HPAT

bythewoods · 07-02-2009 12:01am

whadabouchasir wrote: »

although the demand for medicine will probably go up as I believe there is a recession on.

Stop scaring me!

On another note, don't know if it's been mentioned, but is everyone aware that the HPAT results are out on the 22nd of June, not with the rest of the oul' results?
*shudders*

amacachi · 07-02-2009 12:57am

bythewoods wrote: »

Stop scaring me!

On another note, don't know if it's been mentioned, but is everyone aware that the HPAT results are out on the 22nd of June, not with the rest of the oul' results?
*shudders*

So? I prefer it that way, so I'll know if I have a chance of gettin into medicine or if I should start planning for somethin else.

cautioner · 07-02-2009 12:59am

bythewoods wrote: »

No. As soon as you switch from section A to B you CANNOT go back.
Just divide the number of questions by the amount of time. Leave about 4 minutes at the end of each section to review. It's about a minute and a half per question on section A.

Would you mind explaining this? Is it that section A is complete you give it up to receive section B? Damn, I really should get to grips with all this stuff before tomorrow week

Piste · 07-02-2009 1:00am

Yeah I think it'll mean you have plenty of time to get your hopes down before August so you're no bitterly disappointed if you don't get the LC results you need.

Piste · 07-02-2009 1:01am

cautioner wrote: »

Would you mind explaining this? Is it that section A is complete you give it up to receive section B? Damn, I really should get to grips with all this stuff before tomorrow week

Yeah I think it's a set amount of time for each section, which is so crap as I'll probably lose a load of marks due to rushing section A >.<

cautioner · 07-02-2009 1:07am

Gah! What an annoying development! Must get my sample test back off friend and start timing myself.

Can't believe the number of centres. I wouldn't be worried though, I think a lot of people have the wrong idea about the whole business altogether; the only other person in my year applying for it thinks if he gets 480 points he's pretty much in. He won't listen to me when I tell him otherwise. Perhaps there's a metric f*ckton of others like him, clogging up all the centres and making us serious folk nervous

Piste · 07-02-2009 1:10am

Yeah I was thinking some people might just be sitting it to see how they do, but like it's €90, who throws away that kinda money for the lulz?

MrPain · 07-02-2009 2:29pm

I got Trinity, centre 9.
I was wondering could you work out how many applied for it by your candidate number, let say mine is 30xxx I presume i was xxx person to register, I registered as soon as the HPAT site opened for registration so mine is prety usless (its less than 100). Maybe someone who registered like 2weeks ago would give an accurate number.
I dont know if your number is confidental so I dont reccomend giving your full number just an indication of roughly where ie. 32200-32000.

Fad · 07-02-2009 2:39pm

Piste wrote: »

Yeah I was thinking some people might just be sitting it to see how they do, but like it's €90, who throws away that kinda money for the lulz?

People in my school:o

(not me though!)

Our principal said it was a really cheap test, I have a suspicion he was talking about things he had no idea about, but how and ever........

amacachi · 07-02-2009 2:48pm

MrPain wrote: »

I got Trinity, centre 9.
I was wondering could you work out how many applied for it by your candidate number, let say mine is 30xxx I presume i was xxx person to register, I registered as soon as the HPAT site opened for registration so mine is prety usless (its less than 100). Maybe someone who registered like 2weeks ago would give an accurate number.
I dont know if your number is confidental so I dont reccomend giving your full number just an indication of roughly where ie. 32200-32000.

I registered about a week before the deadline for the cheaper fee, I'm over 33000.

shamoono · 07-02-2009 3:22pm

My test Centre is in Trinity ..... anybody know how to get there from Blanchardstown?? lol

Ohhh, and how are you guys preparing for this test? I'm gonna start practicing and 'stuff' on Monday? I have like 10 practice tests for this.

Larianne · 07-02-2009 3:40pm

cautioner wrote: »

Would you mind explaining this? Is it that section A is complete you give it up to receive section B? Damn, I really should get to grips with all this stuff before tomorrow week

I'm guessing it will be pretty much like the HPAT Ulster.

