What is the HPAT and who needs it?
The Health Professions Admission Test – Ireland (HPAT-Ireland) is run by ACER for the Irish universities. You need it for undergraduate medicine at University of Galway, RCSI, Trinity College Dublin, University College Cork, University College Dublin and the University of Limerick. It is also used for the MSc in Occupational Therapy and MSc in Speech and Language Therapy at UL, which add a Written English section.
You must be in your final school year or have already completed your Leaving Certificate. Non-EU applicants may be exempt; check with the CAO or the university. Graduates applying for graduate-entry medicine in Ireland need the GAMSAT instead, and UK medical schools use the UCAT.
HPAT format for 2027, section by section
| Section | What it tests | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving | Reasoning from written and data-based material | 42 | 60 minutes |
| 2. Interpersonal Understanding | Understanding and reasoning about people in written scenarios | 42 | 50 minutes |
| 3. Non-Verbal Reasoning | Patterns and sequences in shapes | 30 | 40 minutes |
- That is 114 multiple-choice questions in 2½ hours, with no breaks between sections.
- Each question has four or five options and one correct answer. No marks are deducted for wrong answers.
- Calculators are not allowed.
- The test is taken online with remote proctoring by ProctorU, from any suitable place that meets the technical requirements.
The time per question differs by section: about 86 seconds in Section 1, 71 seconds in Section 2 and 80 seconds in Section 3.
How the HPAT is scored and how it combines with the Leaving Cert
Each section is scored on a 0–100 scale (not a percentage), and you also get an overall percentile ranking against other candidates that year. For 2027 the information booklet gives the overall score as:
This reflects a change announced by the Irish Universities Association for 2027 entry:
- HPAT points are now weighted to a maximum of 150 (down from 300).
- Leaving Certificate points above 550 are no longer moderated, so the Leaving Cert counts up to 625.
- The maximum combined score for medicine is therefore 775 (625 + 150).
- You still need at least 480 Leaving Cert points and the course's minimum requirements in the same sitting.
Because combined points decide places, there is no fixed "good" HPAT score. It depends on your Leaving Cert and on demand that year. Results are valid for one year only and for courses starting that same year.
HPAT 2027 dates and fees
| HPAT-Ireland 2027 | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration opens | Early November 2026 |
| Registration closes | 15 January 2027, 5.15pm GMT |
| Late registration (extra fee) | 25 January 2027, 5.15pm GMT |
| Exceptional late registration (CAO applicants only) | 1 February 2027, 5.15pm GMT; needs a CAO application by 31 January, 5pm |
| Sections 1–3 | 12–15 February 2027 (HPAT site); confirm your slot when you schedule |
| Written English (UL MSc applicants only) | 12–13 February 2027 |
| Results | Late June 2027 (mid to late April for UL MSc and mature applicants) |
The HPAT home page gives 12–15 February 2027 for Sections 1–3, while the 2027 information booklet describes a window running to 21 February. Go by the slot you book through ProctorU.
Fees (euro): standard registration €167; Written English €24; late fee €78; exceptional late fee €114. HPAT is offered only once a year, so a missed sitting means waiting a year.
How to prepare: a 4-week HPAT plan
- Days 1–2: Take the free practice test, timed. Test your computer, webcam and internet against ProctorU's requirements now, not the week before.
- Week 1, Section 1: Daily timed sets of logic and data questions. Practise drawing quick diagrams and tables to organise information.
- Week 2, Section 2: Read each scenario for what each person thinks and feels, not what you would do. Review why each answer is the best reading of the situation.
- Week 3, Section 3: Learn the common pattern rules (rotation, reflection, counting, position, shading) and go through them one at a time. Practise at 80 seconds a question.
- Week 4: Two or three full mocks at real timing, all three sections back to back without a break, then targeted review.
Practising with Principly: each of our 13 HPAT mocks uses the 2027 structure (42 questions in 60 minutes, 42 in 50 minutes and 30 in 40 minutes), run back to back as on the day, with explanations for every question.
Try a HPAT mock now. The free practice test gives you a decile estimate in one short sitting; the full set is 13 timed mocks with worked solutions.
A worked example of the 2027 points calculation
This example uses made-up scores to show how the official formula works. Suppose a student scores 60 in Section 1, 62 in Section 2 and 58 in Section 3, and gets 590 Leaving Cert points.
- Halve Section 3: 0.5 × 58 = 29.
- Add the sections: 60 + 62 + 29 = 151.
- Divide by 5 and multiply by 3: 151 ÷ 5 × 3 = 90.6 HPAT points (out of 150).
- Add the Leaving Cert: 590 + 90.6 = 680.6 combined points (out of 775).
Two things follow. First, Sections 1 and 2 count twice as much as Section 3. Second, from 2027 the Leaving Cert makes up a larger share of the total, so the HPAT should not take time away from your Leaving Cert study. A few focused weeks of HPAT practice is usually the right balance.
Common HPAT mistakes
- Leaving tech checks too late. Remote proctoring has strict requirements and scheduling deadlines.
- Treating Section 2 as a personality quiz. It tests your reading of other people, using the evidence given.
- Spending too long on a single non-verbal pattern. Flag it and move on.
- Leaving blanks. There is no penalty for a wrong answer.
- Missing the 15 January deadline. Late registration costs extra, and the exceptional late route needs a CAO application.
- Not practising 2½ hours without a break. Stamina matters in Section 3.
HPAT FAQ
- Who needs to sit the HPAT?
- Most applicants for undergraduate medicine at University of Galway, RCSI, TCD, UCC, UCD and UL, plus applicants for two UL MSc courses. Non-EU applicants may be exempt; check with the CAO or the university.
- Is the HPAT taken at home?
- Yes. It is taken online and proctored remotely by ProctorU, from any suitable location that meets the technical requirements.
- How has HPAT scoring changed for 2027?
- For 2027 entry, HPAT points are weighted to a maximum of 150 (down from 300), and Leaving Cert points above 550 are no longer moderated, giving a combined maximum of 775.
- Can I use a calculator in the HPAT?
- No. Calculators are not allowed.
- Is there negative marking in the HPAT?
- No. No marks are deducted for wrong answers, so answer every question.
- When are HPAT 2027 results released?
- Late June 2027 for most candidates, and mid to late April for UL MSc and mature applicants.
- How much does the HPAT cost?
- The standard registration fee is €167. Late registration adds €78 and exceptional late registration €114.
- Can I use my HPAT result next year?
- No. Results are valid for one year only, for courses starting that same year.
Try a HPAT mock now. The free practice test gives you a decile estimate in one short sitting; the full set is 13 timed mocks with worked solutions.
Sources
- HPAT-Ireland: Home (dates, fees, format)
- HPAT-Ireland: Registration
- HPAT-Ireland: Results
- HPAT-Ireland: Information booklet 2027 (PDF)
- Irish Universities Association: Entry to medicine
Last checked: 31 October 2026
Principly is an independent practice provider. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by any test body or university; test names are used only to describe what our mocks prepare for.