*Everything HPAT and Medicine 2015*

spurious

sleepyheadh wrote: »

Have my posts been deleted?

Any mods no anything about this?

Yes. I deleted them. Do you think they were helpful?
'Crazy person' particularly.

sleepyheadh

spurious wrote:

Yes. I deleted them. Do you think they were helpful? 'Crazy person' particularly.

Any particular reason you did it on the sly?

There was nothing wrong with any of my comments, and yes I think they were helpful. .they certainly weren't offencive?

Was the worst thing i said that the poster looked "crazy" just for future reference!

spurious

I did not do anything 'on the sly', but by all means go to DRP if you want to. Please do not discuss it anymore on this thread.

sleepyheadh

spurious wrote:

I did not do anything 'on the sly', but by all means go to DRP if you want to. Please do not discuss it anymore on this thread.

Will do boss. .on the sly as in no warning, no message just deleted without even mentioning it to me. .I'll see you there x

sleepyheadh

spurious wrote: »

I did not do anything 'on the sly', but by all means go to DRP if you want to. Please do not discuss it anymore on this thread.

Actually been removed from DRP also.. I think I can sense a pattern forming, must have been all that practice for Section 3, haha.

BBHenry

Anybody know when mature students are due to get their results?

ronivek

BBHenry wrote: »

Anybody know when mature students are due to get their results?

It was on the 16th of April last year; so hopefully in about 2-3 weeks we should have them.

jacobwrench97

I'm extremely appalled by ACER's solution to this problem. Although I was not a candidate at this test centre, I feel like I'm at a bigger disadvantage due to one stupid, avoidable mistake. Every point counts in this exam, and for those saying that people are just moaning are obviously not aware of what one point is capable of doing.

Gallagher1

Where does everyone have down as their first choice and why? Just curious to know what people think

dalta5billion

Can anyone who completed the HPAT in Goldsmith please confirm the starting time of Section C? Need this to proceed.

etherealfairy

Gallagher1 wrote: »

Where does everyone have down as their first choice and why? Just curious to know what people think

Yeah let's chat about this! I have NUIG I may change it though as I want to ensure the course has a large focus on the sociological and psychological aspects of medicine, too! I see this on the UCC and TCD websites but not on the NUIG one so I will enquire into it at the open day in April. For example, UCC have 'Stream 3: Person, Culture and Society'. I assume the course is similar enough anyways they may have just not stated it as clearly on their site.

Gallagher1

etherealfairy wrote: »

Yeah let's chat about this! I have NUIG I may change it though as I want to ensure the course has a large focus on the sociological and psychological aspects of medicine, too! I see this on the UCC and TCD websites but not on the NUIG one so I will enquire into it at the open day in April. For example, UCC have 'Stream 3: Person, Culture and Society'. I assume the course is similar enough anyways they may have just not stated it as clearly on their site.

I've NUIG too! I just think Galway is such a nice city, makes a massive change from the capital imo.. I'm pretty sure all Medicine courses offer something along the lines of what you mentioned about UCC! If you look at the 'Special Study Modules' in the NUIG prospectus you might find something, or just ask at the open day like you said!

etherealfairy

Gallagher1 wrote: »

I've NUIG too! I just think Galway is such a nice city, makes a massive change from the capital imo.. I'm pretty sure all Medicine courses offer something along the lines of what you mentioned about UCC! If you look at the 'Special Study Modules' in the NUIG prospectus you might find something, or just ask at the open day like you said!

Yeah exactly!! I feel it's a really nice city to do such an intensive course in. All the med students I know in Galway seem to have SUCH craic! Like, they have a really nice balance Galway is so friendly and cultured, too. Plus University Hospital Galway is pretty much next door.

I was reading some articles from their site and basically 'Professionalism' is just the umbrella term for all the ethical/cultural/etc stuff, so that's perfect!

spurious

If a course was available, Galway would be my choice to study anything. Great town.

sleepyheadh

I would be looking at more at availability of accommodation if i was doing it all again. If you live in any of the 3 cities, moving is madness.

