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
Second Level
News and advice on the second-level education system.
Rise in Irish exemptions denies children part of their identity, report says
Spiralling exemptions are being driven by increased diagnosis of learning disabilities such as dyslexia, says report
Piano tuning and Leaving Cert coverage
Don’t let a tricky maths question put you off piano tuning as a career
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’
A quick summer survival guide for parents of Irish teenagers
Jen Hogan: Three months of nothingness lies ahead for some secondary school students
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
U2’s Adam Clayton and others on their boarding school days: ‘Being separated from the age of 8 was a trauma’
How do famous former boarders view their time at school now?
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
On the Leaving Cert: Students do best when they can choose subjects that best suit them
A broad education is important, especially in the early years, but by senior cycle many students are ready to build on their strengths
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
Cancer survivor wonders can she keep getting invalidity pension when her maternity benefit starts?
Work Q&A: I’m recovering from breast cancer treatment and expecting in July. Can I keep receiving both payments?
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
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
‘I’m going to do medicine’: Student who left school in second year now aiming for top LC points
Kayleigh Quinn says a comment from a psychiatrist pushed her to do the Junior Cycle exams, which has now led to tackling the Leaving
My Leaving Cert: The school secretary took me to lost property and kitted me out with a new uniform
Author Liz Nugent sat her Leaving Certificate in 1985 and still has nightmares about it
‘Every day feels exhausting’: Four students confront China’s high-stakes college entrance exams
Four Chinese students on sitting the gaokao, a challenging national test that will shape their futures
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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Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
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