HPAT Ireland 2027: Complete Guide to Dates, Format and Scoring

HPAT Ireland 2027 is a key part of the undergraduate medicine application process in Ireland.

In this guide, we explain who needs to take HPAT, how registration works, which dates are confirmed, what appears in the test, how scores are calculated and what changes for medicine entry in 2027.

Some official 2027 details have not yet been released. We clearly separate confirmed rules from dates and fees based on the previous cycle.

What is HPAT Ireland?

HPAT stands for Health Professions Admission Test Ireland.

It is used alongside academic results to select students for undergraduate medicine courses at participating Irish universities.

HPAT does not test Leaving Certificate science knowledge. It measures skills such as:

• Logical reasoning
• Problem solving
• Understanding people and emotions
• Interpreting visual patterns

The test is developed and administered by ACER on behalf of the participating universities.

Who needs to take HPAT Ireland 2027?

HPAT is mainly required for students applying through CAO for undergraduate medicine at:

• University of Galway, GY501
• University of Limerick, LM301
• RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, RC001
• Trinity College Dublin, TR051
• University College Cork, CK701
• University College Dublin, DN400

Applicants must normally:

• Be in their final year of secondary school or have completed an equivalent qualification
• Meet the academic requirements of the chosen university
• Apply for an eligible undergraduate medicine course
• Sit HPAT during the same year in which they want to begin university

A result from 2026 cannot be used for entry in 2027.

International and non-EU applicants may follow a different application route and may not always need HPAT. This depends on the university and course.

Mature applicants can also apply for medicine, but they must follow the specific selection process established by each institution.

The new medicine scoring system for 2027

The calculation used for undergraduate medicine entry changes from the 2027 admissions cycle.

Scoring elementPrevious system2027 systemMaximum Leaving Certificate contribution565625Moderation above 550 pointsYesNoMaximum HPAT contribution300150Maximum combined score865775

Students will receive their full Leaving Certificate points, including points above 550.

At the same time, the maximum contribution from HPAT will fall from 300 to 150 points.

This does not make HPAT optional. A strong result can still make an important difference when places are awarded.

The detailed formula that will convert the ACER HPAT result into the new 150-point contribution has not yet been published. Students should not assume that their score will simply be divided by 2.

Minimum academic requirements

Applicants must normally achieve at least 480 Leaving Certificate points.

This is only the minimum eligibility threshold. It is not the final score needed to receive an offer.

Students must also:

• Meet the subject requirements of the chosen university
• Obtain the required Leaving Certificate results in the same sitting
• Complete HPAT in the year of entry
• Compete for a place through the CAO system

Subject requirements vary between universities.

For example:

• UCC requires Chemistry and either Biology or Physics at the specified Higher Level grades.
• Trinity requires 2 approved science subjects and may apply an additional Mathematics requirement.
• Some 5-year medicine routes require stronger science results.
• Some 6-year routes accept a broader range of science qualifications.

Students should check every course individually before submitting their CAO choices.

HPAT Ireland 2027 dates

The first confirmed date for the 2027 admissions cycle is:

• 5 November 2026: CAO applications are scheduled to open

The following 2027 dates are still to be confirmed:

• HPAT registration opening date
• Standard HPAT registration deadline
• Late registration deadline
• Exceptional late registration deadline
• ProctorU booking deadline
• HPAT test window
• Result release dates

For context, the 2026 cycle followed this schedule:

• Registration opened in November 2025
• Standard registration closed on 16 January 2026
• Late registration closed on 26 January 2026
• Exceptional late registration closed on 1 February 2026
• The main test window ran from 13 to 16 February 2026

These dates are useful for planning, but they are not confirmed dates for 2027.

How to register for HPAT Ireland 2027

CAO and HPAT registrations are separate.

Students must complete both processes.

The usual registration steps are:

1. Create a CAO application.
2. Obtain a valid CAO application number.
3. Create or access an ACER account.
4. Register for HPAT Ireland.
5. Enter the required personal and CAO information.
6. Pay the registration fee.
7. Book an available test appointment through ProctorU.

Buying preparation material does not count as registering for the test.

Students should make sure that their name and personal details match the identification document they will use on test day.

