- Leaving Cert: Irish paper 2 (9.30-12.35pm), biology (2-5pm)
- Junior Cycle: graphics (9.30-11.30am), French (1.30-3.30pm)
- Classroom to College: our essential newsletter on the State exams
- Last-minute exam tips: experts on how best to approach key subjects
Day five is done - and the hardest part is over
So, day five is done. With English, Irish and maths now tamed, students have already faced down the big beasts of the Leaving Cert with focus and determination. That’s something to be truly proud of.
It helped that both Irish paper two and biology had such good responses from students and teachers alike. It’s a big confidence booster after some challenging maths papers.
We were reminded of when Dr Tom Crawford, who teaches maths at the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, decided to try his hand at the Leaving Cert maths paper in real time on YouTube.
His response? “It was a slog. I need to lie down”.
Students have shown resilience, discipline and courage.
Every exam you finish is a step closer to the finish line. Whether today went exactly as you hoped or not, remember: it’s the journey that counts.
Keep going - you’re doing better than you think.
Up tomorrrow:
Leaving Cert: French (9.30-12midday) and history (2-4.50pm)
Junior Cycle: Home economics (9.30-11am) and Spanish (1.30-3.30pm)
‘Biology isn’t my strongest subject - but that was a lovely paper’
Killian Keegan is one of our Leaving Cert diarists at Athlone Community College.
He’s hoping to study athletic and rehabiltation therapy.
The exams have gone well so far, he says and he wasn’t counting on biology being one of his stronger subjects, Keegan was happy with it.
More importantly, he has just a few exams left.
“Nearly there. I’m aiming for as high as I can get – then it’s time to put the feet up, relax and go on our Leaving Cert Albufeira trip," he says.
You can read his full diary here.
Leaving Cert biology - ordinary level: ‘A lot of choice’
On the ordinary-level paper, Liam Hennelly, Studyclix.ie subject expert and biology teacher at Belvedere College in Dublin, says the paper had a wide selection of questions that ranged across a broad number of topics.
“Short questions included food, ecology, a true/false question, cell structure, tropisms, the nervous system and mitosis. Experiment questions included food tests, enzymes and factors that affect germination,” he says.
“The long questions gave students a lot of choice across ecology, genetics & protein synthesis, photosynthesis & respiration, plant structure, human reproduction and microbiology amongst other topics,” Mr Hennelly says.
From September 2025, senior cycle students will start a new curriculum for all science subjects, with an increased focus on experimentation, and 40 per cent of marks awarded for project work.
David O’Brien, ASTI subject representative and a teacher at Ballincollig Community School in Co Cork, says schools have yet to receive health and safety guidelines or risk assessments for practical investigation.
“Schools have not received sufficient funding for purchasing equipment and chemicals, which are expensive, and will need annual funding. We’re also concerned about digital inequality in the system, as students or schools with more access to computers will be at a disadvantage,” Mr O’Brien says.
Leaving Cert biology (ordinary level) section A and B:
Leaving Cert biology (ordinary level) section C:
Leaving Cert biology: ‘Balanced and fair with no major surprises’
The higher-level biology paper was student-friendly, balanced and fair, according to teachers.
Emma Ronan, founder of LeavingCertBiology.ie, says the short questions featured a very “doable” scientific method question along with the historical food question.
“The digestive system, plant biology, monera cell diversity and respiration also appeared, and these are all areas that were well within students’ comfort zones,” says Ms Ronan, who also tutors with TheTuitionCentre.ie.
Wesley Hammond, biology teacher at The Institute of Education, says students really needed to focus on the granular details of each chapter and the questions interrogated a broad span of details.
“Students who were diligent in their past papers and didn’t cut corners when revising chapters will be happy with this paper,” he says.
“Many of the areas that students consider as ‘bankers’ for their marks were nicely represented.”
Leaving Cert biology (higher) section A and B
Hammond says section A’s short questions “won’t have thrown anyone”.
“There were no surprises and if you had put in the time to work through past papers you will recognise much of it,” Hammond says.
“While all questions might not suit everyone (Q2’s longitudinal section of the root may challenge those less confident in plant biology), there were plenty of viable alternatives to let them demonstrate their efforts over the last two years.”
Similarly, Hammond says everyone will be happy with section B’s selection of experiments, but the formulation of some questions will push them to really know the specifics.