Between each section they get you to stop and explain how long you have for the next section. You can't turn over the page to the next section until told to do so. There will be supervisors going up and down the rows to check! The questions in section 1 and 2 were multiple choice questions and answered on a separate sheet to the exam book. (section 3 in the HPAT Ulster was 2 written pieces). You don't have enough time to go back over anything to be honest. It was very tight for time with me. Not getting stuck on a question and keep an eye on the time is the best advice when doing it. And don't freak out! I did a little at the start which lost me time.

SarcasticFairy · 07-02-2009 5:56pm

shamoono wrote: »

My test Centre is in Trinity ..... anybody know how to get there from Blanchardstown?? lol

Get the 37/39 (can't remember which one goes to town from Blanch, I want to say the 39?!). Get off outside the central bank on Dame street and walk towards the entrance to Trinity (up towards Grafton Street way). I have no idea where abouts in Trinity the test centre is.

(There's a reason I never try to give directions....:p)

HQvhs · 07-02-2009 7:35pm

I was at a guidance counselor/psychologist person to ask about the HPAT, she laughed about the people going to the Institute doing the "prep" courses.
She told me that you'll do just as well, if not better, if you don't stress yourself out over it and concentrate on studying for the LC instead.
She said that the HPAT is practice-proof as long as you know the timing, get a good nights sleep and a decent breakfast! :P

Dunno how true any of this is but thought it might be of interest..

Piste · 07-02-2009 8:09pm

shamoono wrote: »

My test Centre is in Trinity ..... anybody know how to get there from Blanchardstown?? lol

Ohhh, and how are you guys preparing for this test? I'm gonna start practicing and 'stuff' on Monday? I have like 10 practice tests for this.

Get the 39 to dame street and get off by the central bank, trinity is just down the road if you keep walking straight ahead.

bythewoods · 07-02-2009 8:40pm

HQvhs wrote: »

I was at a guidance counselor/psychologist person to ask about the HPAT, she laughed about the people going to the Institute doing the "prep" courses.
She told me that you'll do just as well, if not better, if you don't stress yourself out over it and concentrate on studying for the LC instead.
She said that the HPAT is practice-proof as long as you know the timing, get a good nights sleep and a decent breakfast! :P

Dunno how true any of this is but thought it might be of interest..

Fair enough on the Institute point, but I disagree with the practice-proof point.
The more you practice the style of questions the better you're going to get at doing them! I'm working through the UMAT sample papers and the HPAT ones, a lot of the questions are kind of recurring... I'm getting gradually, but noticably, better from practice. And that's from all 3 sections, particularly the first one.

shamoono · 07-02-2009 9:51pm

HQvhs wrote: »

I was at a guidance counselor/psychologist person to ask about the HPAT, she laughed about the people going to the Institute doing the "prep" courses.
She told me that you'll do just as well, if not better, if you don't stress yourself out over it and concentrate on studying for the LC instead.
She said that the HPAT is practice-proof as long as you know the timing, get a good nights sleep and a decent breakfast! :P

Dunno how true any of this is but thought it might be of interest..

I agree with bythewoods. I have actually found that I am improving in the questions. There is a vast amount questions online which you can order with a medicine preparation course. All you have to do is to create a method for each different type of question for Section 1 and 3. As for Section 2 you will just have to start communicate with people and talk about their problems.

shamoono · 07-02-2009 9:58pm

Piste wrote: »

Get the 39 to dame street and get off by the central bank, trinity is just down the road if you keep walking straight ahead.

Cheers.

Fad · 07-02-2009 10:18pm

HQvhs wrote: »

I was at a guidance counselor/psychologist person to ask about the HPAT, she laughed about the people going to the Institute doing the "prep" courses.
She told me that you'll do just as well, if not better, if you don't stress yourself out over it and concentrate on studying for the LC instead.
She said that the HPAT is practice-proof as long as you know the timing, get a good nights sleep and a decent breakfast! :P

Dunno how true any of this is but thought it might be of interest..

As two people have already stated, thats not really true, two guys in my year have done the Prep course (one wanted to, one guys mum made him even though he didnt need it......) both have seen marked improvements in results.

