Now that the stress and excitement of receiving the Leaving results have passed, it is time for students to consider their next step.
The Irish Times Helpline, staffed today until 10pm by qualified guidance counsellors, is free on 1 800 946 942.
It will be in operation again next week on Monday and Tuesday when the Central Applications Office (CAO) makes its offers.
Getting a recheck?
If a student feels that a grade is not a fair reflection of their work, she or he may apply to view the script.
This free service offers all candidates the opportunity to see how the marking scheme has been applied to their work, and will help students to decide whether to appeal a result.
With the exception of external candidates (those who studied for the exam outside a standard second-level school, ie a grind school or on their own), all applications to view papers should be made through the candidate's school.
The closing date for receipt of completed application forms in schools is next Tuesday, August 23rd, the day after the CAO first-round offers are due.
What to do if you are an external candidate
External candidates should follow the instructions that accompany their provisional statement of results.
All candidates will have access to the marking schemes for the papers they wish to examine and will be able to see how these were applied in their case.
Viewing your exam papers
This will take place in schools on Friday and Saturday, September 2nd and 3rd.
Marking schemes in all subjects will be published in the coming days and will be provided to schools to facilitate the viewing of scripts. The marking schemes will also be available on www.examinations.ie.
Remember a student has to be personally present to view a script.
It is strictly forbidden to nominate someone to view a paper on a student's behalf.
What to do if you are unhappy with grades
Where this occurs, either following a viewing of a paper or not, students should consult the Leaving Certificate Results Appeal Process booklet that accompanies their statement of provisional results.
All candidates should adhere to the instructions to ensure they lodge valid requests for viewing marked scripts and appealing results.
This information is also available in the candidates section on the State Examinations Commission (SEC) website: www.examinations.ie.
School-based candidates who wish to appeal should do so through their school. External candidates should follow the instructions that accompany their provisional statement of results.
The deadline
All appeal applications must be with the SEC by 5pm on September 7th, 2005. The fee per subject, refundable in the case of a successful appeal, is €37. On average approximately 10 per cent of appeals are successful. Results of appeals will be issued in early October.
What happens if you get an upgrade?
Five additional CAO points per grade are awarded. These will be communicated immediately to the CAO. If the new total is within the range of scores for a CAO choice higher than the one initially offered, the student will be immediately offered that place.
Given that six weeks of term time will have elapsed, it is up to the student to (a) continue with their current course; (b) start the new course immediately; or (c) accept the new offer and defer it until September 2006.
Some options if you failed to achieve your desired grade in maths
By far the highest numbers of disappointed students are those - more than 5,000 - who failed maths or did not secure a higher C3. A number of colleges have responded to the high failure rates.
For students who failed ordinary-level maths, Portobello College offers a choice of three two-year Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes, which students can do while simultaneously repeating maths at its sister college - the Institute of Education.
The HNDs - all awarded by UK's Edexcel - are in the areas of business and computing. Holders of these qualifications can pursue careers in industry or can go on to various business degree programmes at the college.
At the other end of the spectrum are students who took higher-level maths with a view to taking a higher degree in engineering in UCG or Maynooth and failed to secure a minimum of a C1.
These can take an exam in maths, based on the higher-level Leaving course.
In Maynooth's case this will take place on Friday, August 26th. Contact either college for details.
Getting your results if you are out of the country
Results can be accessed online by using an exam number and a unique personal number on www.examinations.ie
A good day for the SEC
The SEC deserves praise for its sensitive response to the Co Meath bus tragedy and other sudden deaths among exam students during the summer. It sent individual letters of sympathy to each school where students took the examinations in very difficult circumstances or where a student had died since taking the examination.
What issues are emerging on The Irish Times Helpline?
Brian Mooney is president of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors. You can e-mail him at bmooney@irish-times.ie