HPAT Ireland test format

The latest official test format contains 114 multiple-choice questions completed in 150 minutes.

SectionSkill assessedQuestionsTimeSection 1Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving4260 minutesSection 2Interpersonal Understanding4250 minutesSection 3Non-Verbal Reasoning3040 minutesTotal114150 minutes

Each section is timed separately.

There are no scheduled breaks between sections, and unused time cannot normally be transferred to another section.

Questions usually contain 4 or 5 answer options, with one best answer.

There is no negative marking, so students should attempt as many questions as possible.

The Written English component mentioned in some HPAT materials is not part of the standard undergraduate medicine test. It applies only to specific postgraduate courses at the University of Limerick.

What each HPAT section tests

Section 1: Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving

This section measures the ability to understand and analyse information.

Questions may involve:

• Written passages
• Tables
• Charts
• Numerical information
• Logical relationships
• Evidence-based conclusions

The challenge is usually not advanced mathematics. It is identifying the relevant information quickly and reasoning accurately.

Section 2: Interpersonal Understanding

This section focuses on emotions, relationships and human behaviour.

Students may need to interpret:

• Conversations
• Personal situations
• Motivations
• Emotional reactions
• Conflicts between people
• Changes in attitude or tone

Answers must be based on the information provided, not on personal opinions.

Section 3: Non-Verbal Reasoning

This section uses visual material rather than written passages.

Questions may include:

• Sequences
• Patterns
• Transformations
• Rotations
• Changes in shape, position or shading

Students must identify the rule connecting the images and apply it to the next step.

How HPAT scores are calculated

Each section is reported on a scale from 0 to 100.

These are scaled scores, not percentages. A score of 70 does not necessarily mean that 70% of the questions were answered correctly.

Under the current ACER calculation:

• Section 1 contributes 40%
• Section 2 contributes 40%
• Section 3 contributes 20%

The current overall score formula is:

[(2 × Section 1 + 2 × Section 2 + Section 3) ÷ 5] × 3

This produces a maximum ACER score of 300.

For 2027 medicine admission, the HPAT component will contribute a maximum of 150 points to the combined admissions score. The official conversion method has not yet been confirmed.

HPAT percentiles

The percentile shows how a student performed compared with other candidates in the same year.

For example, a result in the 80th percentile means the student performed as well as or better than approximately 80% of the cohort.

Percentiles can change every year because they depend on the performance of that specific group.

As a historical reference, in 2026:

• A score of 158 was around the 60th percentile
• A score of 181 was around the 90th percentile

These figures cannot be used to predict 2027 percentiles or medicine admission scores.

The new 2027 weighting also means that old combined cut-off scores will not be directly comparable with the new system.

When HPAT Ireland 2027 results will be released

The exact 2027 result dates have not yet been announced.

In the previous cycle:

• Mature applicants and certain University of Limerick applicants received results during April
• Standard school-leaver applicants received results in late June

Results are released through the candidate’s ACER account.

ACER also sends the relevant medicine results to CAO.

HPAT results are valid only for the year in which the test is taken. They cannot be carried forward to a later admissions cycle.

Results cannot normally be remarked.

HPAT Ireland 2027 fees

The official 2027 registration fee has not yet been published.

For reference, the 2026 standard registration fee was €164 and included:

• HPAT registration
• One official online practice test
• Delivery of the result to the candidate
• Transmission of the result to CAO

Additional 2026 charges included:

• €75 late registration fee
• €110 exceptional late registration fee
• €60 refund administration fee
• €90 no-show rebooking fee
• €50 late reasonable-adjustment application fee
• €85 late test-centre request fee

These amounts may change for 2027.

Reasonable adjustments

Students with a disability, medical condition or educational need can apply for reasonable adjustments.

The request should normally be submitted immediately after registration and before the standard deadline.

Possible adjustments include:

• Extra time
• Rest breaks
• Enlarged text
• Permission to eat or take medication
• Colour overlays
• A reader or scribe
• Permission to stand or stretch
• A test-centre arrangement when remote testing is not suitable

Supporting documentation is required.

An adjustment approved in a previous year does not automatically carry over. Students must submit a new request for each HPAT cycle.

