CollegeChoice/Brian Mooney:1. Considering a recheck? If you believe that a grade is not a fair reflection of your work, you may apply to view the script. This free service offers all candidates the opportunity to see how the marking scheme has been applied to their work and will help you to decide whether to appeal a result.
With the exception of external candidates (those who studied for the exam outside a standard second-level school, ie a grind school or on their own), all applications to view papers should be made through the candidate's school.
The closing date for receipt of completed application forms in schools is next Tuesday, August 22nd, the day after the CAO first-round offers are due.
2. Rechecks - what to do if you are an external candidate?
External candidates should follow the instructions that accompany their provisional statement of results. All candidates will have access to the marking schemes for the papers they wish to examine and will be able to see how these were applied in their case.
3. Viewing your exam papers
This will take place in schools on Friday and Saturday, September 1st and 2nd. Marking schemes in all subjects will be published by the State Exams Commission in the coming days and will be provided to schools to facilitate the viewing of scripts.
The marking schemes will also be on www.examinations.ie. Remember, a student has to be present to view a script. It is forbidden to nominate someone to view a paper on a student's behalf.
4. What should I do if I am unhappy with an individual grade or grades?
Where this occurs, following a viewing of a paper or not, students should consult the Leaving Certificate Results Appeal Process booklet, which accompanies their statement of provisional results.
All candidates should adhere to the instructions to ensure they lodge valid requests for viewing marked scripts and appealing results. This information is also available in the candidates section on the State Examinations Commission website: www.examinations.ie.
School-based candidates who wish to appeal should do so through their school. External candidates should follow the instructions that accompany their provisional statement of results.
5. What's the deadline?
All appeal applications must be with the SEC by 5pm on Wednesday, September 6th. The fee per subject, refundable in the case of a successful appeal, is €37. The fees are payable by bank giro form provided by the SEC, through any bank or by credit card over the internet.
The SEC says many candidates return their appeal form without proof of payment; either the stamped personalised bank giro, if paid at the bank or the internet confirmation record if paid on-line by credit card. Such incomplete applications can invalidate the appeal request.
If the recheck leads to a higher grade, the payment will be refunded. In 2005, appeal applications were made against 11,582 results in 32 subjects, leading to 2,651 upgrades and nine downgrades. In other words about 20 per cent of appeals were successful.
6. What happens if you're upgraded?
Five additional CAO points per grade are awarded. These will be communicated immediately to the CAO. If the new points total is within the range of scores for a CAO choice, higher than the one initially offered, the student will normally be immediately offered that place. Given that six weeks of term time will have elapsed, it is up to the student to (a) continue with their current course; (b) start the new course immediately; or (c) accept the new offer and defer it until September 2007.
7. What are the options if you fared poorly in maths?
By far the highest numbers of disappointed students are those - more than 4,600 - who failed maths. A number of colleges have procedures in place to assist students who find themselves in that situation.
Portobello College offers a choice of three two-year higher national diploma (HND) programmes, which students can do while simultaneously repeating maths at the Institute of Education. The HNDs - all awarded by UK's Edexcel - are in the areas of business and computing. Holders of these qualifications can pursue careers in industry or can go on to various business degree programmes at Portobello.
At the other end of the spectrum are students who took higher-level maths, with a view to taking a Level 8 degree in engineering in NUI Galway, the Institute of Technology in Cork or NUI Maynooth, and failed to secure a minimum of a C3. These students can take an exam in maths, based on the higher-level Leaving course, being offered through these three colleges. In Maynooth's case, this will take place next Friday, August 25th. Contact college for details.
8. Getting your results if you are out of the country
Results can be accessed online by using an exam number and the unique personal number supplied to students through their schools, on www.examinations.ie
Tomorrow: What issues are emerging on The Irish Times Helpline?
Brian Mooney's column will appear daily in the run-up to the CAO first- and second-round offers. The Irish Times Helpline is available from 8am today and and tomorrow and again from Monday, when the CAO makes first-round offers.
Experienced guidance counsellors are available to take your call.
You can call free on the Helpline - 1800-946-942