**UKCAT, HPAT + Medicine 2017 Entry**

Consonata

Thought I would make one of these considering the UKCAT is coming up, and everyone for medicine is probably starting to practice with the HPAT

I am repeating my LC, and I was wondering, for those of you who are doing the UKCAT, what are you doing in terms of preparation. The 1000 UKCAT qs book is arriving any day now, but I was wondering if there is anything else I should be doing in terms of preparation?

Consonata

*Bump*

Wanderer41

Consonata wrote: »

Thought I would make one of these considering the UKCAT is coming up, and everyone for medicine is probably starting to practice with the HPAT

I am repeating my LC, and I was wondering, for those of you who are doing the UKCAT, what are you doing in terms of preparation. The 1000 UKCAT qs book is arriving any day now, but I was wondering if there is anything else I should be doing in terms of preparation?

Have you applied for the UKCAT? Start your personal statement now. studentroom.co.uk is very good for resources. Make sure you look at each university's requirements, and make sure they accept repeat students. Look at whether they place more emphasis on UKCAT or personal statement or both etc. I think that book is good, I think the student room has more tips and you can probably find more if you google. I used Medify online for 1 week I think, it's around £30 pounds and I think I found it good. However I think you would probably be fine with the book, just make sure to go through the tips at the beginning of each section. Get used to using a computer calculator as it does slow you down, but try to do as much mental maths as possible and use educated guesses. If you have any more questions I'd be happy to help

WorthlessPeon

What would be the lostest grade requirements of a UK Med school?
Might be interested

Consonata

WorthlessPeon wrote: »

What would be the lostest grade requirements of a UK Med school?
Might be interested

I'm not sure what the requirements are this year with the new points system, but I know that in past years it tends to be easier to get into than the Republic provided you have Chemistry. Chemistry is essential.

saif.khalid14

When are you doing the test?

Consonata

saif.khalid14 wrote: »

When are you doing the test?

September 16th, Been doing more of the UKCAT questions, seems a lot more accessible than the HPAT.

Does anybody have any experience in doing the BMAT, and if you do where did you sit it and how did you find it. I see its a requirement for colleges like Imperial College London, Cambridge, Oxford, St. Marys and kings, but I'm just wondering is it worth my time doing it?

Bazinga_N

Consonata wrote: »

September 16th, Been doing more of the UKCAT questions, seems a lot more accessible than the HPAT.

Does anybody have any experience in doing the BMAT, and if you do where did you sit it and how did you find it. I see its a requirement for colleges like Imperial College London, Cambridge, Oxford, St. Marys and kings, but I'm just wondering is it worth my time doing it?

I was looking into the BMAT last year and it's tough enough going. It's less of an aptitude test than the HPAT and UKCAT though. The first section is the Aptitude test and it has questions similiar to those you'd find on the HPAT and UKCAT.

The second section is Scientific Knowledge.It's got Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Biology questions. If I remember right, it's mostly stuff you'd have covered at Leaving Cert level (maybe a little extra) assuming you've done all three sciences.

The third section then is an essay. You've to basically write an A4 page on a random topic. I think you get three titles and they were all roughly based around Medicine, Philosophy and Science.

So yeah it's tough enough going but if you're determined it might be worth it! It's very competitive I imagine as it's used by Oxbridge and Imperial, etc.

Plenty of books and resources out there for it though!

Wanderer41

Consonata wrote: »

September 16th, Been doing more of the UKCAT questions, seems a lot more accessible than the HPAT.

Does anybody have any experience in doing the BMAT, and if you do where did you sit it and how did you find it. I see its a requirement for colleges like Imperial College London, Cambridge, Oxford, St. Marys and kings, but I'm just wondering is it worth my time doing it?

I looked into it but I decided against it in the end. Mostly because I only ended up applying to one place, but also that there are other places with lower requirements or others I would prefer to go to and it just wasn't worth the effort. Choose your four choices wisely!

Consonata

How is peoples prep for the UKCAT going? My test is on Monday week in Derry!

Indiankid

Selling 'Get Into Medical School. 1000 UKCAT Practice Questions. Includes Full Mock Exam'. Brand new.

