How to Interpret your HPAT Results

HPAT results have been released! You will have received an email from ACER with details on how to access your results. This blog contains information for how to interpret your HPAT statement of results.

What do the numbers on the HPAT Statement of Results mean?

Your HPAT Statement of Results will display two measures of your performance: HPAT score and HPAT percentile. 

Your overall HPAT score is a weighted sum of your three section scores. Sections 1 and 2 are each weighted at 40%, and section 3 is weighted at 20%. For the mathematically inclined, the formula for calculating the overall HPAT score is 0.4 x (Section 1 + Section 2) + 0.2 x Section 3. 

The HPAT section scores are derived (scaled) from your raw score (the number of questions you got right) using statistical methods that are not made publicly available by ACER. Note that you will never know your raw score. Section scores normally, but not always, range in value from 0-20 to 100. The maximum overall score possible is theoretically 300, but in reality very few students obtain an overall score over 200 (they are usually in the top 1% of candidates). Last year the highest overall HPAT score obtained was 237 (obtained by a MedEntry student).

Your percentile rank gives an indication of how your overall score compares to other students who sat HPAT in that year. For example, if you obtain a percentile rank of 60, this means you have performed better than 60% of students and 40% of students have performed better than you. 

How is entry into medicine determined?

Entry into medicine is determined by adding together your HPAT score and adjusted* Leaving Certificate scores. Candidates are then ranked on the basis of this combined score, and offers are made. As for all CAO offers, where there is a tie on points for the last remaining places, random selection will apply. 

Leaving Certificate Examination points are adjusted as follows:

• Students who obtain 550 points or less: no adjustment to points
• Students who obtain higher than 550 points: each additional 5 points achieved over 550 points is adjusted to 1 point. Therefore, the highest adjusted leaving certificate points possible when applying for medicine is 565 [(625 – 550) ÷ 5 = 15; 550 + 15 = 565]

How many points will I need to get into medicine?

Last year, following were the minimum combined points required for entry into medicine in the first round: 

*not all students with these points were offered a place

Note that the minimum combined points required for entry into medicine vary from year to year – sometimes they go up, and sometimes they go down. 

Can I request a remark?

ACER states that HPAT-Ireland results are released ‘only after careful calculation and extensive checking’. Prior to 2020, it was possible to request a re-check of your answer sheet at a cost of €85. However, since 2021, HPAT-Ireland has run online, and therefore no appeals against HPAT-Ireland results have been, or will be, considered. It is not possible to request a remark.

What if I don’t get enough points for medicine?

Before CAO cut off points are made available and before your Leaving Certificate points are known (in August) it is not possible to determine with certainty whether or not you have enough points for medicine. The points required for entry into medicine do vary from year to year. It is therefore wise to leave at least some medical courses on your CAO form. It is possible that the minimum required points for medicine will fall this year or that you obtain higher points in your Leaving Certificate than you expect. For further information, check out our blog on what to do with your CAO: https://www.medentry-hpat.ie/blog/hpat-results-what-to-do-with-your-cao

If you miss out on medicine this year, there are several options available to you. These are outlined below. 

• If your Leaving Certificate points are high, but your HPAT is not, you can re-sit HPAT (note that in most cases you can use this year's Leaving Certificate points for entry into medicine next year)

• If your Leaving Certificate points are not high, you can re-sit both HPAT and Leaving Certificate (note that HPAT scores are only valid for one year, so you will need to re-sit HPAT) 

• You can pursue graduate entry medicine (however, note that this is a more expensive and time-consuming pathway, and there is uncertainty involved in terms of obtaining entry)

• You can consider studying medicine in another country, such as the UK or Europe. If you wish to apply to study in the UK, you will need to sit UCAT. Note that MedEntry also prepares students for UCAT (please visit medentry.co.uk)

If you feel you didn't get a good enough HPAT score, check out our blog for advice.

At MedEntry we truly believe that if you are committed and motivated to pursue medicine, you will be successful – it is just a matter of how, when and where. Note that discounts are available to past MedEntry students. 

What should I do now?

Unfortunately there is not much you can do except wait until August when Leaving Cert results are out and CAO offers are released. If you feel you do not have a chance at getting into medicine, you can amend your CAO (change of mind is open until early July). However, as mentioned above, we suggest you leave at least some medical courses on your CAO form, as it is not possible to predict what the minimum points will be this year. 

If you are very motivated, you could consider doing some work experience or volunteer work in the health field over summer. This will help you decide whether medicine is really the right career for you, and will also assist you if have to sit graduate, overseas or mature entry interviews for medicine. 

Other than that, it’s time to relax and get back to normal life! 

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