Dr Colman Noctor: Leaving Cert students, there is more than one way to reach your goal

Consider the sat-nav principle: if you miss a turn on the road doesn't mean your destination has to change, only the route 

"Up to about eight years ago, 350 points in your Leaving Cert was 'average' and considered a decent result. But now it seems 500 points is the new target. Why has this happened?"

Colman Noctor

CHILD PSYCHOTHERAPIST

I have accompanied young people through their Leaving Cert journey for over 20 years and the examination is always a stressful time, even for the most complacent students. During 'the Covid years', the introduction of predicted grades helped reduce the anxiety levels of many students, as the results didn't come down to one exam. However, this year, with the reintroduction of the traditional format, anxiety levels are back up to pre-Covid levels.