

Did any of you see this? Apparently, results are bring issued in April? It says on the HPAT-IRELAND website under results!

Sunny!!

jamie-obraonain wrote: »

Did any of you see this? Apparently, results are bring issued in April? It says on the HPAT-IRELAND website under results!

that must be over the blip with the cao. Great though:D

Novella

I'm looking into Queens University in Belfast myself. Apparently they take Junior Cert results over Leaving Cert?! Crazy!

jumpguy

Novella wrote: »

I'm looking into Queens University in Belfast myself. Apparently they take Junior Cert results over Leaving Cert?! Crazy!

No, your JC results are only considered if they're gonna give you a conditional offer. So they are important in that sense (as in, if you've a bad JC you mightn't get an offer).

They'll still want a hefty LC though.

anthonybeta

anyone have any recommendation on a course i could take to
prepare. im repeating and got 67th percentile

so far im getting vibes for going through the UMAT sample papers
and possibly taking M***ntry course (why do people hide the full name?)

thanks

randylonghorn

anthonybeta wrote: »

and possibly taking M***ntry course (why do people hide the full name?)

Because about a year ago there were so many new-reg. shills and spammers talking them up to the heavens that the admins got fed up with it and added the name to the swear filter.

This site has zero tolerance for spamming / shilling.

swimstar

I'm ready to register for a preparation course for HPAT - noticed that there is a significant discount if I register with one other person.

Anyone interested in registering together?

No obligation to do the course at the same time or even in the same centre.

jenny18

tcd down to 739
nuig still 729
ucd now 735
rcsi now 732
ucc still 734

partyatmygaff

jamie-obraonain wrote: »

Did any of you see this? Apparently, results are bring issued in April? It says on the HPAT-IRELAND website under results!

Must be because of the CAO's idiotic mistake and cover up this year.

jenny18

has anyone heard anything about additional fees that have to be paid if your doing medicine? i know theres the 2000 + vaccination and screening fees but sum1 said theres 10,000 in fees if there is il not be repeating