Didn't need it in the end as I got the GAMSAT and started med school in Ireland. Selling it at 22 euros. Available for collection from Dublin

kenneththy2

I was reading the 2017 hpat information booklet on the Hpat Ireland website and it says on page 11 (On Test Day section)
''Clocks are provided in the test room. You may wear
an analogue wristwatch, and any alarm or stopwatch
features must be switched off. ''

Could someone tell me has this always been the rules? I'm wondering because I wear a digital watch and was planning on using my stopwatch feature..

SeanIAm

kenneththy2 wrote: »

I was reading the 2017 hpat information booklet on the Hpat Ireland website and it says on page 11 (On Test Day section)
''Clocks are provided in the test room. You may wear
an analogue wristwatch, and any alarm or stopwatch
features must be switched off. ''

Could someone tell me has this always been the rules? I'm wondering because I wear a digital watch and was planning on using my stopwatch feature..

Yeah unfortunately that's how it is. I can only speak for the UCD centre but you won't get away with that. Same deal with highlighters etc

retweet

Hey everyone!

I thought I'd set up a thread so we can chat about applying for medicine and the HPAT for 2017.

CAO & HPAT applications open on Friday, November 4th.

Good luck!

nol980

Can't believe this applies to me!

How are people getting on with HPAT prep?

Anyone repeating, did they think the actual HPAT is harder or easier than the pratice papers given by the various prep courses?

What order of preference are people putting down on their CAOs? I'm a Dub and so far I'm thinking UCD, TCD, RCSI, NUI Galway, UCC. I'd be delighted with any but would love to get it in Dublin to avoid having to pay for student accomodation.

I hope there's a good response to this thread, last year's one was rather quiet. I'd be really interested in hearing how others are getting on.

Theboybang

kenneththy2 wrote: »

I was reading the 2017 hpat information booklet on the Hpat Ireland website and it says on page 11 (On Test Day section)
''Clocks are provided in the test room. You may wear
an analogue wristwatch, and any alarm or stopwatch
features must be switched off. ''

Could someone tell me has this always been the rules? I'm wondering because I wear a digital watch and was planning on using my stopwatch feature..

I've done the HPAT twice and used my watch both times....my centre didn't check but they did say it on the day so I'd be careful but you should be fine

retweet

Stupid question but are you allowed to bring in a highlighter?

SeanIAm

Saw highlighters being taken away from people too last year.By all means give it a shot but I imagine they will take it away from you

spurious

If you breach these rules, is it just a case of they take the watch/highlighter off you, or is there a chance you could be put out from the exam?

nol980

Can't help but wonder why this thread is so much quieter than previous years? I'd love to be able to use it as a platform to regularly discuss how it's going with others. Finding it hard to find outlets with people who relate to all this! Currently having one of those sleepless nights thinking about percentiles, I'm curious as to how many of the ~3000 who sit the Hpat get over 550 points. Only about 2,000 people in the country get over 550 and what maybe a quarter of them apply to medicine? Does this mean that if you get over 550 you're already in the top 500 of medicine applicants? And with a few hundred undergraduate places available in the Irish med schools, surely the odds are in your favour? Or am I missing something .... Ok so after writing this I saw the small print, although only 1,777 students got >550 points in 2015, this doesn't include the points going for HL maths which ~15,000 people sat. Game changer...

Daggermouth

Hi everyone. I sat the leaving and hpat last year and I got the points and am now in 1st year in UCD. But studying in Dublin is a nightmare with the whole accommodation problem, where paying 700 euro a month in rent is considered to be cheap. And not only that, but you have to begin apartment searching months in advance. I'm sitting the hpat this year again and hopefully I'll have enough points for Galway. I do like UCD, but for me, the pros and cons for Galway outweigh the pros and cons for UCD. Is anyone else in a similar situation to me?

randylonghorn

If you're in first year med in UCD at the moment, it would be worth contacting NUIG re: the possibility of a transfer at the end of the year.

Assuming you complete the year successfully, there's not much point in starting the year over in Galway (and you will end up paying full fees as you are essentially repeating a year).

Daggermouth

randylonghorn wrote: »

If you're in first year med in UCD at the moment, it would be worth contacting NUIG re: the possibility of a transfer at the end of the year.

Assuming you complete the year successfully, there's not much point in starting the year over in Galway (and you will end up paying full fees as you are essentially repeating a year).

I'll be able to transfer into 2nd year medicine and I'll be able to keep my SUSI grant as well.

