By students in their own words.

From Mark Walsh - walsho.com

It's very strange to think that the exams we've been dreading and preparing for for the past six years are now only six days away. Strangely, I'm not panicking, perhaps because I've grown so accustomed to the idea of these exams that I'm just looking forward to getting them over with. The thought of walking out of that last exam is possibly the most beautiful image I could fathom in this brilliant mind of mine.

From Boards.ie

ON EXAM NERVES . . .

Nervous yes, but not as much as I was before. At this stage I just want it so out of the way yano. While in a few subjects I probably wouldn't be able to sit the exam right this minute, I'm fairly close to wrapping everything up.

I'd say right now I could sit my German, geography (with a small bit more study in geo-ecology) and business exam . . .

I thought I would be nervous but I'm actually not one bit.

I was more nervous for my Junior Cert.

I actually have maybe at the most done five hours study over the last month. I'm really not pushed on the whole thing!

It's like just another day for me!

hmmm . . . I wonder if it's too late to start studying?

ON GETTING COLD FEET. . .

Can I drop to pass maths on the day? Or do I need to say it the first time I see the supernintendo guy?

There's no problem dropping on the day itself, they'll have a list of exam numbers and a level printed beside it. The superintendent will have some spare ordinary/foundation papers. I'm doing honours maths, but I gave some grinds there to my girlfriend doing pass. You have to realise there are some topics on the pass course that honours does not cover. So just make sure you will be able to answer enough questions. Would be a balls to realise you couldn't do the exam! If you're not going to get an A in pass, I would see no reason to drop, unless you're failing honours (and if you are you should have dropped a long time ago!). Honours maths is probably the best Leaving Cert subject to have.

ON SMOKING . . .

Just curious to know if you are allowed to leave the exam with one of the attendants to go out for a smoke? I know when ya need to go to the bathroom you sign out and bring one of the attendants, but does the same principle apply for nipping out for a quick cheeky sneaky smoke? Anybody any info?

Thanks.

I know in my school last year one of the attendants smoked, so they didn't mind bringing ya out for a fag, it's just they get sick of it if you constantly go.

Well there's no smoke detectors in our bathrooms so I don't see why you wouldn't just smoke in there, the people who stay outside the door are mostly girls. Smoking is not permitted (by law) in any Irish school, so unless your attendant is going to bring you outside the building (and in some cases outside the grounds) I doubt it will happen.