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**HPAT and Medicine 2016**

2456716

Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 10 Ryan97


    Thinking of doing medicine and trying to get the Hpat sorted. Does anyone know where I can get practice papers? I haven't taken one yet so I want to give it a go.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 272 ✭✭alaskayoung


    Ryan97 wrote: »
    Thinking of doing medicine and trying to get the Hpat sorted. Does anyone know where I can get practice papers? I haven't taken one yet so I want to give it a go.

    You can download a full HPAT sample paper from the ACER website for free.


  • Registered Users Posts: 149 ✭✭CookieCat97


    You can download a full HPAT sample paper from the ACER website for free.

    Could you post a link up for this because I can't seem to find it on the site? :confused:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 272 ✭✭alaskayoung


    Could you post a link up for this because I can't seem to find it on the site? :confused:

    Have you made a HPAT Ireland account? Can't post a link because you have to sign into your own. Sign in, go to the practice material section and the free download of Practice Paper 1 should be available. There are others available for purchase too.


  • Registered Users Posts: 7 GavD97


    I'm sorry but doing 2 hours a night of hpat prep is absolute insanity. Hpat prep companies have sold this idea that everyone is capable of getting a good enough hpat score if they practise enough which is simply not true. I know it sucks that it's not but that's just the way an APTITUDE test works. Why would they support this idea when it earns them no money? Familiarize yourself with the layout, download the official acer practise exams to get your timing right and spend some time looking at lots of different section 3 examples. That's the only section that a bit of practice has been proven to improve your score which is why they decreased its % value of the exam. That said your potential score and the amount of time you spend studying it is not linear. Your ability will still peak at a certain point regardless.
    There are people who did the hpat with a lot of prep who got excellent scores but they more than likely would have gotten those scores anyway. People who repeat the hpat do better probably because they have been through it before and know exactly what to expect on the day. What about the people who put a lot of time into prep and get poor scores on the day? They're more numerous but funny enough they're not spoken about because they don't sell prep courses. They're not stupid and the people who do well with no prep aren't genii, the latter simply have a better natural aptitude for the exam.
    I don't know why I'm even wasting my time writing this. No one is going to take it on board because no one wants to believe that it's true. Don't psych yourself out on the day, don't obsess about it for months beforehand. If it's meant to happen for you, it will. That is how an aptitude test works. Work hard and focus on the leaving cert. That is a result that is completely in your control.
    (And I'm sorry but I don't know why the quoted user is advising you to do what he/she did, to spend a huge amount of your study time preparing for the hpat, when his method didn't even yield a good enough result? Not being rude but that doesn't make sense to me). This is what worked for me. I got 91st % with no prep. It's not a popular idea for obvious reasons, everyone wants to believe that they can make it happen for themselves, but in my opinion it's the truth. To give yourself the best chance of success, focus on the exams you can control.

    I was adviced to do what I did by someone who got 98%ile in 2014 hpat. To be fair, the majority of people won't get a high percentile with no prep, like you. I really don't think you understand just how lucky you are. For anyone else reading this, I understand if you think that what I said in my other comment, about doing 2 hours a night in the lead up to the exam isn't a good idea for your leaving cert year, but seriously don't do nothing! It is really an exam that no one can know how they did until results. I'm not starting a fight with this guy, but what he is saying doesn't really make sense. Your odds are slim if you do nothing! Good luck anyway.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 272 ✭✭alaskayoung


    GavD97 wrote: »
    I was adviced to do what I did by someone who got 98%ile in 2014 hpat. To be fair, the majority of people won't get a high percentile with no prep, like you. I really don't think you understand just how lucky you are. For anyone else reading this, I understand if you think that what I said in my other comment, about doing 2 hours a night in the lead up to the exam isn't a good idea for your leaving cert year, but seriously don't do nothing! It is really an exam that no one can know how they did until results. I'm not starting a fight with this guy, but what he is saying doesn't really make sense. Your odds are slim if you do nothing! Good luck anyway.

    I never said do nothing. I said do the official practice exams to work on your timing and to get accustomed to they layout but after that in my opinion, the benefit of extensive preparation is negligible. If you are going to do well, you will do well regardless of if you fork out on preparation courses and spend hours practicing material. Save your time and money. The only people putting forward the idea that it can be prepared for are the preparation course companies themselves. I wonder why? As many people have said, there are hundreds of students who spend a great deal of time preparing for it and get a poor result. They don't tell you about them do they? They only publicize the people who use their service, get a high mark, even though they probably would have gotten it regardless. The people who say they wouldn't have should have more faith in themselves.
    And I'm a girl btw :rolleyes:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 200 ✭✭Doctorhopeful


    do the official practice exams to work on your timing and to get accustomed to they layout but after that in my opinion, the benefit of extensive preparation is negligible.

