What is MSAP Ireland?

The MSAP-Ireland assessment is designed to allow you to demonstrate your skills in written English and your capacity for critical reasoning.

The MSAP-Ireland assessment is developed and independently administered by ACER (Australian Council for Educational Research), who have an excellent international reputation and a track record in the development, management and research of selection tests for undergraduate programmes.

The MSAP-Ireland assessment consists of the following:

  • Written English module (Module 1)
    And
  • Multiple choice module/s:
    • Reasoning in the Humanities and Social Sciences (Module 2)
      And/Or
    • Reasoning in Sciences, Mathematics and Social Sciences (Module 3)

What courses require MSAP Ireland?

Take Module 1 and 3 for: Take Module 1 and 2 for:
 

 What is MSAP Ireland?

The MSAP Ireland assessment is designed to allow you to demonstrate your skills in written English (Module 1) and your capacity for critical reasoning in the area of Sciences, Mathematics and Social Sciences (Module 3). You must register for MSAP Ireland by 29 January 2023.

Main Online Test Window:  Saturday 4 March 2023 - Wednesday 8 March 2023

The cost of applying to the MSAP-Ireland assessment in 2023 is €102 per candidate for those who apply by 29 January. An additional charge of €35 will apply for late registrations up to 24 February.

This fee will cover online registration for the test, delivery of the test, provision of test results to the candidate and the transfer of results to the CAO.

Which modules to I take for Arts and Humanities/Social Sciences and Law courses?

When registering for the MSAP-Ireland, applicants for any Arts (DN520-DN541), Social Sciences (DN700, DN750, DN760) and Law courses (DN600, DN610, DN620) in UCD select modules 1 and 2:

    Module 1: Written English
(Compulsory for all candidates)
    Module 2: Reasoning in the Humanities and Social Sciences
for Arts and Humanities (DN520, DN530, DN541) and Social Sciences (DN700, DN750, DN760) and Law (DN600, DN610, DN620)
  Module 3: Reasoning in Sciences, Mathematics and Social Sciences
for Science (DN200-230), Sustainability (DN240), Agricultural Science degree (DN250-DN262), Economics (DN710) and Psychology (DN720)

Which modules to I take for Agricultural Science, Science, Economics and Psychology courses?

When registering for the MSAP-Ireland, applicants for any Science (DN200-230), Sustainability (DN240), Agricultural Science (DN250-262), Economics (DN710) and Psychology (DN720) in UCD select modules 1 and 3:

    Module 1: Written English
(Compulsory for all candidates)
    Module 2: Reasoning in the Humanities and Social Sciences
for Arts and Humanities (DN520, DN530, DN541) and Social Sciences (DN700, DN750, DN760) and Law (DN600, DN610, DN620)
    Module 3: Reasoning in Sciences, Mathematics and Social Sciences
for Science (DN200-230), Sustainability (DN240), Agricultural Science degree (DN250-DN262), Economics (DN710) and Psychology (DN720)

What if I want to apply for degrees in both areas?

All MSAP-Ireland candidates complete the first Written English module (Module 1). If you are applying for a range of courses across both areas you will need to complete BOTH multiple choice modules (Module 2 and Module 3). 

    Module 1: Written English
(Compulsory for all candidates)
    Module 2: Reasoning in the Humanities and Social Sciences
for Arts and Humanities (DN520, DN530, DN541) and Social Sciences (DN700, DN750, DN760) and Law (DN600, DN610, DN620)
    Module 3: Reasoning in Sciences, Mathematics and Social Sciences
for Science (DN200-230), Sustainability (DN240), Agricultural Science degree (DN250-DN262), Economics (DN710) and Psychology (DN720)

What happens on the test day?

N.B. the MSAP Ireland assessment will be conducted online via remote proctoring.

Each module takes 1 hour to complete.

The first module, Written English, provides you with an opportunity to demonstrate your skills in written English. You will be asked to write on a topic (or a number of topics) and ACER will be interested to see how you structure your arguments and present them. Your knowledge of facts is not being tested and there is no particular curriculum that you must follow. Rather, it is your capacity to express ideas clearly and communicate them to the reader that is of concern.

The multiple choice modules test your critical reasoning. Again, it is not your general knowledge that is being tested. ACER is interested in how you sift and assess information to come to a conclusion.

This is not a test that you pass or fail: ACER will provide you with a score on each module and a combined score. That information will then be provided to UCD where it will be combined with the information provided in your CAO application in the assessment of your application.

Special Testing Conditions:

If you have an impairment which could affect your performance in the test you can apply for special testing conditions.

Further information is available on the MSAP – Ireland website.

MSAP Ireland Results:

MSAP-Ireland test results are current for two years. This means they can be used in an application for admission in the year of the test, and/or one year later. For example, if a candidate takes the test in 2023, the result can be used for admission in 2023 and 2024 only.

There is no restriction on the number of times you may take the MSAP Ireland test, provided you are a bona fide candidate each time. The test cannot be taken twice in the one year.

Further information is available on the MSAP – Ireland website