HPAT Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the HPAT exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
HPAT exam key facts
- HPAT-Ireland has 114 multiple-choice questions across three sections: Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving (42), Interpersonal Understanding (42) and Non-Verbal Reasoning (30). Source
- HPAT-Ireland is offered once a year, in February, so a candidate who wants to resit must register for the next year's test. Source
- HPAT-Ireland results are valid for one year only, so a 2027 result can be used only for entry in 2027. Source
📋 HPAT Exam Format at a Glance
📚 HPAT Topics to Study (13)
✍️ Sample HPAT Questions & Answers
1. Which type of logical reasoning involves inferring conclusions based on similarities between different situations or objects?
Analogical reasoning draws parallels between different scenarios to infer conclusions.
2. What is the purpose of assessing logical reasoning in the context of healthcare admissions?
Logical reasoning skills are essential for analyzing healthcare scenarios and making informed decisions.
3. Which of the following is a key problem-solving skill assessed in the Health Professions Admissions Test (HPAT)?
The HPAT evaluates candidates' problem-solving abilities, including critical thinking and analytical reasoning.
4. A sequence of figures shows a shape changing in two ways. Which of the following figures is the correct fifth figure in the sequence?
There are two concurrent patterns. First, the number of dots inside the hexagon increases by one in each step (1, 2, 3, 4, ...), so the fifth figure must have five dots. The arrangement of the dots mimics the vertices of a shape corresponding to the number of dots (3 dots form a triangle, 4 dots form a square), so five dots should be arranged in the shape of a pentagon. Second, the outline of the hexagon alternates between thin and thick. Since Figure 4 has a thick outline, Figure 5 must have a thin outline.
5. A medication dosage is 0.05 mg per kg of body weight. What is the correct dose for a patient weighing 72 kg?
Dose = 0.05 × 72 = 3.6 mg for a 72 kg patient.
6. A patient is visibly anxious before a minor procedure. Which of the following statements by a healthcare professional demonstrates the most empathy?
This response validates the patient's feelings ('You seem quite nervous') and opens a dialogue ('Can you tell me what's on your mind?'). It shows the professional is paying attention to the patient's emotional state and is willing to listen, which is the core of an empathetic response. The other options dismiss or minimize the patient's feelings.
🎯 Free HPAT Practice Tests
📖 HPAT Guides & Articles
What Practice Test Geeks adds beyond an AI chat for HPAT
An AI chatbot can quiz you, but it can't reproduce the exam conditions or keep your record. Here you get:
- A timed, full-length HPAT mock exam — 114 questions in 150 minutes with a 50% pass mark, modeled on the official exam's question count and time limit, followed by a score report broken down by exam domain.
- A fixed HPAT question bank: the same test every attempt, so your score is comparable from one try to the next instead of changing with every regenerated quiz.
- Progress saved on your device: completed tests, scores and missed questions stay in My Progress, so you can retake only what you got wrong.
- A printable HPAT cheat sheet you can print or save as a PDF.
- HPAT flashcards built from the same question bank.
- Free HPAT practice tests with the correct answer shown after each question.
How this page was made: written with AI tools and published by Nathan Beja, founder of Practice Test Geeks, who is responsible for its content. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy
Sources & references
Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy
- hpat-ireland.acer.org — Fees, retake policy, test delivery, exam format, time limit, exam information · verified Oct 2026
- www2.cao.ie — Eligibility, fees, late registration, registration deadline, registration, score release, score validity · verified Oct 2026