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3/6/2009 Leaving Cert Exams Begin

#Leaving Cert

News, views, analysis and features on the state examinations process and system.

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>The culmination of secondary school in Ireland is still a series of timed exams that rely on an ability to regurgitate precise selections of knowledge and interpretation from a massive five-year accumulation of information in multiple subjects. File picture</p>

columnists

Gareth O'Callaghan: Ireland's education system still fails too many Leaving Cert students

Despite recent reforms, Ireland's education system still undervalues vocational skills and overlooks students who learn in different ways

Sarah Harte Writer head shot.png

Sarah Harte: Success of Djamel White and Claire Keegan show going to university isn't everything

<p>Courses leading to careers in disability services, primary and community care, and school support — all of which face acute shortages of workers — are prioritised in the rollout of extra places. Stock picture</p>

news

Extra 274 college places for courses leading to priority health and social care professions

Gareth O'Callaghan: I took the Leaving Cert again last week. Here's what I learned

columnists

Gareth O'Callaghan: I took the Leaving Cert again last week. Here's what I learned

Ireland's long school holidays don't suit the modern family — but who's going to change them?

comment-analysis

Ireland's long school holidays don't suit the modern family — but who's going to change them?

Royal High School

news

SEC apologises for error in Leaving Cert biology, claims no AI used in developing paper

Leaving Cert Irish and Biology papers praised as fair and student-friendly

Leaving Cert Irish and Biology papers praised as fair and student-friendly

Exam experts said predictable topics, strong choice and accessible questions helped ease pressure on candidates

Tue, 09 Jun, 2026

Group Of Teenage Friends Jumping Into Swimming Pool

Leaving Cert holiday: How parents can prepare teenagers for their first solo getaway

The Leaving Cert class of 2026 will soon be heading off on overseas holidays with friends, and there is plenty parents can do to prepare them for the adventure

Tue, 09 Jun, 2026

Family at home

Colman Noctor: A teen’s ability to adapt is more important than having a fully formed life plan

Many of the healthiest and happiest adults I know are not those who got everything right the first time, but those who learned to adapt when life didn’t go to plan

Tue, 09 Jun, 2026

State exams 2026: 'Overwhelmingly positive' reaction to maths paper 2

State exams 2026: 'Overwhelmingly positive' reaction to maths paper 2

'Not that they were delighted, but they certainly found it much more accessible than paper 1 on Friday'

Mon, 08 Jun, 2026

Exam cheating rises

Colin Sheridan: Here's how I cheated the system when I sat my Leaving Cert

Colin Sheridan reflects on 1990s Ireland, exam pressure, youthful schemes and an unexpected career detour

Sat, 06 Jun, 2026

State exams 2026: Reassurance offered after Leaving Cert maths 'struck bum note'

State exams 2026: Reassurance offered after Leaving Cert maths 'struck bum note'

Maths Paper 1 was tough — but ASTI expert Niall Duddy said markers 'will reward students for attempting the questions'

Fri, 05 Jun, 2026

Geography and History exams continue positive trend in 2026 State examinations

Geography and History exams continue positive trend in 2026 State examinations

Teachers say Geography offered strong choice, while History continued its emphasis on source-based analysis

Fri, 05 Jun, 2026

English paper 2 brings surprises for Leaving Cert students

English paper 2 brings surprises for Leaving Cert students

Meanwhile, there were no major surprises in this year’s Junior Cycle Geography exam, which presented students with a fair and balanced paper

Thu, 04 Jun, 2026

Denis Lehane: Relax, it's only the Leaving Cert

Denis Lehane: Relax, it's only the Leaving Cert

Some of us are a long way from the world of rocket science, but we get by just as happy, or happier maybe, in many cases, writes our Auld Lehane in this week's Lighten Up.