“Like last year, the questions on method offers no scaffolding or leading questions to prompt the weaker student along. If students knew the experiments thoroughly this wouldn’t be an issue but they needed that command and confidence to make the most of it. Thankfully Q9 and Q10 allow students the option of adding a diagram which will give some the chance to cross the line and get a few more marks,” he says.
Ronan also says section B was “particularly student-friendly”.
“The experiment questions - worth 15 per cent - were very doable, with diffusion appearing in Q9 for the second paper running,” she says. “Question 8, on the study of an ecosystem, and Q10 on leaf yeast both appeared as full 30 mark anticipated questions.”
Section C
Ms Ronan says that section C, while slightly different in structure compared to previous years, covered expected content.
“Ecology appeared as a full long question featuring predation and a lovely worded nutrient recycling part (c). Genetics featured a straightforward dihybrid punnett square question; while wordy, when broken down it was very approachable,” she says.
Leaving Cert biology (higher level) section C:
“Human systems included the nervous system and musculoskeletal system, senses, human breathing and human reproduction - all familiar and well-revised topics. Unit two topics included cell division and microorganisms.
“Micro-organisms, a commonly examined area every year, also featured in the form of a fungi question, and should have posed no difficulty for prepared students. Photosynthesis appearing with enzymes was an unexpected combination but welcomed.
“Overall, the paper was balanced and fair, with no major surprises, and would have rewarded students who engaged consistently with the course material,” says Ms Ronan.
Hammond says some might be surprised to see Q11 and Q12 covering plant reproduction and genetics, respectively.
“Many students avoid these chapters as they are often the most challenging parts of the course, but if a student had put in the dedicated effort to rise to that challenge, these were good questions,” he says.
For those looking for alternatives, he says reading on gave them a “wealth of options” to navigate.
“Each question balanced the accessible aspects of the chapters, with the more granular details really testing the span of students’ grasps,” he says.
For example, he says, Q13 was very specific in asking “energized particles” and later “enzyme immobilisation”; the latter is normally part of Section B’s experiments.
Similarly Q16 asked on sexual reproduction in rhizopus in part (a) and exhalation from human breathing in part (b), both of which would push the extent of a student’s grasp of the whole chapter.
“The whole paper was best summarised by Q17, which placed the nicest and hardest questions on the papers side by side. But with so much internal choice anyone would have the chance to find questions that suited them,” he says.
Try this one at home
Did you study An Spailpín Fánach for the Leaving Cert?
Let’s see what you remember: try your hand at answering these questions from today’s Irish paper two (higher level).
State exams number of the day:
3,831
That’s the number of examiners appointed last year to mark the written State exams - and a similar number is expected this year.
Not so long ago there were acute shortages of teachers willing to work as examiners during the summer months.
However, a combination of increased payments (Leaving Cert examiners now typically earn between €8,150 and €11,495) and marketing campaigns mean supply issues have faded considerably.
Irish paper two: ‘Sighs of relief as predicted topics make for approachable exam’
My colleague Peter McGuire has been speaking to a number of Irish teachers and the sentiment is the same: they all feel students will be very happy with today’s questions.
He has filed a detailed reaction piece here.
Leaving Cert Irish paper two: ‘Students will be happy with this one’
The early reaction to Leaving Cert Irish paper two (higher level) is certainly positive.
Stephen Doyle, Irish teacher at Moyle Park College, Dublin and Studyclix subject expert, says there is “no doubt would have been well received by the students.”
Similarly, Nuala Uí Cheallaigh, Irish teacher at The Institute of Education, is upbeat and says broad questions allowed students to adapt their material.
“This paper really allowed students to demonstrate their work and grasp of the material in a very open and fair way,” she says.
“The real challenge will be the exam discipline necessary to make the most effective use of the tight timing by selecting and editing what to cover and what to exclude.”
Comprehension
Doyle says the two reading comprehensions were “well chosen”.
“The first text focused on Rory Gallagher and music while the second passage about sport in Ireland was very relevant and easy to relate to. Both were very manageable,” he says.
“The grammar threw up no surprises while the 6b questions were a bit more specific than in previous years.”
Prose
Doyle says a sigh of relief could be heard as the long-awaited Hurlamaboc made an appearance in the prose section.
“Students were expecting it last year but it didn’t appear; thankfully this year it did. Students had an option between Hurlamaboc and Oisín i dTír na nÓg with the questions being very straightforward with no surprises,” he says.
