Additional assessments could increase stress for Leaving Cert students

Additional assessment components are expected to be worth 40% of a student's overall grade. In the science subjects, this is likely to take the form of an individual experiment to be carried out by students.

Teachers have “identified more challenges than opportunities” when it comes to introducing additional assessments as part of Leaving Cert science and fear they will lead to increased stress for students.

The detail is included in a report compiled by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) following consultation with teachers and students on the changes to Leaving Cert biology, physics and chemistry due to be rolled out from next September.