    ^this 100%. The people who do the prep courses when they repeat and jump up extra percentiles are mostly people who were stressed/not familiar with the exam the first time around. The idea that they failed the first time because they didn't spend hundreds of euros on a prep course and didn't do hours of prep each night is completely false.

    Two of my friends did mędentry and severely underperformed regardless of working on it religiously. I doubt you'll hear about those people because they don't further the agenda of prep courses ie to sell more places and make more money.

    For the record I got 98th percentile like your friend and did two acer sample exams the month before. You can choose which one of us you wanna listen to in regards to spending hundreds of euros. Both are anecdotal and neither guarantee what will work for you.

    Don't blindly believe you have to do the course to succeed, that's the idea that the prep companies have created.


  • Registered Users Posts: 7 GavD97


    I never said do nothing. I said do the official practice exams to work on your timing and to get accustomed to they layout but after that in my opinion, the benefit of extensive preparation is negligible. If you are going to do well, you will do well regardless of if you fork out on preparation courses and spend hours practicing material. Save your time and money. The only people putting forward the idea that it can be prepared for are the preparation course companies themselves. I wonder why? As many people have said, there are hundreds of students who spend a great deal of time preparing for it and get a poor result. They don't tell you about them do they? They only publicize the people who use their service, get a high mark, even though they probably would have gotten it regardless. The people who say they wouldn't have should have more faith in themselves.
    And I'm a girl btw :rolleyes:

    I understand what you are saying and it does make sense, but I guess everyone is different! Sorry for arguing with you.. No point in that. I'm just annoyed/upset with my results. Sorry again, and best of luck with points etc


  • Registered Users Posts: 3 78795


    Just thought Id weigh in here - currently doing medicine and I know how scary the whole HPAT thing can be.

    I didn't do any prep courses but I did buy the sample papers from acer. To be honest the only thing you can practice is getting used to timing and the style of question. I don't believe in 'HPAT study' but ultimately it is an aptitude test and not something you can necessarily learn. For example, I know plenty of people that spent a whole lot of money on courses like ME etc that didn't get medicine and almost an equal number of people that did no course that did get it.

    When it comes to HPAT one thing I feel like I have to stress is that you shouldn't compare your method of preparation with other people. I know a guy that did 2 hours a night for a year and it used to really make me feel awful and like I 'wasn't committed' or 'didn't want it enough' but really its all down to individual learning style.

    Finally - read lots. People that have a large vocabulary and that are used to reading are at a huge advantage (or at least thats a pattern that seems to be emerging amongst people I talk to) because sometimes the secret to getting the right answer lies in knowing the tiny differences in the meaning of words. So read a lot and also try to read a couple articles on Logical Fallacies because thats where a lot of people make mistakes with questions (don't assume things that you aren't told etc)

    Sorry that was so long


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  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 27,264 CMod ✭✭✭✭spurious


    Reading more is never a bad thing.
    Before phones and internet, it was not uncommon for LC students to read one or two novels a week, on top of school work. There would be a school of thought that a person could not be considered truly educated unless they had read many of the literary classics of their language.


  • Registered Users Posts: 149 ✭✭CookieCat97


    Have you made a HPAT Ireland account? Can't post a link because you have to sign into your own. Sign in, go to the practice material section and the free download of Practice Paper 1 should be available. There are others available for purchase too.

    I know this post was ages ago but I'm only reading it now! Thanks for that info! :)


  • Registered Users Posts: 149 ✭✭CookieCat97


    So I've been doing some research on prep courses and it seems from a lot of people I talk to, say that because it's an aptitude test that you will score according to your aptitude....however prep courses help you optimise your aptitude (aka they make sure you can get the highest you're ABLE to get) and because timings a big issue, people tell the more practice material you get the more accustomed you are to the format of certain sections and questions. :pac:
    This girl I talked to told me that there are so many practice questions on med-entry that you are never left idle online :)

    I was looking at the distance package with med-entry and it all seems to all be online which is when I came up with an idea! (I don't know if it's allowed or not so someone please pull me up if you think it's not allowed or if there might be a 'flaw' in the plan) but I was thinking of doing that and maybe teaming up with one or two other prospective med students and we could share an account online, like sharing a username and password kind of thing (which means splitting the price=more affordable) and it also means we kind of have a support buddy to help each other out during the year! :D

    so what do you guys think about it? do you think it would work? would anyone be interested in teaming up with me?