Similarly, Nuala Uí Cheallaigh says the inclusion of both will have been welcomed by many. However, she says the question for Hurlamaboc may have caused some to pause momentarily if they didn’t recognise the term “díomhaoin” (idle) but those who simply outlined the main aspect of the character would have been incidentally on topic.
“The Oisín question was a nice and straightforward piece on the nature of the hero – something anyone preparing the text before the exam will be familiar with," she says.
Poetry
Again, Doyle says students would have been happy with the choice of poems in the poetry section.
“An Spailpín Fánach and Colscaradh appeared on this year’s paper. There were no difficult or tricky questions. Any student who had prepared these poems will be very happy with the questions asked,” he says.
Nuala Uí Cheallaigh says students looking to optimise their marks in this section would need to be attuned to the effects of the techniques asked in the middle question
Litríocht breise
Doyle also says the final section ‘Litríocht Breise’ offered good variety and plenty of choice. The question on “An Trial” and “A thig Ná Tit orm” was straightforward and focused on the case of the main character. While the questions on “Gafa” and “Canary Wharf” focused on the relationships between the characters," he says.
Nuala Uí Cheallaigh says those who prepared An Triail will have had “ample choice of material” in exploring the women’s failure to understand Maire’s circumstances, with at least three key characters jumping to mind.
“Those doing A Thig Ná Tit Orm would have needed to focus on the specific positive moments of the author’s recollections but will have several moments to explore the requisite joy and shenanigans,” she says.
“Those who studied Gafa will find their question reflecting the very core of the story in an accessible way and doing the Dánta Breise will be pleased with ‘Caoineadh Airt Uí Laoghaire’, making an anticipated return to the paper after last appearing in 2022.”
Overall
Doyle says the paper “rewarded students who had studied their texts well and could write clearly about what they had learned. Students will be happy with this one.”
Nuala Uí Cheallaigh adds that making the most effective use of the limted time will have been key for students.
Ordinary level
In the ordinary level exam, meanwhile, Mr Doyle says the paper was “student-friendly and covered the basics well”.
“The reading comprehensions focused on the Olympics and the Phoenix Park (nature), topics that were accessible and relatable for students,” he says.
“The prose section offered a choice between “Dís”, “Oisín i dTír na nÓg” and “Hurlamaboc” which was expected and gave students good options.
“The poetry section included “Mo Ghrá-sa”,“An tEarrach Thiar” and “Colscaradh” with straightforward questions that tested students’ understanding of the main themes and content. There were no surprise questions."
Overall, he says the paper provided ordinary level students with plenty of opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge successfully.
‘I got through the last two days of the Leaving on painkillers and no sleep’
We’ve been asking public figures, entertainers, politicians and others about their Leaving Cert memories.
Oliver Callan spoke to us a few years back and we think he wins the award for most vivid and cinematic exam memory:
“During the weekend in between exams, a few cattle ‘broke out’ into a neighbour’s field. It was Sunday night, dusk, and I was summoned to help the rescue mission. Running across boggy ground, I went down, twisting my knee in a hole and tearing my cruciate ligament. My father had to carry me back across the field. Dosed on painkillers and with no sleep, I managed to get through the last two days of exams with my leg up on a chair. I felt very Joan of Arc about the sacrifice for the cause of agriculture. History was my last exam. I got an A1, but I may have tested positive for performance enhancing drugs.”
You can read the full piece here.
The Leaving of Libya
The exam weather has been mixed of late - but there are no such problems in Malta, where more than 100 students are sitting the Leaving Cert in 30 degree heat.
Why? There is a long-running arrangement with the International School of the Martyrs (ISM) in Libya, a private school where students have access to the Leaving Cert.
It is the only school outside the State where the exams have been held annually - although they have been held in Malta in recent years due to the turbulent political situation.
It is largely thanks to Brendan Coffey, a former lecturer in communications at Athlone RTC - now Technological University of the Shannon - and a former principal of ISM.
“We gained approval to run the International Baccalaureate but we didn’t take it up as it was very expensive,” Coffey told The Irish Times back in 1997. “We then approached the Department of Education about the possibility of taking Junior and Leaving Cert. They considered it for a while and eventually agreed.”
ISM International School first opened in 1954 as the Oil Companies School, a school for the children of oil company executives and diplomats posted to Libya. ISM is the oldest international school in North Africa and says it has successfully graduated every class since 1960.
