The Leaving Certificate starts next Wednesday, spurring a collective national shudder; who doesn’t remember the blank-faced horror of the absence of a certain female poet on the English paper?

It’s proven – when a student feels relaxed and confident, he or she is likely to perform better. Comfort is key. Nothing is worse than conjugating irregular verbs when a bra’s underwire has gone rogue, or your back starts aching after a two-hour essay marathon.

Wearing the right bra is such a small thing, but it matters. Get measured (most women in Ireland don’t wear the right size), then head to Marks & Spencer as a first port of call. M&S is the home of the affordable memory-foam bra, which is essentially a pillow for breasts. Those with smaller breasts can stick to comfy soft-cup bras, and those who want to keep themselves as rigid as possible should invest in a contour bra, which will render the largest mammaries totally immovable.

For those sitting the Leaving Cert, best of luck. With a bra and a brain, the future won’t be a flop.

(L-R)
Calvin Klein black soft cup bra, €43
White memory foam bra from M&S, €35
Mimi Holliday Pink Contour bra, €88
Textured underwired plunge from M&S, €24