Table 1.

Features of a variety of general mental ability/aptitude tests compared

Assessment tool	HPAT	UMAT	UKCAT	MCAT	BMAT
Target candidates	Undergraduate medical school applicants – predominately school leavers	Undergraduate medical school applicants – predominately school leavers	Undergraduate medical school applicants – predominately school leavers	Medical School applicants – predominately college students	Undergraduate medical school applicants – predominately school leavers
Type of test	MCQ	MCQ	MCQ	MCQ plus written essay*	MCQ, written answers and written essay
Duration	2 hrs 30 mins	2 hrs 45 mins	2 hrs	4.5 to 5 hours *	2 hr
How administered	Paper based	Paper based	Computer based	Computer based	Paper based
Standard Cost to applicant	€95	€161	€78	€181	€50
No of participating schools	5	14	26	Required by almost all medical schools in North America	6
Year it was first used	2009	First used in 1991 at Newcastle University, Australia with expansion to other institutions in 1997/98	2006	Earliest versions commenced in 1946 and have evolved over time. Current format exists since 1992 with some minor adjustments since	2003
Subsections of test	1. Logical Reasoning & Problem Solving	1. Logical Reasoning & Problem Solving	1. Verbal reasoning	1. Verbal Reasoning Skills	1: Aptitude and Skills
	2. Interpersonal Understanding	2. Understanding People	2. Quantitative reasoning	2. Physical Sciences – chemistry, physics and data interpretation	2: Scientific Knowledge and Application
	3. Non-Verbal Reasoning	3. Non-verbal Reasoning	3. Abstract reasoning	3. Biological Sciences – biology and organic chemistry	3: Writing Task
			4. Decision analysis	* The writing sample section will be removed in 2013 thus shortening the test

HPAT-Health Professions Admission Test Ireland. UMAT-Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission Test. UKCAT- UK Clinical Aptitude Test. MCAT- Medical College Admission Test. BMAT-BioMedical Admissions Test.