Nerves give way to relief as exams get going after weeks of waiting
Students were relieved to finally put pen to paper, following weeks of mounting pressure. Pre-exam preparation ranged from last-minute cramming to sharing concerns of Facebook, while one well-prepared student watched the Desperate Housewives finale.
“I think it’s important to be normal, do things you would normally do, it helps relieve the pressure,” said Eimear Murphy, 18, from Rosscarbery.
Her classmate Maria Wilson, 18, from Leap, agreed.
“I think you should treat it like it’s not such a big deal. If you can have a laugh before you go in you are more relaxed.”
Both girls completed the higher-level English paper and were happy to “get it over with”.
“We can get into the swing of it now. I was reading over blogs and sample essays last night on the internet. The net is great but it can also be distracting,” said Maria.
Facebook, Google, and technology were common themes across Junior and Leaving Certificate English papers, helping put tech-savvy students at ease.
Sean Cronin, 18, from Drinagh, plans to pursue a career in farming. In common with many at Mt Saint Michael’s, his focus was on staying relaxed amid the hype and pressure.
“The paper was fine, there was a lot of choice so that makes it easier. Listening to the radio, people are getting excited about it but we have been relaxed enough,” he said.
Eamon McCarthy, 19, from Lisavaird, hopes to secure a place in mechanical engineering at Cork Institute of Technology to build engines for racing and rally cars. “If you don’t know it by now there is no point trying to cram, just try to relax is the best advice.”
Ciaran Glanton, 19, from Union Hall, found the theme of memory in the higher-level paper tricky to deal with. “They say you are supposed to read all three texts and then choose one but I don’t know how you would have time. Some parts of it were fine and others not so nice.”
For Junior Cert student Rebecca Hayes, 14, from Rosscarbery, getting started was a big relief.
“It went really well, I was happy with the questions. In media studies there was a question on Facebook and teenagers so that was quite topical.
“I was terrified going in but once I started writing it was grand.”
English teacher Nicola McCarthy felt questions on the Junior Cert higher-level paper were challenging. She felt the media studies section was tough and the questions attached to the reading section “very wordy”.
“It definitely would have tested the students,” she said.
Junior Cert student Aoibhín Hodnett, 15, agreed.
“Some parts were harder than others but overall it was okay, I feel good that it’s over and done with, it’s a big weight off.”
Graham Norton — @grahnort on Tuesday night: Good luck to everyone starting their leaving cert tomorrow. As my mother told me all those years ago — You can only do your best, but do it!
Shane Lowry — @shanelowrygolf: Best of luck to everyone starting their junior and leaving cert exams today especially my little bro @AlanLowry59
Claudine Keane — @ClaudineKeane1: Good luck to all of you guys starting your leaving and junior cert exams tomorrow!! I bet there’s plenty of cramming going on no
Amy Huberman — @amyhuberman: Good luck to all the junior and leaving cert students today!! English first? You’ll be grand! I bet you’re all fluent!
Students give their final thoughts before the first papers:
Jake Summers — @Chinchickatee: For the love of god, please don’t give me a wobbly table.
Kevin — @Well_Boi: I feel like this is how stressed out I should have been at Christmas.
@jackyoulate — woke up, loads of party poppers went off with all my family around me to say the Leaving Cert was all a dream!...then i actually woke up.
Ellen — @ellenphantom: Just talked to my brother on Skype and he told me he got an A1 in English in his leaving cert. NO PRESSURE THEN.
Saoirse Quigley — @Xo_saoirse_oX: Rosary said..candles lit #leavingcert. Let’s go :)
@SineadJGrimes — I’m sooo gonna pass all my exams! I got my pink highlighter.
Aislinn Byrne — @AshBiebsJonas: Looking forward to this weekend! Gonna be nice to have my first week of exams over!
Ciara — @ibiebershamrock: I still can’t believe I’m doing my junior cert.. I still feel like I’m in first year!!
Will McKenzie — @Saarahmcdonnell: Alright here we go, English please be easy?
And after?
@heyimnikita_ — English paper 1 was grand, the mock was so much easier though. Not looking forward to paper 2.
Amy — @ItsAmy_Xo: English one.... Meh
Laura — @sh0wmeagoodtime: all I learned from that exam is that we have to commemorate the famine lads! it shapes us as a national identity!
Savannah Williams — @SmilingSweetly_: English Paper 1 done, went class if i do say so myself
Niamh Cogan — @incydancer: 1 exam down 13 more to go
Emma Bellew — @EmmaXD__: Left my examiner a little hint hint nudge nudge gimme an A in my article.
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