A higher HPAT result is obviously good, but it doesn't stand on its own. You have to consider it alongside the cohort's results. Here, we'll explain how to interpret your 2026 HPAT results.
Key Takeaways
- Standard HPAT-Ireland candidates received their 2026 results in late June, while mature applicants and certain University of Limerick postgraduate applicants received theirs earlier.¹
- HPAT section scores are scaled scores rather than percentages, and candidates also receive an overall score and an overall percentile ranking.¹
- ACER says candidates should look towards 160+ out of 300 as a good HPAT score, although this can vary slightly between years.¹
- For 2026 medicine entry, eligible Leaving Cert results and HPAT scores are combined, with a maximum possible selection score of 865.³
- HPAT results are valid only for the admission year in which the relevant course begins, so a 2026 result cannot be carried into 2027 entry.¹
Standard HPAT-Ireland candidates receive their results through their ACER account, with the Statement of Results showing three section scores, an overall HPAT score and an overall percentile ranking. Medicine applicants should also make sure the correct CAO number is attached to their ACER account so their result can be transferred for the admissions process.²
When Are HPAT Results Released in 2026?
HPAT results are released at different times, depending on the applicant. For example, mature candidates in 2026 received their results in mid-to-late April. Others received theirs in late June, well before the main CAO offer stage.¹
main result-release periods in 2026, with mature and relevant UL applicants receiving results earlier than other candidates.¹
How to Access Your HPAT Results
How to Read Your HPAT Results
Your HPAT results contain different measures of performance. Each will tell you something slightly different. Just remember that HPAT results are scaled, so the figures on your Statement of Results are not raw scores or percentage marks.¹
| Result | What it shows | What it does not mean |
|---|---|---|
| Section score | Scaled performance in one HPAT section | Percentage of questions answered correctly |
| Overall score | Weighted performance across all three sections | A simple total of the displayed section scores |
| Percentile ranking | Your performance compared with the year's HPAT cohort | Percentage of questions answered correctly |
Scaled scoring, by the way, lets ACER compare candidates across different versions of the test. ACER places results on a common measurement scale instead. This is why you can compare two candidates' section scores even if they weren't given the exact same HPAT questions.¹
Your HPAT Section Scores
- Three separate section scores
- Each reported on a 0–100 scale
- Scores are scaled, not percentages
- Sections measure different skill areas
- Not raw question totals¹
Your Overall HPAT Score
- Maximum overall score: 300
- Sections 1 and 2 carry more weight
- Section 3 has a lower weighting
- ACER uses unrounded values internally
- Your own HPAT calculation may differ slightly¹
What Your HPAT Percentile Ranking Means
- Compares you with other candidates
- Based on the same year's cohort
- Higher percentile means stronger relative performance
- It is not a percentage mark
- Percentiles can vary between years¹
points in the 2026 scoring system.¹
What Is a Good HPAT Score?
Don't think of HPAT scores as "good" or "bad" in a general sense. ACER says candidates should aim for 160 or above out of 300, although it notes this can vary slightly from one year's cohort to another.¹ Your eventual medicine prospects also depend on your eligible academic score rather than HPAT alone.³
A strong HPAT result can improve your medicine admissions score, but no single HPAT number guarantees an offer because applicants are ranked using the relevant combined admissions system and course cut-offs depend on competition and available places.³
When reviewing your HPAT result, consider:
- your overall HPAT score;
- your percentile ranking;
- your eligible Leaving Cert contribution;
- current medicine entry requirements; and
- the eventual CAO cut-off for each course.
How Are HPAT Results Used for Medicine Entry?
HPAT results are combined with Leaving Cert performance for medicine courses. You first have to meet the programme's minimum entry requirements and achieve at least 480 Leaving Cert points in the same sitting. The combined score is then used by the CAO to determine whether you are entitled to an offer for one of your medicine choices.³
Combining HPAT and Leaving Cert Results in 2026
Turning your Leaving Cert and HPAT results into an estimated combined medicine score.
Students who already have both results.
The raw Leaving Cert total is not always the figure used in the 2026 medicine calculation.
2026 Medicine Entry Points
| Course | Institution | 2026 Round 1 points |
|---|---|---|
| GY501 | University of Galway | 730* |
| LM301 | University of Limerick | 730* |
| RC001 | RCSI | 734* |
| CK701 | University College Cork | 735 |
| DN400 | University College Dublin | 738* |
| TR051 | Trinity College Dublin | 741* |
The medicine admissions calculation changes for 2027 entry: Leaving Cert results above 550 will no longer be moderated, while HPAT will contribute a maximum of 150 points to the combined selection score rather than 300.³
How Long Are HPAT Results Valid?
HPAT results are tied to the year you sit the test. That means HPAT-Ireland 2026 can be used for courses beginning in 2026, but you can't use it for a course beginning in 2027. You can reapply for medicine in a later year, but you'll have to take HPAT again for that admission cycle.¹
admission year, so candidates applying again later must retake the test.¹
Can You Appeal an HPAT Result?
Be aware that there's a difference between asking for your result to be re-marked and raising a complaint or appeal. ACER provides a formal process for serious complaints or appeals relating to a test sitting or result. HPAT results undergo extensive checking before release, and ACER does not offer re-marks.²
ACER does not offer re-marks for HPAT-Ireland results. However, candidates may use the separate complaints and appeals process where there is a legitimate issue concerning test administration or procedure.¹
What Should You Do After Getting Your HPAT Results?
Once you get your results, don't think too much about the HPAT number in isolation. Check your combined admissions position and compare course figures once you have the relevant CAO information. With the full picture, you can make an informed decision.
References
- Australian Council for Educational Research. HPAT-Ireland 2026 Test Taker Information Booklet. ACER, 2026, https://hpat-ireland.acer.org/files/HPAT-Ireland-Information-Booklet.pdf. Accessed 15 Sept. 2026.
- Australian Council for Educational Research. “Results.” HPAT-Ireland, 2026, https://hpat-ireland.acer.org/results. Accessed 15 Sept. 2026.
- Central Applications Office. Selection Criteria for Undergraduate Entry to Medicine for EU Applicants 2026. CAO, 2026, https://www2.cao.ie/downloads/documents/2026/UGMedEntry2026.pdf. Accessed 15 Sept. 2026.
- Central Applications Office. “Points Required for Entry to 2026 Level 8 Courses.” CAO, 2026, https://www2.cao.ie/points/l8.php. Accessed 15 Sept. 2026.
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