Test for entry to medicine degree is ‘barrier for poor’

THE new test used in addition to Leaving Certificate results to select entrants to medical school is a barrier to poorer students becoming doctors, an equality expert has claimed.

The Higher Professional Aptitude Test (HPAT) was used for the first time to measure suitability of applicants for medicine degrees and the scores were combined with Leaving Certificate results of all applicants with at least 480 points.

Although the HPAT is aimed at widening access beyond those with near- maximum grades, the lowest score with which any student got into medicine in the first round of offers was 550 out of 600.