Leaving Cert week three: How to stay motivated for the final hurdle
‘It takes resilience. Keep going, the finish line is in sight’
Classroom to College
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‘I haven’t cried yet, which is a win’: Leaving Cert diarists on the exams so far
Students found history and maths particularly challenging
Classroom to College: A tough Leaving Cert week as core subjects finish
Higher level papers in both French and history were particularly tricky
Leaving Cert art: State Examinations Commission listens to criticism of last year’s paper
‘This paper gave students a lot of opportunities to show their knowledge of the subject’
Leaving Cert German: The fairest paper so far this year
Teachers report accessible questions, familiar vocabulary and manageable grammar
Leaving Cert construction studies paper praised for accessibility
‘Paper contained questions on household extensions and adapting them for ... disabled or elderly people’
Leaving Cert business: Largely fair paper with a tough compulsory question
‘A good, balanced paper allowing students to display their knowledge’
Leaving Certificate Applied: ‘If you’re a more practical person, it is really good’
Reduced emphasis on exams can suit some students
Leaving Cert history: ‘Very challenging’ paper with few predicted staples
No major shocks, but very few questions that could be described as highly predictable
Leaving Cert French exam gets mixed reaction from teachers: ‘Odd, challenging, balanced’
Some feel the higher-level paper was accessible and fair, but others think it contained tricky vocabulary
Leaving Cert biology paper contains mistake that may have caught out students
State Examinations Commission apologises for error, which will be taken into account in marking
Leaving Cert Irish paper two contained more challenging unseen elements than in previous years
Prose and poetry questions were approachable but some of the reading comprehensions may have been challenging
Sophie should be doing her Junior Cert exams, but instead she’s sorting out her wardrobe
Mother of student with dyslexia made the difficult decision that her daughter shouldn’t sit the exams
Leaving Cert: Happier Monday for students following Maths paper two
Hopefully, Leaving Cert students who left school halls drained and miserable last Friday after the higher-level maths paper were a little happier following the second paper
Leaving Cert Irish paper one: Students glad to see predicted topics
Ordinary-level Leaving Cert Irish paper considered fair, manageable and accessible for students
Leaving Cert maths paper two gets far more positive response from students
Jean Kelly, a maths teacher, said that the ordinary-level paper was fair, modern and thoughtfully designed
Siblings at exam time: ‘You will be unfairly treated... When it’s your turn the same will apply to you’
Psychotherapist Colman Noctor would much prefer to see a child approaching the exams in a ‘chilled’ fashion, rather than ‘stressed out of it’
Last-minute tips ahead of the Leaving Cert Irish exams
Irish teacher Hugh Gallagher suggests it’s better to stick to simple, accurate sentences when writing answers, as opposed to more complex ones, where mistakes can occur
Leaving Cert: ‘It requires a lot of mental energy to sit a full exam paper’
Kat Ruane (18) has ADHD and dyspraxia, and finds it hard to manage the timings of exams
Leaving Cert: It’s time to relax, recover and recharge
Okay, it was a short week, but it probably didn’t feel like that for anyone sitting the tests.
Leaving Cert maths, paper one: A song and dance about a bum note
Students were generally relieved with an approachable higher-level maths paper one, but the element of choice allowed them to swerve trickier questions, teachers said.
Leaving Cert geography: Students generally pleased but some difficult questions
Students sitting the Leaving Certificate geography exams were happy with a paper that rewarded preparation while avoiding unexpected questions, teachers have said
Leaving Cert: ‘You just have to go with the child that’s in front of you’
When it comes to our Junior Cycle students, it’s all about continued support and motivation
Leaving Cert: ‘If I don’t do good, then it maybe sets a tone for the rest of my siblings’
Momin Bari is studying seven higher-level subjects and also French at ordinary level
Leaving Cert English paper two a ‘thought-provoking’ paper with ‘no curveballs’
Paper two challenged candidates but was ‘manageable’, teachers say
Fiachna Ó Braonáin’s Leaving Cert: ‘I stayed up very late at night, drinking coffee and cramming’
The musician and broadcaster sat the exams in the summer of 1984
The Leaving Cert according to a guidance counsellor: ‘Their brains have been working so hard ... they need to get fresh air’
Guidance counsellor says students should focus ‘on what they know’ rather than what they feel they do not
The Leaving Cert is dense, demanding and far superior to the UK’s A-levels
With its seven, maybe eight subjects, the Leaving Cert cherishes the value of the generalist. In the UK, a 16-year-old may be studying just three
Leaving Cert home economics paper was ‘unpredictable and will leave some with mixed emotions’
‘Accessible’ higher level paper ‘fully aligned with the syllabus’ across ‘wide range of topics’
Leaving Cert: One down, half-a-dozen or so days to go
Thank you to each of the students, parents and teachers who have shared their views with us
Leaving Cert English paper one a ‘lovely’ exam, teachers say
Students relieved and happy after sitting test with ‘terrific’ essay options and variety in reading comprehensions
My Leaving Cert: ‘Remembering the fun, very silly, happy-go-lucky people we were is like a warm hug’
Erin McGreehan, TD for Louth
Leaving Cert: ‘Even though it’s foundation maths it’s still very stressful’
Grace McNamara (18) is hoping to do well in English and history
Leaving Cert: Just one more sleep to go
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