Thu, 04 Jun, 2026

Leaving Cert English paper 1 'allowed well-read students to shine'

Leaving Cert English paper 1 'allowed well-read students to shine'

Teachers and students react to the first State exams of 2026 in both the Leaving Certificate and the Junior Cycle exams

Wed, 03 Jun, 2026

School children in classroom

Terrible timing but some positives in Special Needs Assistants Workforce Development Plan

The Irish Examiner's Education Correspondent on a key document regarding SNAs — and the Department of Education's decision to publish it on one of the busiest days of the year

Wed, 03 Jun, 2026

Leaving Cert and Junior Cycle students tackle Dune, social media influencers and stamps in English exams

Leaving Cert and Junior Cycle students tackle Dune, social media influencers and stamps in English exams

More than 200,000 exam papers were handed out as students began the 2026 State examinations

Wed, 03 Jun, 2026

FILE PHOTO Minister Norma Foley has attributed two major errors in Leaving Cert results to coding errors END

Record number of students to begin Leaving and Junior Cert exams

Record numbers will sit the Leaving Certificate, Leaving Certificate Applied, and Junior Certificate tests

Wed, 03 Jun, 2026

'I’m really looking forward to being done': Young Cork drag queen among those sitting Leaving Cert

'I’m really looking forward to being done': Young Cork drag queen among those sitting Leaving Cert

Stephen Pierce, who is known to 80,000 followers on TikTok as Felony, will begin the State exams on Wednesday, along with twin brother Edward

Tue, 02 Jun, 2026

Computer, books, notepad

Everything Leaving Cert students need to know before exams begin this week

More than 70,000 students begin State exams this week amid changes to grading and subject offerings

Tue, 02 Jun, 2026

ChatGPT chatbot by OpenAI - artificial intelligence

Students warned not to heed AI Leaving Cert predictions

State Examinations Commission dismisses any suggestion AI can help identify exam topics, and advises students to ignore 'these unhelpful distractions'

Tue, 26 May, 2026

Business performance checklist concept, businessman using laptop doing online checklist survey, filling out digital form checkli

What have we actually learned from five decades of the CAO?

The CAO 'change of mind' opened on Tuesday — part of a set schedule by which parents and teenagers have marked the anxious year of the Leaving Cert for five decades

Wed, 06 May, 2026

Female teacher giving presentation to university students

Letters to the Editor: Teachers should reject proposed changes to the senior cycle

As the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) ballots its members, a teacher outlines why he thinks the 'flawed reform' should be rejected

Thu, 30 Apr, 2026

Teacher at work

Teachers’ union to ballot members on Senior Cycle proposals

The ASTI has recommended to its members that they accept the proposals following talks with the Department of Education

Mon, 27 Apr, 2026

Royal High School

Leaving and Junior Cert practicals deferred due to fuel protests

Students set to sit their Leaving Cert music or Junior Cert home economics practicals on April 13 have been informed that those exams have been deferred

Sun, 12 Apr, 2026

Royal High School

ASTI calls for pause to Leaving Cert laboratory projects on health and safety grounds

Delegates said it was necessary to pass an emergency motion to protect teachers from unsafe conditions

Wed, 08 Apr, 2026

Secondary teachers reject motion to refuse Leaving Cert project work after pay warning

Secondary teachers reject motion to refuse Leaving Cert project work after pay warning

ASTI convention hears the divisive motion would amount to industrial action and a rejection of the public service pay agreement

Tue, 07 Apr, 2026

High school students doing exam in classroom

Seven deadlines and an AI dilemma: Is the new Leaving Cert fixing one problem by creating another?

Teachers back reform in principle but warn of inequality, AI misuse, and rising workload under new senior cycle

Sat, 04 Apr, 2026

Royal High School

Teachers warn Leaving Cert changes risk inequality and AI misuse

Teachers warn increased project weighting and AI risks could undermine fairness and integrity of Leaving Cert assessments

Tue, 31 Mar, 2026

Leaving Certificate results

Feeder school data is misleading and old-fashioned

Narrow framing of 'success' in education is based on a flawed understanding of how modern schools work — and how children really thrive

Mon, 16 Feb, 2026

File photo An online petition calling for the Leaving Cert to be cancelled has been signed by over 26,000 people. The current pl

Eligible students to receive extra 10 minutes in written State exams

Important step forward in 'ensuring that students with specific needs are supported in a fair, consistent, and effective way'

Tue, 27 Jan, 2026

CC COVID COMMITTEE MEETING

Schools 'ill-prepared' for Leaving Cert reforms, Oireachtas committee hears

The Oireachtas education committee also heard that schools are continuing to experience teacher shortages due to the housing crisis

