ExamWatch

‘Some of the comprehensions had trickier elements’

Screaming at the top of your lungs is a good way to reduce stress, says exam diarist Caithlin Balfe

‘Students able to answer full paper while avoiding less popular topics completely’

‘I think many will have left the exam hall smiling’

Leaving Cert have Irish paper 2 & biology, while Junior Cycle students have graphics & French

‘A wide range of topics, but awkward phrasing and niche issues meant choice was very narrow’

Maths paper one drew criticism from many students who felt it was excessively difficult

‘Much of the paper was encouraging, straightforward and very fair’

Following fallout over Leaving Cert maths paper 1, how will students fare with maths paper 2?

Leaving Cert diary: Dublin pupil Iustina Loghin is looking forward to a summer of travel

Higher level paper continues ‘recent trend towards asking questions which probe students’ understanding of concepts’

‘In the absence of a marking scheme, students may not know how much to focus on each question’

Lots of smiles as candidates left exam halls on Friday afternoon

UCD historian says too many Leaving Cert highfliers cannot construct sentences

Leaving Certs had geography and maths paper 1, while Junior Certs faced history and maths

Student diarist Cathal Moloney, who has dyslexia and dyspraxia, can’t wait for the exams to be over

‘If Meehan did not appeal to candidates, Mahon, Kavanagh, Rich and Donne provided relief for many’

Topical questions include focus on migration and the end of peat production

Oscar-nominated film An Cailín Ciúin features at ordinary and higher level

Augmented reality featured in a paper which required students to ‘think for themselves’

‘I never thought in a million years I’d end up in politics as a TD and now leader of a political party’

Up today is Leaving Cert engineering & English paper two and Junior Cycle Irish & geography

135,000 begin their Junior Cycle and Leaving Cert written papers

Religious faith of footballer Mo Salah and boxer Katie Taylor featured

Knowledge of own-brand products and cheaper sources of pulses, eggs and meat were called on

‘The terminology in certain questions was a bit technical and may have challenged some students’

‘Candidates should be extremely pleased with the nature of the questions as well as the choice in all sections’

Liveline presenter was the first in his family to complete second-level education

Sixth-year students at Clogher Road Community College are facing into their first ever State exams

Candidates with Covid may access deferred sitting, while those with a runny nose advised to attend

Know the exam schedule, review subject requirements and get there on time

These are the first State exams for most students due to the Covid-era cancellation of the Junior Cert

It will all be over in about three weeks – if parents can just hold it together

Experts share their top tips on how to maximise your performance on the big day

Thousands of school leavers are preparing for exams next week, but some are taking a less stressful path

Many students struggle with the stress of the Leaving Cert and Junior Cycle. We asked experts, teachers and students for their advice on how to succeed

Social media platforms such as Snapchat and Instagram are most popular among students who spend several hours a day online

Thousands sign petition within 48 hours to support changes to Junior Cycle and Leaving Cert

Caraíosa O’Farrell was one of three Leaving Cert candidates to secure nine H1 grades last year. Here, she shares her tips for exam success

Moving exams to fifth year meant to be ‘easy win’, but critics likely to ask if more ambitious reform is feasible