Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The health professionals admissions test, HPAT, is not doing what it is supposed to do. It is designed to test the aptitude of potential medical students but it is not doing so in a fair and transparent manner. Some 85% of those who repeat the HPAT secure a higher score on their second attempt. I do not understand how this is possible. The HPAT system is supposed to test for personality traits. The core idea behind the test is to ensure that potential medical students have the aptitude and personality required to become top-notch doctors with suitably caring and empathetic personalities. However, students who repeat the test do significantly better after taking preparatory courses. These students do not magically receive personality transplants in the intervening; they learn how to beat the test and the system.

The test was also introduced to increase the number of boys who enter medical schools. It achieved its aim in its first year but girls are now outscoring boys again. In the second part of the test, which focuses specifically on empathy, girls are outscoring boys. It has also given an unfair advantage to those who can afford expensive preparatory and repeat courses. It has simply become a revenue generator for course providers. I concur with the Institute of Guidance Counsellors that the test is adding yet another financial barrier to students who hope to embark on a career in medicine. One institute offering a HPAT preparation course charges a standard rate of €625 for a platinum package which supposedly includes two full days of quality preparation from an expert educator.

The recent report by the review team of experts in medical education indicates those who can afford expensive preparatory and repeat courses do 10% better on the test. It is estimated that more than 50% of HPAT candidates take these expensive coaching courses. Instead of broadening the type of doctors Ireland produces we are in danger of restricting the profession to those who come from the higher echelons of society. It is wrong and unfair that a student who studies hard, makes sacrifices and gets 635 points in the leaving certificate examination cannot enroll in his or her course of choice, as happened this year. Students with six A1s in relevant subjects such as biology, chemistry and physics cannot get into medical school but a student who has a C1 in biology may do so if he or she paid for a cramming course.

Many students take up a college course in a related field while they are learning how to beat the test and leave the course after the first or second year once they successfully fool the HPAT. In 2010, 111 students vacated another third level course in Ireland to accept a place in medical school. This has financial repercussions for the State.

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