Anyway, if your the kind of person looking for craic, you most likely won't be attending the pysch lectures 😀

AngloIrishMan

dalta5billion wrote: »

Can anyone who completed the HPAT in Goldsmith please confirm the starting time of Section C? Need this to proceed.

The woman had written on the board that Section 3 would be finished at 1.08PM.
She then decided to end it at 1.03PM, claiming that it should be finished at this time.
I clearly remember that Section 1 was finished at 11.41AM.
If you add the time taken for both Section 2&3 and the 2x1mins allowed for looking over each section, you get 1hr27mins.
Add this to 11.41AM and you get 1.08PM.
So it was supposed to finish at 1.08PM.

Section 3 began at 12.28PM.

dalta5billion

Press release sent.

sleepyheadh

dalta5billion wrote: »

Press release sent.

Who did you send it to, IMT, Irish times?

dalta5billion

sleepyheadh wrote: »

Who did you send it to, IMT, Irish times?

Yep. Everyone I could think of. CC'ed to heads of schools of medicine as well.

sleepyheadh

dalta5billion wrote: »

Yep. Everyone I could think of. CC'ed to heads of schools of medicine as well.

Really, fair play..is there anywhere I could read it?

dalta5billion

Press release:

Students forced to hand up exams too early - New HPAT Students Union calls for investigation into running of high-stakes medical entrance exam

Thursday April 2nd 2015

Students forced to hand up exams too early

Today, the HPAT Students Union, a new group set up to advocate for young people in Ireland taking the “HPAT” exam, has called for an immediate investigation by the government into how the high-stakes exam was run earlier this year, after students in one exam centre, TCD's Goldsmith Hall, complained that they were forced to hand up their papers five minutes too early, disadvantaging them in the highly competitive exam for admission to medicine in Ireland.


After the completion of the HPAT on 28th February 2015, students in Goldsmith Hall complained that they had been forced to hand up their exams at 1.03 PM, despite 1.08 PM being the finish time written on the schedule. In accordance with the procedure outlined in the HPAT Handbook, students raised this issue immediately with the supervisor, who said she had made a mistake and that 1.03 PM was the correct time to finish the exam. The HPAT Students Union has corroborated multiple student accounts and confirmed that Goldsmith Hall candidates indeed handed up their papers at 1.03 PM, 5 minutes too early.


An exam mired in controversy

The HPAT (Health Professionals Aptitude Test) exam was controversially introduced in 2009, ostensibly to reduce the number of Leaving Cert Points required for admission to medicine in Ireland. The marking scheme for the exam is not released, and students are simply told they have received a certain score. Applicants cannot review their scripts. There is no independent body to appeal results to.

What does 5 minutes matter?

Section 3, the final part of the HPAT exam is the most time-dependent section. It consists mainly of solving problems involving patterns and shapes. According to the official HPAT guide, candidates should complete 3.75 questions every 5 minutes in this section. Students in Goldsmith Hall have now been disadvantaged, as all other candidates in the country received 5 minutes more to complete this section.


ACER claims students are wrong

The Australian company contracted to run the HPAT, ACER (Australian Council for Educational Research) has:


failed to issue any public statement about this incident
failed to respond to repeated emails from the HPAT Students Union
in emails to individual candidates, claimed candidates were given the appropriate time
incorrectly claimed the exam finished at 1.06 PM in Goldsmith
claimed it was only the “ten minute warning” given incorrectly
conveniently removed the last 3 questions from Section 3 of the exam – claiming they were never going to be “scored” anyways, in a blatant attempt to quiet discontent

This is unacceptable.


Investigation Demanded

The HPAT Students Union is calling for an immediate investigation into ACER and the running of the HPAT examination in 2015. HPAT results must be put on hold until this investigation is complete.

We refuse to allow Goldsmith Hall candidates or any other candidates be disadvantaged by this incident, and intend to use every avenue available to us.


Notes to editors

For press queries please contact: hpatsu@gmail.com

sleepyheadh

When do mature students get their results?

sleepyheadh

Just an idea I had there..I seem to remember signing my life away while signing up for the HPAT. Has anyone looked into what the T&C's they attached to taking the HPAT...My bet is that they have covered their ass.

