Leaving Cert PE: less challenging paper lets students avoid last year’s time crunch
Welcome question on Daniel Wiffen, Mona McSharry and Róisín Ní Riain, Irish Olympic and Paralympic medalists
ExamWatch
Leaving Cert economics: Topical paper tackles Irish and global climate
Wordy questions leave students tight for time in 150-minute exam
Leaving Cert music: Beatles and Mozart strike the right note for well-prepared students
Listening paper had no nasty surprises in questions one to four
Leaving Cert DCG: Approachable questions for students who thought conceptually
Design and communications graphics test presents several problems, but generally manageable, say experts
Leaving Cert physics: Tricky questions offset by choice on higher-level paper
Ordinary-level paper also had plenty of choice and some nice topics, say teachers, but ‘there was a lot of English and reading’
Leaving Cert chemistry a ‘fair but testing exam’ with ‘familiar topics’
Higher-level paper had a ‘few fresh angles that required students to think’, says teacher
Leaving Cert Spanish paper had ‘something for everyone’
Majority of questions were approachable to students of all levels, says teacher
Leaving Cert agricultural science leaves teachers divided
Students either knew the answer or did not, as ‘no room for reasoning’
‘What can we do to help our anxious son through his last exams?’
Ask the Expert: ‘He knows the stuff, but he can panic on the day of exams’
Leaving Cert week three: How to stay motivated for the final hurdle
‘It takes resilience. Keep going, the finish line is in sight’
‘I haven’t cried yet, which is a win’: Leaving Cert diarists on the exams so far
Students found history and maths particularly challenging
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
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
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 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
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
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
Leaving Cert: Just one more sleep to go
Classroom to College: If you are a student, parent or teacher, we have the news, views and information for you
‘Kids after Leaving Cert English look punch drunk’: teacher has his say ahead of ‘tough’ first exam
Sheer amount of handwriting required in answers can make heads – and hands – ache
Leaving Cert: How can you, or your child, best get through the next fortnight?
More than 100,000 households begin the Junior Cert and Leaving Cert exams this week. Yes, we said it, because if one person is sitting the June exams, everyone in the family is.
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