Day one is finally done. The first day of exams is a big moment -- not just for students but for families who have supported them every step of the way.
It helped that Leaving Cert English paper one was such a positive experience for so many, with plenty of choice and opportunity for students to display their comprehension and writing skills.
Home economics in the afternoon also went down well with with clear questions that allowed students with a solid grasp of material to get straight to the point.
Not every day might be so positive. Our guidance counsellor Brian Mooney, who has seen dozens of Leaving Cert classes come and go, has distilled his wisdom into this guidance for parents and students on how to handle the exams.
“After each day’s exams, allow your son or daughter to recount their daily story,” he writes. “If they feel they have made mistakes or omissions, do not be tempted to review them in detail. Simply allow them time and space to tell their story and move on to the next challenge.”
As students begin to focus on day two of the exams, we’ve gathered last-minute subject-by-subject tips for the Leaving Cert from seasoned teachers to help you stay sharp and steady.
Some are in a feverish state worrying about which poet will come up tomorrow - Evan Boland? T.S.Eliot? Derek Mahon? - but Conor Murphy, English teacher, has this advice:
“Ignore poet predictions,” he says. “The poetry questions is worth 50 marks, the main text (usually Shakespeare) is 60 and the comparative is 70. Keep this in mind when you study.”
Finally, our Leaving Cert parent Damian Cullen has written a funny, moving and uplifting column as his daughter prepares to take on the exams. Do, please, read it - it is well worth it.
In the meantime, we’ll be providing daily reaction to the exams in our live blog, giving advice on navigating career choices and the CAO, as well as daily doses of encouragement.
We wish you all the very best of luck over the days and weeks ahead.
- Carl O’Brien, Irish Times education editor
How are we doing?
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