Exam Diary: Elaine Black from Sligo will be writing the Exam Diary all this week in The Irish Times. Find out how she copes with the pressure - but first, here is a pen picture.

Name: Elaine Black

Age: 18

School: Sligo Grammar School, The Mall, Sligo

Subjects: Higher level - Irish, English, French, geography, biology, business; Ordinary level - maths

Favourite subject: French

Worst subject: Probably Irish (my poor teacher will kill me for saying it!)

Hobbies: Listening to music, watching TV , walking my pet dog Glen, hanging out with friends at the cinema or shopping, the Left Bank in Sligo, reading, computers (I'm a Bebo addict!)

Favourite bands: Bell X1, Arctic Monkeys, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Coldplay

Favourite TV programmes: Lost, Desperate Housewives

Favourite books: Jane Eyre, The Curious Incident of the Dog In The Night-time, the Harry Potter series

Favourite poems on the Leaving Cert English syllabus: Child by Sylvia Plath, In The Waiting Room by Elizabeth Bishop

Song/band that will always remind you of studying for the Leaving: Madonna - Hung up

Person you most admire: Bob Geldof, Bono, Chris Martin

Person who most annoys you: Chantelle from Big Brother

Favourite food: Chocolate, pasta and Indian food

Father's occupation: Farmer

Mother's occupation: Housewife

Ultimate ambition: Chat show host

Preferred college course: Commerce and French

How many points do you need? 395

View from my desk: Des Bishop, Bell X1 and Paris (France, not Hilton)

Debs partner: To be announced

Your worst characteristic: Procrastination

Your best characteristic: Loyalty