How the remote HPAT works

The latest HPAT cycle was completed online under remote supervision.

The 2027 delivery method has not yet been formally confirmed, but students should be ready for a similar system.

The current technical requirements include:

• A supported Windows or macOS computer
• At least 8 GB of RAM
• A working webcam
• A working microphone
• Speakers
• Stable internet access
• Guardian Browser
• The required ACER test application
• Administrator access to install the necessary software

The test is not supported on:

• Smartphones
• Tablets
• Linux computers
• Virtual machines
• Computers using remote-access software

Students should complete every equipment check before test day. A computer that works for ordinary browsing may still fail the official test requirements.

Identification and permitted materials

Candidates must show an accepted, valid photo ID.

Accepted documents currently include:

• Passport
• Photo driving licence
• Irish Public Services Card
• EU or EEA national identity card
• An approved certified identification letter

Digital identification, expired documents, student cards and photocopies are not normally accepted.

Candidates may currently use:

• Up to 4 blank A4 sheets and writing equipment
• A small erasable whiteboard instead of paper
• A clear, unlabelled water bottle
• A mirror or reflective object for the room check

The following are normally prohibited:

• Calculators
• Mobile phones
• Watches
• Headphones
• Additional monitors
• Dictionaries
• Food, unless approved as a reasonable adjustment

Bathroom breaks may be permitted, but the test timer does not stop.

How to prepare for HPAT Ireland 2027

HPAT does not have a traditional syllabus, so preparation should focus on skills, timing and decision-making.

A clear preparation method is:

• Complete an initial simulation to measure the starting level.
• Track accuracy and time for every section.
• Practise weak question types in short, focused sessions.
• Review why each incorrect answer was chosen.
• Repeat timed section tests.
• Complete full simulations under realistic conditions.
• Compare performance over time instead of judging a single score.

Before building a study plan, students can review the complete HPAT Ireland test overview.

How much time should be spent preparing?

There is no fixed number of weeks that works for everyone.

The required time depends on:

• The starting score
• The target medicine courses
• Speed in each section
• School workload
• Consistency
• The ability to review mistakes effectively

Short, regular sessions are usually more useful than occasional long study days.

A balanced weekly routine can include:

• Section 1 reasoning exercises
• Section 2 passage analysis
• Section 3 pattern exercises
• Timed mixed practice
• Error review
• A periodic full simulation

The study plan should change according to the results. Spending equal time on every area is inefficient when one section is clearly weaker.

Students can practise HPAT Ireland with TestBuddy using targeted exercises, realistic simulations and performance statistics. The TB™ Score shows the estimated current level, while Buddy helps make difficult questions clearer. It is possible to start for free.

Common HPAT preparation mistakes

Students should avoid:

• Studying without tracking scores
• Repeating questions without reviewing errors
• Ignoring time limits
• Spending too long on one difficult question
• Treating Section 2 as a personal-opinion test
• Looking only at the total score
• Leaving full simulations until the final week
• Assuming that an old percentile guarantees the same result
• Using previous medicine cut-offs without considering the 2027 scoring change

The most useful review question is not only “What was the correct answer?” but also “Why did the wrong answer appear convincing?”

HPAT Ireland 2027 application checklist

Before registration closes, students should confirm that they have:

• Submitted a CAO application
• Received a valid CAO number
• Registered separately through ACER
• Paid the required HPAT fee
• Booked a test appointment
• Checked their identification
• Completed the technical equipment checks
• Applied for reasonable adjustments where required
• Read the rules for the testing environment
• Started timed practice before the test window

Official information used

• The definition of HPAT, registration process, fees and current testing rules come from the official HPAT Ireland website.
• The confirmed 2027 medicine weighting changes come from the Irish Universities Association medicine entry update.
• Participating universities, course codes and current subject requirements are listed in the CAO undergraduate medicine guide.
• The confirmed opening of the 2027 CAO application cycle is listed in the official CAO timetable.
• The current question structure and preparation guidance come from the official HPAT preparation information.
• Score reporting, percentiles and result validity are explained on the official HPAT results page.
• Remote testing equipment and software requirements are listed in the official remote-proctoring guidance.