Preformance in standardised exams can be improved if you familiarise yourself with format/question style.

whadabouchasir · 07-02-2009 11:24pm

Fad wrote: »

Preformance in standardised exams can be improved if you familiarise yourself with format/question style.

I'd say this is probably true, but only if the practice tests are very similar to the real thing and of course it is impossible to be sure if they will be. Since there is no cirriculum or anything then they can ask almost any question they want. I'm not sure if learning off methods would be such a good idea either as the test is designed to asses how you respond to new situations, so it seems likely that the questions in the test will be quite different to the sample tests. Saying that though if you were serious you couldn't possibly do absolutely nothing.

cautioner · 07-02-2009 11:53pm

This particular page of this happy little thread rrrreally has the "oh f*ck, oh f*ck, oh f*ck" alarms ringing in my head.

Piste · 08-02-2009 12:18am

Same

cautioner · 08-02-2009 12:21am

I'm guessing it's too late to buy the UMAT tests?

Piste · 08-02-2009 12:24am

I doubt they'd arrive before Saturday, I was thinking the same thing myself

I was really worried when I looked over the practice test, I found them much harder even though I did them before. Maybe I was just tired or something. I'm going to have to make sure I'm up really early so I can wake up properly before the test!

cautioner · 08-02-2009 12:27am

This would be a good week to try and deduce my optimum sleep time; I know some people feel more refreshed with 6 hours than 8, think I might possibly be one of them.

Oh, look at that, I think I'm panicking now. Fancy that.

Piste · 08-02-2009 12:29am

I'm so used to sleeping in til 11.30 on Saturdays, it'll be some shock to the system to be up at half 7, I'll have to have a really early night so!

At least I can drown my sorrows in pink champagne and be comforted by my boyfriend that night!

cautioner · 08-02-2009 12:34am

Oh yeah, I'd forgotten that... Second consecutive V.D* in Dublin for me, full of annoyingly happy people skipping around with pink champagne and boyfriends... Nevar again.

*I like to call it VD on behalf of all bitter single people because it sounds somewhat like an STD.

EDIT: But I digress. It's another point I'd wondered about though, having the exam beginning so early. I'm ok because I can crash with my brother Friday night but otherwise I would have had serious trouble getting to an exam centre on time! Makes the lack of a Limerick centre even more odd.

Piste · 08-02-2009 12:59am

I'll only be annoyingly happyif theexam goes well, if it doesn't it'll be whinging to the boyf all night for me

shamoono · 08-02-2009 12:29pm

Oh sh** oh sh** oh sh**

I can't believe it's in 6 days. I gotta get to work on practice exams but I have these f***** mocks. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Oh and how many people are applying to medicine from your school(s) if you know?

Gloom · 08-02-2009 12:32pm

Only about 5 from mine. I see 3/5 doing really well.

Good luck to everyone doing them.

shamoono · 08-02-2009 1:04pm

Wow, I'm the only person from my school. lol

Yeah, good luck to everyone.

cautioner · 08-02-2009 1:14pm

Me and one other guy from my school, but he's of the firm opinion that if he gets 480 points he'll get medicine.

amacachi · 08-02-2009 1:24pm

Anyone on here have to get up earlier than 6 to get to the exam centre? Pain in the nuts.

If boards is a good indicator of how panicky everyone is, should be a laugh seein everyone at the exam.

Piste · 08-02-2009 1:34pm

From my year there are at least 7 of us sitting the HPAT I think. Not everyone has medicine as the first choice though, I'm hoping that trend is the same across the country!

cautioner · 08-02-2009 1:45pm

What could have higher points than Medicine?

kellykl · 08-02-2009 1:47pm

Hey! Would anyone be kind enough to explain Question 92 in section 3 of the sample booklet for me? The answer in the book is b but any which way I look at it I keep coming up with e! Help!

Adventure · 08-02-2009 2:07pm

kellykl wrote: »

Hey! Would anyone be kind enough to explain Question 92 in section 3 of the sample booklet for me? The answer in the book is b but any which way I look at it I keep coming up with e! Help!

Rotate it clockwise by 45 degrees, then 90 then 135 and finally 180 (adding 45 in each case)

That leaves only B and E possible.

The white bar in the middle moves from right to middle then left and then left to middle then right etc.