  • Registered Users Posts: 308 ✭✭kb98


    When do we have to register for hpat?


  • Registered Users Posts: 149 ✭✭CookieCat97


    kb98 wrote: »
    When do we have to register for hpat?

    As far as I know I think it's in November :)


  • Registered Users Posts: 17 Medicine2o15


    I'm a repeat student, did the hpat last year with very little prep and got 85th percentile, this year I did med entry and the weekend course and put a lot of work into it and ended up with 77th percentile. The leaving cert went well for me this year, jumped from 525 to 605 so hopefully should still get medicine.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 337 ✭✭Beca19


    So anyone else sitting or already sat the UKCAT?:)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 159 ✭✭WorthlessPeon


    Beca19 wrote: »
    So anyone else sitting or already sat the UKCAT?:)
    Was strongly considering it so I can apply for Belfast, are you? :)


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,335 ✭✭✭Consonata


    Are the ACER practice papers realistic though of what you will be getting on the actual day, because from what I've heard they prove to be a very poor comparison. But maybe that school of thought is being pushed by the various prep course providers.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 276 ✭✭Gallagher1


    Consonata wrote: »
    Are the ACER practice papers realistic though of what you will be getting on the actual day, because from what I've heard they prove to be a very poor comparison. But maybe that school of thought is being pushed by the various prep course providers.

    The question types are realistic of what could be asked but the actual exam is a lot harder(especially in S1 and 3). Practice test 2(I think) is the best representation of the exam but even at that I would only rank it 7/10 in terms of difficulty in comparison to the exam itself.

    Also, section 3 was a hundred times harder this year than any of the ACER exams.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,335 ✭✭✭Consonata


    Gallagher1 wrote: »
    The question types are realistic of what could be asked but the actual exam is a lot harder(especially in S1 and 3). Practice test 2(I think) is the best representation of the exam but even at that I would only rank it 7/10 in terms of difficulty in comparison to the exam itself.

    Also, section 3 was a hundred times harder this year than any of the ACER exams.

    So:

    Section 1 = Patterns and Puzzle solving

    Section 2 = Emotions and Reading Comprehension

    Section 3 = Mathematical problems

    Is this about right?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 200 ✭✭Doctorhopeful


    Consonata wrote:
    So:

    Section 1 = Patterns and Puzzle solving
    Section 2 = Emotions and Reading Comprehension
    Section 3 = Mathematical problems
    Is this about right?
    Section one - comprehensions and problem solving

    Section two - interpersonal understanding and reading emotions

    Section three - pattern solving


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,335 ✭✭✭Consonata


    Section one - comprehensions and problem solving

    Section two - interpersonal understanding and reading emotions

    Section three - pattern solving

    Thanks! I would love to get a poll within the other HPAT thread to see how many people would agree that the prep courses are useful. I'm not willing to drop €425 euro if it isn't worth it and I would get the same help from buying a few Ebooks from ACER. Anybody could give me advice on this?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 272 ✭✭alaskayoung


    Consonata wrote: »
    Thanks! I would love to get a poll within the other HPAT thread to see how many people would agree that the prep courses are useful. I'm not willing to drop €425 euro if it isn't worth it and I would get the same help from buying a few Ebooks from ACER. Anybody could give me advice on this?

    My advice would be to stick to the ACER tests, familiarize yourself with the style of questions, layout & timing and after that try to put it out of your mind as much as possible. I think one of the most damaging things a person can do to their hpat is obsessing about it in the months leading up to it when in my opinion it's out of your control. If you have it built up to a huge deal, you will not be able to think clearly and to your full potential on the day.

    I sat the hpat in 2014 having done a fair amount of prep in the months leading up to it, that particular course and others. It was constantly on my mind and as a result on the day I was absolutely terrified. Scored 78th percentile, not terrible but by no means wonderful either.

    I sat the hpat this year and did absolutely zero preparation. I actually wasn't even going to sit the exam in the weeks leading up to it and only the night before was like fxck I've got nothing to lose. Scored 91st percentile.

