HPAT experience
Sarah’s HPAT & Medicine Experience
Sarah took our Ace the HPAT course and scored in the 94th percentile in HPAT 2023. She is now studying medicine in UCD. Here she has written about her experience with advice to test-takers.
Studying for the HPAT can be a very daunting process and it can be especially difficult when balancing the preparation with other Leaving Cert subjects. Hopefully this can provide some insight into my experience of the exam.
How I studied for the HPAT
Doing the online classes with ‘Ace the HPAT’, were very engaging and made me feel less alone in the process. The HPAT, unlike the LC, can be an isolating exam to study for especially if no one else you know is also preparing for it. I had one friend in school who I knew also wanted to get into Medicine and so we decided to prepare together. We shared notes, opinions and kept each other accountable throughout the process.
I found that I was strongest in Sections 2 and 3 (S2,S3)and knew that I needed to spend extra time focusing on Section 1 (S1). Hence, after doing an exam on Saturday, I spent some of Saturday and Sunday reviewing S1 in depth. I would also try and complete my review of S2 during the weekend while I had more time. S3 was a section I found enjoyable to do as it seemed almost like a game, so I would review that during the school week. Each day during the week I would spend maybe an hour or two doing practice questions depending on the workload of the LC on said week.
While doing lots of exams and practice questions can feel productive, from my experience I saw most of my improvement came from correcting and reviewing my exams. This is an area that can often be overlooked as it can seem slightly boring and less satisfying. However, it is integral to gain an appreciation for the type of questions that are asked.
I kept a notebook for each section of the exam, and would create a space for what I felt I did well in a question and what I felt needed further attention. As I went through each question in my review, whether I got the answer right or wrong, I tried to remember my thought process at the time of taking the exam. If I got the question right, I might detail ‘good use of reasoning… etc ’. If I got the question wrong, I would write a very brief reason as to why, maybe I ‘didn’t see the ‘did not’ in the question prompt’ or I ‘ran out of time’. Then I would write underneath what I could change about my approach should a similar question come up.
While this seems tedious and time consuming, I found it was an active way of reviewing the exam instead of just passively reading answers provided. In saying that, you don’t need to write pages and pages of notes for each exam as realistically you won’t have time to re- read them before the HPAT. I tried to keep my notes concise and relevant.
Each week I did an exam on Saturday followed by review and practice questions every day until Friday which I treated as my ‘day off’.
Balancing time between HPAT and the Leaving Cert
The HPAT is weighted more heavily in terms of points than any singular leaving cert subject. Many consider it to be equivalent to two subjects. Knowing this can help give a concept of how much time is required to spend studying for it. For the majority of my study, I structured my week around doing one exam every weekend. Since the HPAT is now online and you can pick the day that you want to take it, you now have the flexibility to decide what time in the day you feel you are most alert and exam ready! Try to be consistent with the time of day you do each practice exam.
Applying through CAO
It is very important to be aware of all the deadlines for applying to Medicine as it is often different to most other courses. Write down in your calendar when you need to have applied to sit the HPAT and what day you decide to sit it. Ask a parent or guardian to note down these dates as well just in case.
Days and weeks leading up to the exam
As you approach the HPAT you should start paring back the volume of study you do. Plan ahead so that you don’t leave elements of each section to the last minute to review or study. This is a particularly difficult time as the exam is held around the same time as your mocks but it is important to remember that while the mocks seem all encompassing, they are only a test run for the LC, the HPAT however can only be done once a year. Make sure you are prioritising sleep in the two-week run up to the exam. Focus on your best sections to try and improve them even more, though without completely neglecting weaker sections.
The day before the exam, I re-read the notes that I had taken throughout my study and reminded myself of the timing of each section. Finally, I tried my best to stay calm by reassuring myself that I had done my best to prepare.
Taking the HPAT exam online
Ensure you have read through all the rules and guidelines that Acer provide in their handbook on the exam. Be prepared for possible delays in connecting to a proctor. I know it is much easier said than done but whatever happens on the day from a technical point of view try to remain calm. Read each question carefully but in good time.
Experience in University so far
I am in UCD and loving my experience so far! The course is very well structured and really interesting to study. At times it can of course get stressful when it comes to exams but everyone gets through it. I wish anyone who is in the process of applying to Medicine the best of luck! All the hard work you do to prepare pays off when you get into college!