If you ignored that the wheel did a 180degree rotation you would have picked E but take that into account then it should be B.

An easy way to do it would be to move the white bar first then rotate the wheel.

Hope that was clear enough!:pac:

kellykl · 08-02-2009 2:18pm

Yeah, I see that now. So simple but it was driving me demented!
Thanks a mill and best of luck to everyone, this time next week it'll be all over!

HQvhs · 08-02-2009 2:19pm

Fad wrote: »

As two people have already stated, thats not really true, two guys in my year have done the Prep course (one wanted to, one guys mum made him even though he didnt need it......) both have seen marked improvements in results.

Preformance in standardised exams can be improved if you familiarise yourself with format/question style.

Well 'tis only what I've been told, I don't mean to make it out to be gospel truth! What the point my guidance counselor was trying to make (I think!) was that studying for the HPAT is futile as it tests your innate strengths. The whole exam deals with how you react under pressure, your on the spot thinking etc.
Although timing etc. are very important, there really doesn't seem to be any need to spend weeks devoting time and money to it. Just be calm, confident and well-rested. That's my plan! In the end, it's only an aptitude test, and we've all done them before! So good luck to all as well!

By the by, I recall reading somewhere that around 2500 people put down Medicine number one in the CAO last year for about 470 places. Last year, about 6200 people received over 480 points in the LC, while 1500 received over 550. So assuming on how you think the new points system will work, that'll help put the competition in perspective. This is all from examinations.ie if you look at their statistics section. Might satisfy some peoples curiosity.. I know it has for me!

MrPain · 08-02-2009 2:24pm

In my year there are 3 taking the HPAT including me out of a group of just under a 100.

Piste · 08-02-2009 3:19pm

cautioner wrote: »

What could have higher points than Medicine?

Nothing, but you never know this year, medicine miht go below law or veterinary. People have their CAOs down in order of preference too so medicine isn't necessarily the first choice.

cautioner · 08-02-2009 3:24pm

I suppose... Funny to think someone might not get their first choice and end up settling for Medicine!

whadabouchasir · 08-02-2009 3:26pm

Piste wrote: »

I doubt they'd arrive before Saturday, quote]
Don't worry, almost half of the questions in the UMAT papers are EXACTLY the same as those in the hpat paper. I mean word for word the same.

pureirishsugar · 08-02-2009 7:15pm

thank you whataboutshur, feeling at little less paniciky now

cautioner · 08-02-2009 9:13pm

^Ditto, was really kicking myself there...

Piste · 08-02-2009 9:29pm

Yeah same, thanks!

shamoono · 09-02-2009 12:05am

Ya think many applying for medicine through HEAR?

SarcasticFairy · 09-02-2009 1:40pm

shamoono wrote: »

Ya think many applying for medicine through HEAR?

I know at least three who are, but they're all from different schools (not that that really makes a difference I suppose...). But you're not competing with them, places are kept for people competing on the HEAr programme.

shamoono · 09-02-2009 2:09pm

SarcasticFairy wrote: »

I know at least three who are, but they're all from different schools (not that that really makes a difference I suppose...). But you're not competing with them, places are kept for people competing on the HEAr programme.

So your telling me if I'm elligible for the HEAR and get all of the requirements I have myself a place. OR that I will be competing against those who are eligible and applied for medicine.

SarcasticFairy · 09-02-2009 2:50pm

shamoono wrote: »

So your telling me if I'm elligible for the HEAR and get all of the requirements I have myself a place. OR that I will be competing against those who are eligible and applied for medicine.

Em, I'm not completely sure how it works, but like 10-15% of places are kept for non traditional students, like mature students and HEAR applicants. I'm pretty sure there must be some form of competition between the HEAR applicants, because otherwise they wouldn't require so much info and the personal statements (or is personal statements TAP?! I don't know). I doubt if you apply through HEAR and just get the requirements you are automatically eligible for a place, I assume there's some competition, although not necessarily based on the points you get.

Hmm, I assume they calculate how much of a point reduction you get based on your financial situation, and therefore the worse off you are, the more likely you are to get a place. I don't even know if that makes sense, I'm just speculating.

HPAT

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