What ACER says about preparing
ACER, which runs the test, says there is little benefit in last-minute cramming, but that being familiar with the question types helps. It suggests wide and critical reading for Sections 1 and 2, working through its practice material more than once, and then practising with the real test timings. The plan below follows that advice: understand first, then speed, then stamina.
The 12-week plan
This plan runs from mid-November to the February test. If you start later, shorten the first two stages, not the last one.
| Weeks | Focus | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Learn the test | Read the test format and the three section guides. Try our free practice questions and work through ACER’s practice test without a timer, reading every explanation. Register for the HPAT once you have your CAO number. |
| 3–5 | One section at a time | Practise each section on its own. Keep an error log: for every mistake, note the question type and why the right answer is right. Read widely: opinion articles for Section 1, fiction and personal essays for Section 2. |
| 6–8 | Add the clock | Move to timed section practice at the real pace: about 86 seconds a question in Section 1, 71 in Section 2 and 80 in Section 3. Practise guessing and moving on, because there is no negative marking. |
| 9–11 | Full mocks | Sit one full-length mock a week under test conditions: all three sections back to back, 60, 50 and 40 minutes, no breaks, on a computer. Spend at least as long reviewing each mock as sitting it. |
| 12 | Test week | Keep practice light. Run ACER’s equipment checks, set up your room and get your ID ready using our test-day checklist. |
Official ACER practice material
ACER’s practice books are the only source of real past HPAT questions, so use them before anything else. For the 2026 test, these were the e-books and prices:
| ACER e-book | Price (2026) | Worked solutions |
|---|---|---|
| Practice Test (included with your registration) | €24 | Yes |
| Practice Test 2 | €24 | No |
| Practice Test 3 | €24 | Yes |
| Practice Test 4 | €24 | No |
| Additional Practice Questions (60 questions) | €14 | |
| Additional Practice Questions 2 (60 questions) | €14 |
Each e-book gives 12 months of online access. Registered test takers can also use ACER’s free online demo to get used to the test platform.
Where PrepGenie fits
ACER publishes four practice tests. If you use some of them for timed practice earlier in the plan, you can run short of fresh full-length tests for weeks 9 to 11. PrepGenie’s three HPAT mocks add fresh full-length tests timed to ACER’s published format, with a worked solution for every question and an estimated score. They work best as extra mocks after ACER’s own papers, not as a replacement for them.
Common mistakes
- Only practising untimed. Most students can answer HPAT questions given enough time. The test is hard because of the pace.
- Leaving questions blank. There is no negative marking, so always choose an answer.
- Doing questions without reviewing them. The improvement comes from understanding why you got something wrong.
- Neglecting Section 3 or over-focusing on it. It is 20% of your score, half as much as each of the other two sections.
Common questions
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Last checked: October 2026. Facts on this page are taken from the official HPAT-Ireland website and the ACER Test Taker Information Booklet for the 2026 test, checked in October 2026. Always confirm dates and rules at hpat-ireland.acer.org before you register.