By students in their own words.

I'm a fella in a beautiful place

Finished the first of my Leaving Cert exams. English Paper One.

It was a fairly standard paper. The theme was "Identity". I ended up answering questions on a piece about a potentially stolen/fake violin, writing a letter to Jon Savage (an author) about teenage culture, and writing an essay about a beautiful place.

There's not much thinking time, but overall I'd say I got on alright. The essay choices were fairly broad - I don't think there'd be any complaints there. The "Question Bs" weren't quite as handy, but they were manageable. Not a bad start.

I was fairly impressed with the organisation and all that too, so it's one of those rare occasions when I don't find anything wrong with the situation.

English Paper Two today. Testing my knowledge of Shakespeare, poetry, and my ability to compare three texts.

A lot of studying to be done tonight, and a lot of quotes to be learned. Well see how it goes.

From Colin Lowry - Leaving-cert.net

This ain't no mock battle

Nothing has prepared us for this life-altering experience, a test of strength, ability and endurance. After months of training we are thrown into the battlefield, no, the mocks were nothing like this.

- From Boards.ie

It was a bit of a cakewalk

Just home, in fact the exam isn't over for another 15 minutes. I thought it was a walk, I chose the article on Teenagers for my Question A and I did the two Diary entries on the violin entry for Question B. B was a bit iffy because I kind of winged it, never did those in class.

- . . .Why did you leave so early? The first reading comprehension was easy enough . . . diary entries in text 2 was simple . . . And finished off with a nice speech on national pride. Even threw in a nice Oscar Wilde quote! Only three and a bit pages though for the speech.

- . . . Nasty paper!

- . . . It was okay . . . the really easy essay options cancelled out the nasty comprehensions!!! Common knowledge a diary entry was gonna come up . . . Things that make you happy essay was piss-easy . . . four pages on like everything in life . . . a sermon basically!!! Ha ha

- . . . Effed up my essay. So annoyed with myself. Did the one on advice for adults, but thought it was teenagers. Rectified it in the closing minutes but its mediocre to say the least.

- . . . "We are what we wear"? What!? If I had to write something under that, it'd be concentrated rage directed at the heading and what I think it means. Then I'd start punching people.

- From Boards.ie

Isn't the rain just lovely

It started to rain during the exam which was an added bonus!!! Im glad the 5th years couldn't enjoy their summer holidays.

- . . . This rain is fecking great,

I am glad its raining! Hate to be doing my Leaving Cert when the weather is good.

- From Boards.ie