Right approach

I AM strongly in favour of the HPAT aptitude tests for medicine, law and engineering. I qualified for medicine in my teens and dropped out after a costly and frustrating year at UCC, along with several equally unsuitable students.

I am now a HR consultant, not a medical one, and qualified in administering psychometric tests in the areas of aptitude, motivation and personality. Through long experience, I am very convinced by them. They direct ducks to the swimming pool and cheetahs to the race track. Just as it should be. Misdirected talent is a real waste of time. Even bright people can be slow to learn this.

Hugh Morley