The highly competitive medical school entrance examination, the HPat, is being investigated amid claims that students who attended a popular preparation course had seen and been coached in how to answer some of the questions that appeared in the exam.

The highly competitive medical school entrance examination, the HPat, is being investigated amid claims that students who attended a popular

preparation course had seen and been coached in how to answer some of the questions that appeared in the exam.

There is strict confidentiality surrounding the exam and students are not allowed to remove exam materials or notes from the test centre.

While there is no suggestion of any impropriety on the part of students or the course provider, it is claimed as many as 700 students who attended two-day courses run by a company called MedEntry were coached through a large number of questions, up to 10 of which appeared in section one of the HPat exam.

The Australian Council for Educational Research (Acer), which administers the HPat test used in Ireland, is aware of the claims and is conducting a full investigation.

We consider this a serious issue and are treating it as such, said Marita MacMahon Ball, the general manager of higher education with Acer.

Candidates results Further analysis of candidates results will also be carried out to ensure no one has an unfair advantage, she said.

The founder of the Australia-based MedEntry, which offers online HPat resources and a two-day course which costs up to 595, is Dr Edward Boyapati. He said: We prepare our own materials in MedEntry. We educate students in the strategies necessary to solve the problems in the HPat. I think that the questions used might have been similar rather than identical . . . We in MedEntry have no way of knowing what was in the HPat.

MedEntry sent an email to students this year encouraging them to give feedback about the exam. Among other things the email states: Emails that result in changes to the MedEntry resources (to make them better simulate the HPat) will attract a bursary.

Originally posted here:

Medical entry test under investigation