    Did my aptitude change over the year? No. Did my extensive preparation prepare me the first year? I'd say it HARMED my score a great great deal. The reason I did so well this year was because I went in, under absolutely no pressure, no build up, no crazed preparation in the months leading up to it, no obsessing about it. I could just sit there calmly and just do my best on the day, as it was designed. Hpat prep is an absolute joke. The companies making huge money off this idea of studying for it are the ones who have people convinced otherwise.

    Put the hpat out of your mind. Focus on the leaving cert, that is the exam you can optimize your potential in with extensive study. Try to relax about the hpat, you have the ability to do well in it or you don't and unfortunately as scary and difficult that is to accept, that is the truth. Panicking about it is only going to damage your thinking ability and impair your judgement on the day. It is an aptitude test, treat it as such.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 200 ✭✭Doctorhopeful


    Consonata wrote:
    Thanks! I would love to get a poll within the other HPAT thread to see how many people would agree that the prep courses are useful. I'm not willing to drop €425 euro if it isn't worth it and I would get the same help from buying a few Ebooks from ACER. Anybody could give me advice on this?
    personally, i didn't use a prep course and got 98th percentile. However, Gallagher1 used a prepcourse and got 97th percentile, so both methods work, you just have to find which is for you. I think they're a big waste of money but what can you do :P


  • Registered Users Posts: 251 ✭✭OMGeary


    Consonata wrote:
    Thanks! I would love to get a poll within the other HPAT thread to see how many people would agree that the prep courses are useful. I'm not willing to drop €425 euro if it isn't worth it and I would get the same help from buying a few Ebooks from ACER. Anybody could give me advice on this?


    I started med entry at Christmas of last year, and would do one of their practice exams every weekend, like spend 3 or 4 hours on a Saturday morning doing the test then going through all the answers seeing why they were right or wrong. I also did their 2 day course. I ended up getting 94th percentile. Tbh I always scored very high on section 1. But with practice my section 2 and 3 got higher. I found it useful but it really is all about practice and finding out the tricks and ways to approach every type of question. I think this is particularly true with section 3. So yeah I think prep course is good, but if you can get your hands on lots of practice material that will help alot


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 276 ✭✭Gallagher1


    My advice would be to stick to the ACER tests, familiarize yourself with the style of questions. It is an aptitude test, treat it as such.

    1) We both seem to agree that familiarisation is important. I just preferred the endless amount of questions that a certain company offered. This is what helped me and is what I personally would recommend. You seem to think prep courses themselves are bad. Anyone who thinks that by doing a course will get them X in HPAT is deluded. The day course where they 'teach' you to do stuff is by and large bol1ocks I'll straight up admit maybe apart from one teeeeeny aspect with S1. The practice exams they gave us online were useful however.

    2)No true aptitude test should allow someone to double their percentile rank in a second sitting. And trust me, stress was not a factor in my lower first round score.
    personally, i didn't use a prep course and got 98th percentile. However, Gallagher1 used a prepcourse and got 97th percentile, so both methods work, you just have to find which is for you. I think they're a big waste of money but what can you do :P

    The 'classes' can be a waste of money but if you look at buying access to the online exams and drills only, it works out cheaper than the ACER papers per question, and the questions are oftentimes better too :pac:

    But yeah, different people will have different things that work for them. I know of people that have scored unbelievably high without prep and I know of people who have scored 212 doing a lot of prep. There is no magic equation to this exam.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,232 ✭✭✭Bazinga_N


    Beca19 wrote: »
    So anyone else sitting or already sat the UKCAT?:)

    I was planning to but I only discovered today that I'd need to apply within the next month and do it in October the latest :eek: I'm not so sure now as I've done 0 prep for it! I'll have to discuss it with my careers teacher in the first week to see what she thinks I should do. €110 is quite expensive too! It'd be great to be able to apply to Belfast and Scotland though :o


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,335 ✭✭✭Consonata


    Bazinga_N wrote: »
    I was planning to but I only discovered today that I'd need to apply within the next month and do it in October the latest :eek: I'm not so sure now as I've done 0 prep for it! I'll have to discuss it with my careers teacher in the first week to see what she thinks I should do. €110 is quite expensive too! It'd be great to be able to apply to Belfast and Scotland though :o

    Yeah, it's good prep in itself for the HPAT I would argue. It would be nice to have the fallback to Scotland just in case the HPAT doesn't go my way. Is there any real difference in the format of the paper from the HPAT?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,232 ✭✭✭Bazinga_N


    Consonata wrote: »
    Yeah, it's good prep in itself for the HPAT I would argue. It would be nice to have the fallback to Scotland just in case the HPAT doesn't go my way. Is there any real difference in the format of the paper from the HPAT?
    I agree Belfast and Scotland would be great and it'd be great prep for the HPAT too. I've done a bit of research online and it seems most people don't do courses for it and just practice online and with a specific book (600 UKCAT Practice Questions or something like that) and get on okay. I'd nearly be willing to give it a go!

