Everything students, parents, and guidance counsellors need — test format, scoring, sample questions, interactive exercises, and registration steps.
Next sitting
HPAT 2027 — February 2027
Who needs to sit HPAT?
HPAT is mandatory if you are applying for undergraduate medicine in Ireland through the CAO. It is also required for certain postgraduate programmes at the University of Limerick.
You are in 6th year and applying for undergraduate medicine through the CAO. You need a CAO number before registering.
The test measures reasoning and interpersonal skills — not Leaving Cert subjects. Practice with question types is genuinely helpful.
A 2026 HPAT score can only be used for 2026 CAO offers. You cannot carry it forward to 2027.
Non-EU students may be exempt from HPAT. Check with individual universities as requirements vary.
Registration opens in November. Standard deadline is mid-January. Late registration costs an extra €75. Your child must have a CAO number first.
Standard fee €164. UL Written English adds €22. Late registration adds €75. Third-party prep courses are separate.
HPAT is online via remote proctoring (ProctorU). Needs a computer with webcam, stable broadband, quiet space. School networks may block the software.
HPAT score (0–300) adds to moderated LC points (max 565) giving a maximum combined score of 865. Medicine typically requires 730+.
Students must be in final year or have completed their Leaving Cert. Mature applicants are 23+ on 1 January of application year. EU and non-EU rules differ.
Students must have their CAO number before registering for HPAT. Ensure students apply online — paper applications won't generate a number in time.
Students with documented disabilities can apply for accommodations. Applications must be submitted early with supporting documentation to ACER.
Current 5th years face a new scoring system (max 150 HPAT, max 625 LC, combined max 775). See full details.
Test format
HPAT is a 2.5-hour computer-based test with 114 multiple-choice questions across three mandatory sections. No breaks between sections. No marks deducted for wrong answers.
The heaviest section. You will read passages, examine data in graphs and tables, and work through logical puzzles. The key skill: identifying what can and cannot be concluded from given information.
Tip: Practise critical reading of newspapers and scientific articles. Distinguish conclusions that are certain vs merely probable.
You will read scenarios involving people in social and healthcare situations, then answer questions about what someone is feeling, thinking, or how they should respond.
Tip: Wide reading of character-driven fiction builds this skill more than any structured course.
You will work with shapes, patterns, and visual sequences without any text. This tests your ability to think logically without relying on language.
Tip: IQ-style pattern apps and puzzles genuinely help. This is the section where timed practice has the most impact.
Only required for MSc Occupational Therapy or MSc Speech and Language Therapy at UL. An additional fee of €22 applies.
| Section | Questions | Time | Avg per Q | Skills |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1 — Logical Reasoning | 42 | 60 min | ~86 sec | Critical thinking, data analysis |
| S2 — Interpersonal Understanding | 36 | 45 min | ~75 sec | Empathy, social reasoning |
| S3 — Non-Verbal Reasoning | 36 | 40 min | ~67 sec | Patterns, spatial logic |
| S4 — Written English (UL only) | 1 essay | 30 min | — | Academic writing |
| Total (S1–S3) | 114 questions | 145 minutes | — | No breaks between sections |
All questions multiple choice, one correct answer. No negative marking. Source: hpat-ireland.acer.org
Scoring & results
Scores are calculated using Item Response Theory (IRT) and reported on a 0–300 scale alongside a percentile rank comparing you to all other candidates that year.
The 0–300 scale
Current system (up to and including 2026)
Your raw score is converted using IRT — a statistical method accounting for question difficulty. The same scaled score may reflect different numbers of correct answers in different years.
Percentile rank
How you compare to other candidates
A percentile of 85 means you scored higher than 85% of all candidates. For most medicine programmes, a percentile of 85+ is typically needed to be competitive.
Moderated LC points
How LC points are adjusted for medicine
For school leavers applying in 2026, LC points above 550 are moderated — adjusted upward to a maximum of 565.
When results are released
Two release windows
No re-marks or special consideration can be given. Results are final.
Combined score calculator
Adjust your estimated LC points and HPAT score to see your combined total against recent medicine entry thresholds. Indicative only.
Question bank
20 questions across all three sections. Select your answer, then reveal the full explanation including why wrong options are wrong.
Skill builder exercises
17 interactive exercises building the specific reasoning, empathy, and pattern-recognition skills each HPAT section demands. Return weekly — improvement is cumulative.
Study guide
The HPAT is not a subject exam — you cannot memorise your way to a good score. But you absolutely can improve with the right preparation.
Third-party providers are not affiliated with ACER or MyCareerVerse. Only official ACER materials contain real past test questions.
Practice timer
Select a section to load its exact time limit, or set your own. Always practise with a running clock.
How to register
Registration is online only. You need a CAO number first. Start early — do not leave it to the last minute.
Apply online at cao.ie — paper applications will not generate a number in time. UL MSc applicants do not need a CAO number.
Go to registration.acer.edu.au and create a new account. Your name and date of birth must exactly match the photo ID you will present on test day.
Log in, select 'Register for HPAT-Ireland 2027', confirm your CAO number, and pay online.
Book your specific test sitting through ProctorU. Install Guardian Browser before test day and run the equipment check using the same computer and connection you will use. Do not use school, library, or workplace networks — firewalls may block ProctorU.
Preparation checklist
Work through these milestones across all three sections. Tick each item as you complete it — progress is saved in your browser.
🧠 Section 1
💬 Section 2
🔷 Section 3
✅ Overall
Frequently asked questions
Upcoming changes
The IUA has announced changes to the medicine points calculation for students entering from 2027. If you are in 5th year now, this affects you.
Angela is a qualified guidance counsellor with experience helping students navigate subject choices, CAO applications, and career planning.