What happens next if results did not go to plan?

COLLEGE CHOICE: A daily guide to your post Leaving Cert options

MY GUIDANCE counselling colleagues were busy from 8am yesterday on The Irish TimesHelpline answering inquiries from Leaving Certificate students and their parents.

The helpline service is available all day today on 1800-946-942 and again next Monday and Tuesday, when the Central Applications Office (CAO) releases college offers.

Viewing exam papers:

A large number of callers inquired about this. The form required to view exam papers is with the results statements given to students yesterday. All students have the opportunity to view one or more of their marked exam papers. They can assess how their paper was marked and whether an appeal is worthwhile.

Applications for viewing of papers should be made through your school. The closing date for receipt of completed application forms in schools is next Tuesday, August 23rd. The viewing of scripts will take place in schools on Friday, September 2nd and Saturday, September 3rd next.

The student has to be present to view the script, and may be accompanied by one other person. Some parents asked whether they could view the scripts on behalf of their sons/daughters, as the offspring were going abroad for a holiday with their friends to celebrate the results. Unfortunately, viewing a script in these circumstances is not possible, but you still have the option of requesting a recheck and paying the €40 per subject.

All appeal applications to have a paper remarked must be with the State Examinations Commission by 5pm on Wednesday, September 7th.

Appeal results:

Appeal results will be issued to all schools in mid-October. If you are upgraded – and now meet the points needed for your course – you should be accommodated.

In some cases, colleges may not be in a position to allow you to start on this course in late October. This is a most unsatisfactory situation, but you will be guaranteed your place on the course for the 2012-2013 academic year.

What happens if I failed maths?

More than 4,000 students failed maths in the Leaving Cert, making them ineligible for many college courses.

A number of colleges including the DIT, CIT, NUI Maynooth and NUI Galway offer second chance higher-level maths exams, to enable students to access their level 8 engineering courses.

WIT has introduced a special maths exam for students who have already applied to the college but failed maths.

As more colleges are beginning to offer facilities for those who fail to secure a minimum of a grade D3 in maths each year, it would be advisable to check with the university or institute in question to see whether they are offering any special examination or other arrangements in 2011.

Science subjects:

Apart from maths, the most common question concerned science subjects. Many students who were hoping to gain a place on a course where a D3 in one science subject was a minimum entry requirement had failed.

Such students would be well advised to review their college options, and if they have not applied for any suitable courses to date to review the courses on offer through the CAO on their vacant places lists. These will be made available on the CAO website next Tuesday, August 23rd, at noon.

Brian Mooney teaches at Oatlands College, Stillorgan, Dublin