Take Your Pants Off

Daggermouth wrote: »

I'll be able to transfer into 2nd year medicine and I'll be able to keep my SUSI grant as well.

How is that possible, what course are you doing atm, if you dont mind me asking.

Daggermouth

Take Your Pants Off wrote: »

How is that possible, what course are you doing atm, if you dont mind me asking.

I'm the same person as a couple of comments above, I'm studying medicine in UCD.

WorthlessPeon

Anyone want to post some points predictions? It's so hard to know whether I'm in with a shout or not this year with the new points system

nol980

WorthlessPeon wrote: »

Anyone want to post some points predictions? It's so hard to know whether I'm in with a shout or not this year with the new points system

Well, I think that the average LC points in the country will go up in 2017 as they will distribute more H1s than they did A1s in 2016. This is to prove that the new points system is better ... Also it's the reason why the A1 rate in most subjects dropped for 2016 results. So I'm not sure about overall points as no one knows what 2017 Hpat will be like but I think it's extremely likely there will be more H1s awarded to those sitting their lc in 2017 than A1s given to those who sat it in 2016.

Mr Rhode Island Red

Still don't know whether to try and do the HPAT or not. I don't know if I actually want to be a doctor. For every positive I think of about medicine another negative comes to mind to cancel it out.

WorthlessPeon

nol980 wrote: »

Well, I think that the average LC points in the country will go up in 2017 as they will distribute more H1s than they did A1s in 2016. This is to prove that the new points system is better ... Also it's the reason why the A1 rate in most subjects dropped for 2016 results. So I'm not sure about overall points as no one knows what 2017 Hpat will be like but I think it's extremely likely there will be more H1s awarded to those sitting their lc in 2017 than A1s given to those who sat it in 2016.

Hmm I know what you're saying but I'm not sure I agree exactly. This could be partially wishful thinking on my part as a second timer but I can't see higher points across the board, that's not what this system was intended to do, it was brought in to reduce random selection. Personally I think there will be an equal amount of H1s as A1s given last year, to retain this bell curve we hear so much about.

But hey that's just my opinion basely largely on presumptions, who knows what will happen. What are you aiming for yourself points wise?

CookieCat97

nol980 wrote: »

Well, I think that the average LC points in the country will go up in 2017 as they will distribute more H1s than they did A1s in 2016. This is to prove that the new points system is better ... Also it's the reason why the A1 rate in most subjects dropped for 2016 results. So I'm not sure about overall points as no one knows what 2017 Hpat will be like but I think it's extremely likely there will be more H1s awarded to those sitting their lc in 2017 than A1s given to those who sat it in 2016.

Ugh that's so unfair to students who sat it last year!:mad:Surely they should be around the same as both an A1 and a H1 are above 90?

Wanderer41

Mr Rhode Island Red wrote: »

Still don't know whether to try and do the HPAT or not. I don't know if I actually want to be a doctor. For every positive I think of about medicine another negative comes to mind to cancel it out.

Why not do it anyway and then decide after? It's better to have done it than not to have done it and regret it.

polkadot7

Mr Rhode Island Red wrote: »

Still don't know whether to try and do the HPAT or not. I don't know if I actually want to be a doctor. For every positive I think of about medicine another negative comes to mind to cancel it out.

I'm in the same position. I'm going to sit the HPAT as there's no harm in doing it just incase, but am unsure whether I'll put medicine down on the CAO. Out of curiosity, what are the positives and negatives of medicine as you see them?

Mr Rhode Island Red

polkadot7 wrote: »

I'm in the same position. I'm going to sit the HPAT as there's no harm in doing it just incase, but am unsure whether I'll put medicine down on the CAO. Out of curiosity, what are the positives and negatives of medicine as you see them?

Pros:
Good job prospects, get to work with people, good variety of work, learning practical skills etc.

Cons:
A lot of moving around on contracts, making serious decisions on a daily basis, dealing with the aftermath of screwing up, taking several years to fully qualify, sometimes ridiculous working hours, sacrificing social life on a regular basis etc.

I don't know if a course that would lead to something more office-based and 9-5 based would be more suited to me, even if it meant sacrificing the variety and so-called "prestige" that comes with medicine :pac: ...maybe I've just answered that for myself

polkadot7

Mr Rhode Island Red wrote: »

Pros:
Good job prospects, get to work with people, good variety of work, learning practical skills etc.