Wed, 10 Dec, 2025

female construction apprentice and colleague

Secondary school curriculum 'should include access to apprenticeships'

Ibec tells Oireachtas further and higher education committee there is 'significant scope for improvement' despite growth in apprenticeships

Wed, 01 Oct, 2025

Second-level students with dyslexia need extra time in exams, warns advocacy group

Second-level students with dyslexia need extra time in exams, warns advocacy group

Dyslexic young people consistently struggle with running out of time sitting State exams

Tue, 30 Sep, 2025

Equipment delays hamper Leaving Cert drama, film, and theatre course

Equipment delays hamper Leaving Cert drama, film, and theatre course

First announced in 2022, the subject has been rolled out this year in 57 schools for the first time

Wed, 17 Sep, 2025

CAO Round Two offers over 1,200 students college places for first time

CAO Round Two offers over 1,200 students college places for first time

Students who received an offer in this round will have until 3pm on Wednesday, September 10, to accept

Mon, 08 Sep, 2025

Exam cheating rises

Number of Leaving Cert students who had results withheld due to cheating rises

155 results have been permanently withheld because of cheating, up from the 71 results initially withheld last year

Tue, 02 Sep, 2025

Stacked Coins And Piggy Bank

Your financial plan starts now: How to make most of your money when paying for college

Financial planner Karen Doyle offers valuable advice to students ahead of their entry to third-level education. She talks with Laurie O’Flynn

Fri, 29 Aug, 2025

ieExplains: How does the CAO's random selection process work?

ieExplains: How does the CAO's random selection process work?

Admission for the vast amount of college courses is based on exam results and CAO points that are awarded for different Leaving Cert grades.

Thu, 28 Aug, 2025

A quick guide to navigating CAO offers

A quick guide to navigating CAO offers

Laurie O’Flynn offers answers to the most frequently asked questions by applicants to the Central Applications Office every year

Thu, 28 Aug, 2025

eating apple

CAO: Important dates for offers, appeals and rechecks

Students are advised to note that there are only two days to accept offers from Round Two onwards

Thu, 28 Aug, 2025

Jess Casey: It goes without saying that the CAO process can be cruel

Jess Casey: It goes without saying that the CAO process can be cruel

Despite lower grade inflation, demand for college places pushed CAO points higher in 2025, leaving many students disappointed

Wed, 27 Aug, 2025

Students, take time to fully assess CAO round one offers

Students, take time to fully assess CAO round one offers

Career guidance experts outline the choices open to students in relation to this year’s CAO first round offers

Wed, 27 Aug, 2025

CAO offers: Did the points for your course go up? See all the first-round cut-offs

CAO offers: Did the points for your course go up? See all the first-round cut-offs

Here, you can use the Irish Examiner's CAO interactive to find the latest points information for both Level 8 and Level 7/6 courses

Wed, 27 Aug, 2025

CAO offers: Almost half of students miss out on first choice as course points rise

CAO offers: Almost half of students miss out on first choice as course points rise

CAO data shows that entry to 25 courses has been determined by random selection

Wed, 27 Aug, 2025

CAO offers: What to do if you miss out on your top choice

CAO offers: What to do if you miss out on your top choice

Guidance counsellor David Drury advises students that now is the right time to stop and reflect on their choices. He talks to Jess Casey, Education Correspondent

Wed, 27 Aug, 2025

CAO offers: Be ready to consider Plan B if things don’t go your way

CAO offers: Be ready to consider Plan B if things don’t go your way

Guidance counsellors advise that many people have enjoyed hugely success careers having taken up courses further down their CAO list of preferences

Wed, 27 Aug, 2025

Group of cheerful students

Your CAO questions answered: What students and parents need to know

Over 83,000 students applied to the CAO this year as Leaving Cert results and college offers collide in a record-breaking admissions season

Wed, 27 Aug, 2025

Bogus insurance claims

Accommodation fraud jumps 22% as gardaí warn students of rental scams

It comes following Friday’s Leaving Certificate results and this week’s third-level CAO offers

Sun, 24 Aug, 2025