In yet another sign that pressure may be easing on those looking for third-level points, the number of people repeating the Leaving Certificate this year has dropped by more than a fifth.
This year, some 3,889 students have applied to repeat the exam, compared to approximately 5,000 the year before. According to Department of Education sources, many of those who normally repeat are taking up employment instead.
The numbers repeating have not been this low for more than a decade. As recently as 1996 there were more than 8,000 repeating. The drop this year is one of the largest in the last decade.
Another reason for the drop in repeats, according to department sources, is with the extra courses coming on stream, more people are getting an offer of a place than before. Consequently, there is less need for people to repeat.
While the drop in the number of repeats is significant and follows the announcement of a drop in the number of applications to the Central Applications Office (CAO), neither development is likely to result in major falls in points for courses such as medicine, dentistry or pharmacy. However, according to the Department sources, there may be an overall easing in the points demanded.
According to last year's Points Commission report, a significant number of those resitting the exam did so for the purposes of gaining entry to medicine or dentistry. Most sources suggest this pattern will continue for the foreseeable future. The figures are included in this year's Department of Education Exam Factfile 2000. This collection of examinations statistics shows that competition in the Leaving Cert exam continues at a high level and students continue to operate within tight margins for the course of their choice.
For example, the Department of Education's exams branch last year received 7,590 appeals to grades by students. Higher-level English was the subject of 1,489 appeals, by far the highest total.
The general secretary of the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI), Mr Charlie Lennon, yesterday called on students to relax and remain positive during the exams period.
"While we know that exams can be a source of stress and worry, it is important to remain calm and keep things in perspective," said Mr Lennon. "Do not be distracted by media reports on examination papers and avoid fixating on a paper after you have sat it," he added.
