6th October 2025
Group vs Individual Study for HPAT
"Should I prepare for the HPAT with friends or alone?" It’s a question many students ask themselves leading up to a major exam, including the HPAT. Although the answer will vary depending on personal preference, this article will endeavour to discuss some of the benefits and drawbacks of both group and individual preparation. For most, the answer lies somewhere between the t ...
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30th September 2025
Making Friends With HPAT Practice
In the game of HPAT practice, consistency beats brilliance. It is important that we not wait until we have lots of motivation before we start practicing. Good HPAT skills come about in the context of practicing in a more routine and ordinary manner, rather than sporadic bursts of insight. The goal should be gaining meaningful and valuable HPAT skills every time you practice. Expecting anythi ...
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22nd September 2025
When Should I Start Preparing for the HPAT?
This is a very common question that students ask about HPAT. When you first start to research HPAT it can seem overwhelming and confusing. You may have many questions such as: How should I approach HPAT preparation? When should I start my HPAT prep? Do I need to prepare for the HPAT? These are all very valid questions, and this blog explores them in more detail. Is it worth prepari ...
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9th September 2025
Considering Repeating HPAT/Leaving Cert? Here’s Some Advice From Someone Who Has Done It Before
So you have just received your HPAT and Leaving Certificate results and unfortunately have not been accepted into Medicine this year - what next? This was the situation I, and indeed many other Medicine hopefuls, faced on results day. The first reaction you may have is one of obvious disappointment, followed by the monumental task of considering the myriad of options on what to do next: Sho ...
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9th September 2025
Planning Time for HPAT Preparation
A very common question asked by aspiring medical students is "How do you balance your school work and HPAT practice?" Given that the HPAT can be equally or even more important than your leaving cert in the medical school selection process, it is crucial that students devote sufficient time to preparing for the HPAT, without neglecting their 6th year studies. ...
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11th August 2025
Should I Attend a MedEntry HPAT Workshop?
MedEntry workshops have become famous over the years for their engaging, effective and enjoyable nature. You may be wondering whether you should attend a MedEntry HPAT workshop. The answer is a resounding yes! Here are three reasons why: 1. MedEntry HPAT Workshops are Comprehensive MedEntry HPAT workshops cover everything you need to know for HPAT success, including: ...
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10th July 2025
How to Use Holidays to Improve in HPAT
Many students use the holidays to finally relax after a 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 long-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 ...
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1st July 2025
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, often holding equal weighting to the Leaving Cert. There are many factors that can influence performance in 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 ...
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15th May 2025
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 ...
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15th May 2025
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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