CAO 2026 calendar: With the Leaving Cert over, here are the important dates you need to know
Now that the exams are past-tense, what next in the choreography of securing college places?
CAO
CAO and Leaving Cert news
One week to nail your decision ... how to make the most of the time you have left
Key questions to ask before the CAO change of mind deadline
Decision time nears for final CAO course selection – here’s what you need to know
Understanding course requirements and content, and what you really want, should be key priorities before you finalise selections
Beyond the CAO: Exploring the other educational pathways now open to school leavers
Belief that academic success directly relates to career success in a high status job is under serious question
Awarding extra CAO points for Irish is not the answer
Other subjects would suffer while mediocrity in Irish was promoted
So your daughter wants to study science at university? First, take a reality check
It will be at least 13-18 years after the Leaving Certificate before there is any possibility of her getting a permanent academic position
What you need to know about the CAO change-of-mind deadline
You have until July 1st at 5pm to revise your CAO application. Here is what you need to consider
What happens if I choose the ‘wrong’ college course?
What you put on the CAO form is the first decision, not the last
Irish and exemptions
If Irish attracted bonus CAO points as higher-level maths does, it might incentivise students to take the subject more seriously
Leaving Cert history paper was ‘very challenging’; Junior cycle French ‘an absolute horror show’
State Examinations Commission apologises for error in higher level biology
Leaving Cert 2026: Exams body apologises for error in biology paper
Irish paper two praised as fair and manageable
Leaving Cert Irish paper two contained more challenging unseen elements than in previous years
Prose and poetry questions were approachable but some of the reading comprehensions may have been challenging
Piano tuning and Leaving Cert coverage
Don’t let a tricky maths question put you off piano tuning as a career
Leaving Cert Irish paper one: Students glad to see predicted topics
Ordinary-level Leaving Cert Irish paper considered fair, manageable and accessible for students
Leaving Cert Irish paper one contains surprising omission
Second week of State exams begins for more than 140,000 students across junior and senior cycle
Leaving Cert maths paper two gets far more positive response from students
Jean Kelly, a maths teacher, said that the ordinary-level paper was fair, modern and thoughtfully designed
Leaving Cert: ‘It requires a lot of mental energy to sit a full exam paper’
Kat Ruane (18) has ADHD and dyspraxia, and finds it hard to manage the timings of exams
Leaving Cert maths, paper one: A song and dance about a bum note
Students were generally relieved with an approachable higher-level maths paper one, but the element of choice allowed them to swerve trickier questions, teachers said.
Leaving Cert maths paper one ‘strikes the right tone’, teachers say
Geography exam earlier on Friday seen as ‘fair, well-balanced and student friendly’
Leaving Cert geography: Students generally pleased but some difficult questions
Students sitting the Leaving Certificate geography exams were happy with a paper that rewarded preparation while avoiding unexpected questions, teachers have said
Leaving Cert: ‘You just have to go with the child that’s in front of you’
When it comes to our Junior Cycle students, it’s all about continued support and motivation
Leaving Cert: ‘If I don’t do good, then it maybe sets a tone for the rest of my siblings’
Momin Bari is studying seven higher-level subjects and also French at ordinary level
Leaving Cert day two: English papers should reflect ‘plummeting’ literacy levels, says teacher
Leaving Cert students sit engineering and English paper two
Leaving Cert English paper two a ‘thought-provoking’ paper with ‘no curveballs’
Paper two challenged candidates but was ‘manageable’, teachers say
Fiachna Ó Braonáin’s Leaving Cert: ‘I stayed up very late at night, drinking coffee and cramming’
The musician and broadcaster sat the exams in the summer of 1984
The Leaving Cert according to a guidance counsellor: ‘Their brains have been working so hard ... they need to get fresh air’
Guidance counsellor says students should focus ‘on what they know’ rather than what they feel they do not
Leaving Cert home economics paper was ‘unpredictable and will leave some with mixed emotions’
‘Accessible’ higher level paper ‘fully aligned with the syllabus’ across ‘wide range of topics’
Leaving Cert day one: See English paper one and home economics exams
State exams season for 2026 gets under way with English paper one and home economics
Leaving Cert: One down, half-a-dozen or so days to go
Thank you to each of the students, parents and teachers who have shared their views with us
Leaving Cert English paper one a ‘lovely’ exam, teachers say
Students relieved and happy after sitting test with ‘terrific’ essay options and variety in reading comprehensions
My Leaving Cert: ‘Remembering the fun, very silly, happy-go-lucky people we were is like a warm hug’
Erin McGreehan, TD for Louth
Leaving Cert: ‘Even though it’s foundation maths it’s still very stressful’
Grace McNamara (18) is hoping to do well in English and history
‘I’m going to do medicine’: Student who left school in second year now aiming for top LC points
Kayleigh Quinn says a comment from a psychiatrist pushed her to do the Junior Cycle exams, which has now led to tackling the Leaving
My Leaving Cert: The school secretary took me to lost property and kitted me out with a new uniform
Author Liz Nugent sat her Leaving Certificate in 1985 and still has nightmares about it
Crosswords & Puzzles
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