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Irish Examiner
17-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Universities to halve points needed from HPAT assessment to study medicine
Universities are significantly reducing the importance of the health professions admission test (HPAT) required for studying medicine, refocusing instead on Leaving Cert results. The changes, which halves the HPAT assessment from 300 to 150 points, will be introduced from 2027. Leaving Cert scores above 550 will also no longer be moderated. This means that the maximum combined points for medicine will be 775, made up of 625 Leaving Cert points, and 150 HPAT points. This is down from the current maximum of 865 points, made up of 565 Leaving Cert points and 300 HPAT points. The HPAT was first introduced in 2009 in light of concerns that entry to medicine was being restricted to 'top' Leaving Cert performers, effectively excluding students who may have the necessary interpersonal skills and empathy making them ideal doctors. While it was originally intended to help broaden access to the study of medicine in Ireland, in recent years, the HPAT has faced criticism. A number of private operators now offer preparation courses, which can cost as much as €675 for a 10-week course. However, universities now say that the Leaving Cert results have proven to be a "stronger predictor" of performance in medical degree programmes. They also point to the increased number of medical places, as well as Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) and Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) schemes, which they say have resulted in "broader and more diverse cohorts of medical students". By 2026, more than 200 extra places will be available across all undergrad medicine programmes, including through a new programme opening at the University of Limerick. Universities also point to the revised Leaving Certificate grading scale and points scale introduced in 2017, which they say has resulted in significant changes in overall points profiles across the Leaving Certificate cohort. The last data from the Higher Education Authority (HEA) indicates that a very small proportion of disadvantaged students study medicine. It found in 2020 just under 4% of graduates came from a 'disadvantaged' background, compared to 35% who come from 'affluent' backgrounds. The incoming changes will apply to all Irish and EU students seeking entry to undergraduate medicine programmes from 2027. Students will still be required to sit the HPAT in the same year as entry to the medicine course. Read More Beyond the exam hall: Reclaiming the purpose of Irish education
The Irish Sun
22-04-2025
- General
- The Irish Sun
‘Students shouldn't have to gamble future on outdated system' – Social Democrats TD on why CAO system needs a switch-up
UP TO 61,000 students will sit the Leaving Cert this year. But before a paper has even been seen, there are concerns that the class of 2025 will be at a disadvantage when it comes to the CAO process. Advertisement 2 61,000 students will sit the Leaving Cert this year Credit: Getty Images - Getty 2 Ciara Kelly from Newstalk added her voice to the campaign Credit: Bryan Meade - The Sunday Times This is because around 15,000 She said that grade inflation has caused Writing in the Irish Sun on Sunday today, Education Spokesperson for the Social Democrats, JEN CUMMINS TD, says a more general reform of the Leaving Cert is needed if we're to ensure equality of opportunity for all... Advertisement READ MORE IN OPINION FROM the first day of first year, secondary It's no wonder, then, that pupils and their Numerous Their concerns are justified, as the Advertisement Most read in The Irish Sun This comes as a result of the rudderless Government Successive GRADE INFLATION CRISIS In 2023, over 15 per cent of students received a H1 grade in at least one of their subjects - almost twice those who achieved that milestone in 2019. In tandem, the average points awarded to students increased by almost 60 points over that same period, a monumental surge. Advertisement The Gross artificial points inflation, a kneejerk reaction to life during lockdown, has led to points lotteries becoming the norm for high-demand courses like medicine, law and engineering - six years of building towards Leaving Cert excellence now often culminates in the equivalent of throwing your name into a hat. SCHEMES IMPACTS DILUTED As a result, students now feel they must achieve perfect scores just to compete for entrance to these lotteries, an unreasonable burden fraught with anxiety and pressure which detracts from a healthy education and general Nobody needs reminding of how stressful the Leaving Cert experience was before its expectations were ramped up even higher - generations of past pupils who are still haunted by Leaving Cert nightmares can attest to as much. Advertisement Even more crucially, grade inflation has diluted the impact of the The Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) and Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) schemes, which were designed to level the playing field for students facing socioeconomic or Applicants once supported by up to 40 point reductions as a result of the schemes are now being outpaced by peers aided by overall grade inflation, an indiscriminate boost which may kick the ladder away from those who should gain entry to their desired course via these pathways. Both initiatives require urgent recalibration to restore their intended functions - we're already seeing applicants slip through cracks which were once covered by these schemes up until the last few years. Students shouldn't have to gamble their future on inflated grades and limited places" While these pitfalls must be addressed immediately, more general reform of the Leaving Cert is needed if we're to ensure equality of opportunity for all. Advertisement A broader model of assessment, more continuous evaluation, and a system that values learning over rote performance is long overdue. The CAO itself also needs restructuring if it's to reflect the realities of modern student achievement and course demand. The The Minister for Education must ensure that runaway measures like grade inflation are not deployed as remedies to any future crises without maintaining a notion of how fairness can be maintained. Advertisement Students shouldn't have to gamble their future on inflated grades and limited places.
