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
CAO
CAO and Leaving Cert news
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 maths paper one ‘strikes the right tone’, teachers say
Geography exam earlier on Friday seen as ‘fair, well-balanced and student friendly’
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 day two: English papers should reflect ‘plummeting’ literacy levels, says teacher
Leaving Cert students sit engineering and English paper two
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
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 day one: See English paper one and home economics exams
State exams season for 2026 gets under way with English paper one and home economics
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
‘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.
Leaving Cert: ‘I would much rather wear my comfy clothes’ in the exam hall
Eoin Murphy found you sometimes can’t win as a Leaving Cert student, such as when you get too much sun
My Leaving Cert: ‘I was upset with a performance anxiety-related false start’
Fionnuala Moran, broadcaster, sustainability influencer and DJ
Classroom to College newsletter: your essential Leaving Cert guide
Study tips, expert advice and live reaction to the State exams
Leaving Cert: 10 tips for parents supporting an exam student this month
Pointers on how best to help and encourage a son or daughter in what can be a stressful period
Leaving Cert and diabetes: ‘I used to be going constantly in and out of class, going to the first aid room’
Danny Goff is the eldest child in his house - a positive and a negative when it comes to exam pressure
‘An amazing opportunity’: Science student’s journey from failing chemistry to TU Dublin
High costs put tutoring out of reach for many students but jumpAgrade, a free tuition service, is changing that for some
Did you hear? The Leaving Cert exams are just around the corner
This week in The Irish Times, Conversations with Parents brings you a special episode to help parents and students navigate the next few weeks
Hear and Dare: Your questions answered at this stage of CAO process
Hear and Dare connect students to supports including financial assistance, academic guidance and orientation
Why summer before sixth year matters for students considering UK university
Applications for UK universities take longer and involve more planning compared to CAO’s
Now seems a good time to remind you – CAO points are not the be-all and end-all
Classroom to College: Whatever comes next for a Leaving Cert student, money-wise it can be big strain
With my daughter planning to go to college, what financial supports are available?
Ask Brian: Maintenance grants and fee grants are available to eligible undergraduate students
Classroom to College: When it comes to education, we all have different targets and priorities
We will be running a series of interviews with Leaving Cert students and their parents before, during and after the exams
Leaving Cert 2026: Tell us about how everything is going and how you are feeling
There is so much to prepare for, and plenty to digest in the aftermath, too – if you can imagine a world where this is actually over!
‘Could my son lose a college offer if CAO details incorrect?’
Parents should ensure that the correct Leaving Cert number is recorded when the Central Applications Office email arrives
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