Gallagher1

sleepyheadh wrote: »

When do mature students get their results?

Was April 16th last year, assume it'll be (give or take a day) the same this year.

Gallagher1

sleepyheadh wrote: »

Just an idea I had there..I seem to remember signing my life away while signing up for the HPAT. Has anyone looked into what the T&C's they attached to taking the HPAT...My bet is that they have covered their ass.

This is what it says in the T&C's in the offical HPAT booklet.

"a. To the maximum extent permissible by law
(and for the avoidance of doubt, subject to
any guarantees, rights, remedies or obligations
which cannot be excluded, restricted or
modified under certain laws including the
Australian Consumer Law), ACER expressly,
irrevocably and totally disclaims any liability
whatsoever for any loss or damage whatsoever
and howsoever arising in connection with
or resulting from: Your participation (actual,
potential, contemplated or cancelled for any
reason whatsoever) in HPAT – Ireland; and
Your test results, including, but not limited
to, any representations made by ACER or its
personnel (including agents, subcontractors and consultants) in respect of HPAT – Ireland and
the accuracy of any information contained in this
Booklet;


b. To the fullest extent permitted at law, You
acknowledge and accept that the entire risk of
Your participation in HPAT – Ireland is assumed
by You and that ACER will have no liability
whatsoever to You for any loss, harm, damage,
cost or expense (including legal fees) or any
direct, special, indirect, incidental, punitive or
consequential loss or damage (including, without
limitation, economic loss, loss of contract,
profit, revenue, income, opportunity, goodwill,
information, anticipated savings, business
relationships, production or data) whatsoever
and howsoever arising;"

sleepyheadh

Thanks. .i think may be a nail in the coffin!

Slow Show

etherealfairy wrote: »

Yeah let's chat about this! I have NUIG I may change it though as I want to ensure the course has a large focus on the sociological and psychological aspects of medicine, too! I see this on the UCC and TCD websites but not on the NUIG one so I will enquire into it at the open day in April. For example, UCC have 'Stream 3: Person, Culture and Society'. I assume the course is similar enough anyways they may have just not stated it as clearly on their site.

Yeah there is focus on that, it's part of Medical Professionalism which is a module incorporated each year. I can't comment much on the focus in the clinical years but pre-clinical you'll do things like medical ethics, law, health promotion etc which is pretty interesting. Prepare for people not taking it entirely seriously however, it was a looot less intensive than anatomy, physiology and biochem so it wasn't taken all that seriously as a result, anything is what you make of it though. You do Special Study Modules in Years 1, 2 and 4 also as part of MP and a few of the options would probably appeal to you.

Galway is a great city to go to college in too.

nifhiaich97

Hi! New to this but I'm also hoping to do med, however I'm from the North and I'm a bit unclear on the CAO system (as it's such a contrast from ucas haha). Trinity's my first choice and then UCD, NUIG and UCC, but say for instance I don't get the points for TCD but still get the points for UCD - am I guaranteed a place at UCD? Or will the fact that it was originally my second choice put me at a disadvantage to those who had UCD as their first choice?
Hope that makes sense lol

Izunna181

nifhiaich97 wrote: »

Hi! New to this but I'm also hoping to do med, however I'm from the North and I'm a bit unclear on the CAO system (as it's such a contrast from ucas haha). Trinity's my first choice and then UCD, NUIG and UCC, but say for instance I don't get the points for TCD but still get the points for UCD - am I guaranteed a place at UCD? Or will the fact that it was originally my second choice put me at a disadvantage to those who had UCD as their first choice?
Hope that makes sense lol

You're at no disadvantage whatsoever.Even if UCD was your 9th choice-as long as you get the points your in

dalta5billion

Great news:

Dear Students



The Minister for Education and Skills Ms. Jan O'Sullivan T.D has asked me to acknowledge your recent email in relation to the HPAT exam.



Enquiries are being made about this matter and a further letter will issue as soon as possible.



Yours sincerely


[Redacted]

Private Secretary