    I'm not sure how my JC grades would do for UK entry though as apparently a lot of schools over there take them into consideration :eek:


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 159 ✭✭WorthlessPeon


    I'd be sorted with the JC grades but Belfast will only give you an offer with the condition that you get 5 A1s and 1 B2...which means 605 points lads! A half decent HPAT and those LC points would get you into any med college here


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  • Registered Users Posts: 3 78795


    Honestly Id say for the UKCAT just do the online practice paper (maybe 2) and just go in and go for it. If its only a fall back then there shouldn't be much pressure and a few of the sections might give you an idea to how you're doing in terms of HPAT and it'll give you a feel for the whole aptitude situation. You get the results on the day so even then if you decide you don't think its good enough/change your mind then you don't have to do the rest of the application

    tl;dr - if you don't mind spending the money on it Id 100% recommend it


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 337 ✭✭Beca19


    Bazinga_N wrote: »
    I agree Belfast and Scotland would be great and it'd be great prep for the HPAT too. I've done a bit of research online and it seems most people don't do courses for it and just practice online and with a specific book (600 UKCAT Practice Questions or something like that) and get on okay. I'd nearly be willing to give it a go!

    Late reply but yeah I was planning on prepping in June/July and sitting it in August but then my job got in the way so I did nothing haha.. I actually ordered that book today so I'll give it a go in october :) Not all of them are GSCE heavy I don't think maybe research what ones lean more for UKCAT/personal statement/predicted grades? I think I'll apply for Queens (though 5A1s seems eh, not exactly likely) Edinburgh, Aberdeen and then not sure? I'd love to apply to King's College London but the fees :(


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,232 ✭✭✭Bazinga_N


    Beca19 wrote: »
    Late reply but yeah I was planning on prepping in June/July and sitting it in August but then my job got in the way so I did nothing haha.. I actually ordered that book today so I'll give it a go in october :) Not all of them are GSCE heavy I don't think maybe research what ones lean more for UKCAT/personal statement/predicted grades? I think I'll apply for Queens (though 5A1s seems eh, not exactly likely) Edinburgh, Aberdeen and then not sure? I'd love to apply to King's College London but the fees :(

    You're grand! I've actually decided to give it a go in October too! Ordered the book today as well :D Yeah I've been looking into the JC results and I've found most places just look for JC results if you don't have Physics/Biology at LC or they require a B in JC maths and English or something which I have, so I should be fine! I'm thinking of going for Queens, Edinsburgh, St. Andrew's and either Dundee or Aberdeen :pac: not sure yet!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 337 ✭✭Beca19


    Bazinga_N wrote: »
    You're grand! I've actually decided to give it a go in October too! Ordered the book today as well :D Yeah I've been looking into the JC results and I've found most places just look for JC results if you don't have Physics/Biology at LC or they require a B in JC maths and English or something which I have, so I should be fine! I'm thinking of going for Queens, Edinsburgh, St. Andrew's and either Dundee or Aberdeen :pac: not sure yet!

    Aw sound so :D would you pick any of them over Ireland or is it just a backup? Btw the online practice kit on the website is pretty good!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,232 ✭✭✭Bazinga_N


    Beca19 wrote: »
    Aw sound so :D would you pick any of them over Ireland or is it just a backup? Btw the online practice kit on the website is pretty good!
    I'm actually not sure yet :eek: I really like the thought of going abroad for university (I know the UK isn't exactly very abroad but you know what I mean :pac: ). I guess I'll make my decision later in the year when I see what offers I get :p


  • Registered Users Posts: 308 ✭✭kb98


    Do all the UK medicine courses required chemistry?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,232 ✭✭✭Bazinga_N


    kb98 wrote: »
    Do all the UK medicine courses required chemistry?
    I don't think all but I'm sure most of them do require Chemistry! A lot require Chemistry and Biology it seems.