Cons:
A lot of moving around on contracts, making serious decisions on a daily basis, dealing with the aftermath of screwing up, taking several years to fully qualify, sometimes ridiculous working hours, sacrificing social life on a regular basis etc.

I don't know if a course that would lead to something more office-based and 9-5 based would be more suited to me, even if it meant sacrificing the variety and so-called "prestige" that comes with medicine :pac: ...maybe I've just answered that for myself

Medicine offers a diverse range of career opportunities that wouldn't all lead to crazy working hours etc. (Agree/disagree?)

Also, I agree that the "prestige" is what attracts lots of students.

Mr Rhode Island Red

I'd imagine there's a power being forced into it as well.

meganob

I'm in the same boat as a few people above. Not sure if I wanna do it, but doing it so I won't regret not doing it. The only thing is , I've done no prep whatsoever as I've only recently decided to definitely do it. I don't even know what format and type of questions do come up so if anyone knows any good sources/links or advice I can practice a few questions and be a bit more prepared, I'd be really grateful:)

nol980

Really hope the amount of H1s distributed in 2017 is level with 2016. I'm aiming for high 500s points-wise, I can't really see myself getting 90th percentile in the Hpat. What about everyone else? On M**E**** how many of the exams and drills are people hoping to have completed by the HPAT?

spurious

polkadot7 wrote: »

Also, I agree that the "prestige" is what attracts lots of students.

I think it's often the lack of any experience of expected 'prestige' that leads to such high rates of depression, addiction and suicide in the profession. Certainly wouldn't be a choice I'd like to see any of my loved ones make.

nol980 wrote: »

Really hope the amount of H1s distributed in 2017 is level with 2016.

Look at the statistics over the past ten years or so. There is very little change in percentages of grades year to year.

Consonata

Its the H2s I'm going to be curious about, considering that is B1 and A2 mushed together. As a repeat, I'm not sure how I feel about the value of 88/89% being the same as 81/82

hasdanta

Consonata wrote: »

Its the H2s I'm going to be curious about, considering that is B1 and A2 mushed together. As a repeat, I'm not sure how I feel about the value of 88/89% being the same as 81/82

You should feel good about it. It's basically an A2 with an extra 3 pts. If you put in the effort you shouldn't be fearful of the bell curve

CH1123581321

Would any of you be able to tell me how many questions right out of 110 in the hpat should we be getting in order to have some hope at getting medicine?
Now I know since section 1 and 2 are worth 40% getting more questions right in them would be more beneficial than getting them right in section 3 as its only worth 20% but I'm just wondering if ye have any general idea?

Ponguin

CH1123581321 wrote: »

Would any of you be able to tell me how many questions right out of 110 in the hpat should we be getting in order to have some hope at getting medicine?
Now I know since section 1 and 2 are worth 40% getting more questions right in them would be more beneficial than getting them right in section 3 as its only worth 20% but I'm just wondering if ye have any general idea?

I'm also wondering this and how would I calculate my percentile?

Mr Rhode Island Red

Would ye say it's better to do the practice papers by taking your time and analysing each question or by actually doing them under the time constraints we'll have in the real thing?

FirstDraft1

Mr Rhode Island Red wrote: »

Would ye say it's better to do the practice papers by taking your time and analysing each question or by actually doing them under the time constraints we'll have in the real thing?

The latter definitely. Maybe try the first one slowly and familiarise yourself with it, but after that you might as well simulate exam conditions.

CH1123581321

Was the hpat Ulster on yesterday? Does their test resemble ours in anyway?

Rosalind151

2 med students give advice on how to do well in the HPAT
http://www.625points.com/2017/01/hpat-ireland-preparation-tips.html

Ann-Marie

Thanks for sharing it.

IrishLassie26

Does anyone know what time the Hpat exam actually starts at?
I got my admission ticket yesterday and it says arrival time 9:45, does everyone have different arrival times?

CH1123581321

Mine says 9:45 as well

nol980

9:45 here too... anyone know how many people will be sitting it in Ucd?

WorthlessPeon

nol980 wrote: »

9:45 here too... anyone know how many people will be sitting it in Ucd?

UCD has an insane amount of people in O'Reilly hall. Prepare yourself.