13th July 2026
How to Use Holidays to Improve in HPAT
Many students use the holidays to finally relax after several months of hard work. For those sitting the HPAT next year, the road ahead can look especially challenging and instil feelings of anxiety. However, after taking a well-deserved rest, the holidays can actually be used efficiently and effectively to get ahead in the HPAT and obtain the score you need to get into your dream course of me ...
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2nd July 2026
Didn’t Do Well in HPAT? Here’s How to Bounce Back in 4 Steps
The HPAT is one of the two criteria for undergraduate medicine in Ireland, used together with the Leaving Cert. There are many factors that can influence performance in the HPAT, and receiving a lower mark than expected may feel like all our efforts have gone to waste. I've been there before, and although it may feel like the end of the world (I certainly felt that way), I can assure you ...
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6th May 2026
Distributed Practice and the HPAT: What You Need to Know Part 2
In part 1 of this blog, we looked at why it is important to study with distributed practice for the HPAT. In part 2, we will look at how to implement distributed practice into your HPAT plan. How to implement distributed practice for HPAT Here are some tips and strategies on how to best use distributed practice in your HPAT preparation (you can also use them in your secondary schoo ...
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6th May 2026
Distributed Practice and the HPAT: What You Need to Know Part 1
Over the last few years various catch-phrases have circulated in the education sector: “study smarter not harder”, "do less work for more reward” and others. They can seem too good to be true. Nevertheless, there is one system that eclipses all others in the research conducted, the widespread implementation and the unanimous praise it has received from sci ...
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5th February 2026
HPATPHOBIA Don’t get Scared, Stay Motivated!
Does the thought of HPAT day make you cringe and consider hiding in your room? That's how I felt in the weeks that led up to HPAT. Being a student in my final year of high school I had rarely been in a position where I was sitting an exam which was so important for determining my future career pathway. Sure I had been through many school exams and academic competitions, but I felt ...
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31st January 2026
5 Tips for the Last Fortnight Before HPAT
HPAT is well and truly close now and it’s time to streamline your study and buckle down! In the pivotal two weeks leading up to HPAT, maintaining focus is vital and taking a strategic approach towards your study routine will help ensure that you are fully equipped for success on the big day. Here are five ways to make sure you’re using the next two weeks to set you up for success ...
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28th January 2026
Dealing with Disappointing HPAT Percentiles – 3 Tips
So you’ve been preparing for HPAT by working through the HPAT guides and attempting HPAT practice questions and exams. Then one day you receive a disappointing HPAT percentile. So what should you do? Is it time to freak out? Is it time to give up on your medical entry dream? No! Read on for three key tips. 1. Understand what a HPAT percentile means and how they are calculated ...
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7th January 2026
Is It Too Late to Start Preparing for HPAT?
The short answer is no. Preparing for the HPAT is possible and no matter how late you start, you will still be able to improve, just like with any other subject. The long answer is: it depends on how much time you invest and how effectively you prepare. At this stage, it’s important to study SMART. Trying to do as many HPAT questions or HPAT papers as you can is not necessarily the be ...
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17th December 2025
How to Interpret Your HPAT Mock Exam Scores
So, you’ve completed a HPAT practice exam and have no idea how to interpret the wealth of information and statistics you’ve been presented with. This blog has some tips to help you gain a better grasp of your HPAT preparation progress. 1. Look at percentile, not percentage The HPAT is a test designed to compare students against each other, thereby giving the universitie ...
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9th December 2025
Why You Should Be Studying For the HPAT Right Now
Are you all aboard the express train to Procrastination Station? Are you experiencing a motivation crisis? Are you just about ready to give up? There may be many reasons why you’re feeling this way and they may be impacting on your will to study and prepare for HPAT. You may be feeling tired, overwhelmed, stressed. You may have many other social, academic and extra-curricular com ...
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