    Search for Medicine on UCAS and see the entry requirements for each of them :)


  • Registered Users Posts: 308 ✭✭kb98


    Bazinga_N wrote:
    Search for Medicine on UCAS and see the entry requirements for each of them

    Bazinga_N wrote:
    I don't think all but I'm sure most of them do require Chemistry! A lot require Chemistry and Biology it seems.


    Yeah I looked up some of them and nearly all required chemistry it seems


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,335 ✭✭✭Consonata


    kb98 wrote: »
    Yeah I looked up some of them and nearly all required chemistry it seems

    Are the requirements cast iron or can some be made up in the personal statement do you think?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,232 ✭✭✭Bazinga_N


    Consonata wrote: »
    Are the requirements cast iron or can some be made up in the personal statement do you think?
    Well they'll find out what subjects you did because you'll need to give your grades in your UCAS application. Your referee has to give a set of predicted grades at first and then when you get your offers you might get a conditional offer which means you'll get your offer if you get the predicted grades when the results come out. So there's no way around the entry requirements I think.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2 cxrpe


    <deleted>

    Mod: Read the first post.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 511 ✭✭✭TheBiz


    Can't believe this actually applies to me!
    Have people already started studying for the Hpat?

    What did you're career guidance counsellors give you to prepare for the Hpat?
    How did you prepare?..

    Basically how to not do completely terrible on the Hpat


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 337 ✭✭Beca19


    TheBiz wrote: »
    Can't believe this actually applies to me!
    Have people already started studying for the Hpat?

    What did you're career guidance counsellors give you to prepare for the Hpat?
    How did you prepare?..

    Basically how to not do completely terrible on the Hpat
    1. Not me
    2. Nothing :(
    3. Last years forum has a good bit of advice :) (though a lot of it conflicting..)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 511 ✭✭✭TheBiz


    Beca19 wrote: »
    1. Not me
    2. Nothing :(
    3. Last years forum has a good bit of advice :) (though a lot of it conflicting..)

    I've lurking around there for awhile!
    I seen one posting saying 2 hours every second night and another saying an hour a month.. So.. I've no idea!


  • Registered Users Posts: 23 Robbiert


    I started preparing in late June. I've nearly finished all the m€d€ntry drills and completed three of the practice exams.
    I've found that the guidance councillors in our school are inept when it comes to anything useful so I wouldn't rely on their advice with anything as important as the Hpat.
    I think it's best to try out ACERs official tests to gauge your potential and it serves as a pretty good starting point, since they are widely believed to be easier than the real thing.i think it's going to be difficult to balance Hpat work with the usual lc workload so I think it's wise doing stuff early.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 200 ✭✭Doctorhopeful


    TheBiz wrote:
    I've lurking around there for awhile!
    I seen one posting saying 2 hours every second night and another saying an hour a month.. So.. I've no idea!
    that's the truth of it to be honest, there is no catch all solution! You have to find out what works for you. I would recommend you do the acer hpat exams and then see from there whether you feel you're ready (like i was) or if you need to do extra work with a prep course (like a few people on here. I got 98th percentile and Gallagher1 got 97th percentile with a lot of work, so at the end of the day no one can really tell you what will work. Sorry dude, but you'll figure out soon enough and you have sooooo much time (i started prep the month before :pac: )! Best of luck


  • Registered Users Posts: 3 ultravioletiz


    I know about the ACER test material but was wondering where did people get other practice and preparation material


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,335 ✭✭✭Consonata


    A quick Google should find you some sources. Strictly speaking we aren't allowed to talk about it here I think.


  • Registered Users Posts: 69 ✭✭hubluh


    Does anyone recommend any books for the HPAT? And what do you guys think of the Med-Entry grinds?


  • Registered Users Posts: 6 Cob9


    Hi there I'm in 5th year and am dead set on medicine for 2017 I was just wondering since I'm going to start the hpat revision now and get a head start on it is there any real need for me to do the any of the courses at this stage or should I wait until next year my current subjects are chemistry physics and engineering but I'm hoping to swap engineering for biology just for the sake of med if anyone has any tips for these subjects there greatly appreciated Thanks
    hubluh wrote: »
    Does anyone recommend any books for the HPAT? And what do you guys think of the Med-Entry grinds?

    I've heard that "the ultimate psychometric tests by Mike bryon" is supposed to be a descent book as it teaches you about how the hpat and alike tests work and it helps a lot on the different topics in each section of the hpat. U should be able to get it in any bookstore

    Hope that helps


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