Guidance Counsellor Billy Ryle has some last minute advice for 2024 State Exams candidates…

The waiting is almost over for about 136,300 Leaving Cert and Junior Cycle students as the exams get under way next Wednesday, 5th June.

Exam entries are up by 1,500, or 1%, on last year’s figure. 62,700 have applied for the Leaving Cert Established (LC) exam or the Leaving Cert Applied (LCA) exam and 73,600 for the Junior Cycle exam. Minister Norma Foley has confirmed that overall results in this year’s Leaving Cert will be no lower than last year’s results.

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This will once again be achieved by allowing the State Examinations Commission (SEC) to apply a post-marking adjustment, which will increase candidates’ marks. The Minister also confirmed that the gradual return to normal Leaving Certificate outcomes will begin in 2025.

There will also be a generous supply of CAO, Tertiary Degrees, Further Education Courses, Apprenticeships, Traineeships and Employment places available for school leavers in a strong economy. So, it’s all good news for candidates lining up for the Leaving Cert exam.

The Leaving Certificate exams, the Junior Cycle exams and the Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) exams will run until Tuesday, 25th June, Monday, 17th June and Thursday, 13th June, respectively.

Spend an hour or two on Tuesday skimming over your notes for Wednesday’s exams and leave it at that.

Some relaxed leisure will be more beneficial than spending the day cramming material that you may not recall anyway. You need a clear and alert mind going into the exams on Wednesday morning and for the duration of the exam period.

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On the evening before each exam subject spend an hour or so looking over your notes so that the important concepts and ideas are fresh in your mind.

Heavy study sessions on the night prior to any paper are not a good idea as you will be exhausted the following morning. Instead, relax and get a good night’s rest.

Put all thoughts of the following day’s exam out of your mind. If you find it difficult to sleep, try a little non-academic reading for a short while.

Check your equipment and assemble your exam materials – black or blue biros, pencils, ruler, eraser, drawing instruments, calculator and so on.

Have at least two biros in case one doesn’t work properly. It’s also time to organise your personal needs such as a watch and tissues.

A few nerves are normal on the first day so be prepared to deal with it. A relaxation exercise or maybe a shower to freshen up will do the trick. Eat a nutritious breakfast as you’ll need the extra reserves of energy. Finally, go through your equipment checklist before leaving home.

On Wednesday morning arrive at the exam centre at least a half hour before the exam begins. For all subsequent exams be present about fifteen minutes before the appointed time.

Spend the few minutes before entering the exam centre on your own in peace and quiet. At all costs, avoid groups that are involved in last minute revision.

If you need to, go to the toilet before you enter the exam centre. Be in your seat a few moments before the exam begins. Synchronise your watch with the clock on the wall and use your watch or the clock to help you pace your work.

Check your seat and desk for firmness and stability. A shaky desk or a wobbly chair will torment you and distract you during the exam. When the answer book is distributed, fill in the required details and read the directions.

When you receive your question paper read the instructions carefully in case there is any change of format.

Don’t be put off by your first glance at the paper. It’s new and it will look unfamiliar at first. Once the exam begins, keep to your prepared answering plan and address the questions that are asked.

If you finish a paper before the time is up, do not leave the exam centre. Recheck your work and extra information may come to you. Attempt an extra question only when you have thoroughly answered the required number of questions.

Once an exam is over, spend as little time as possible on a post-mortem. Focus on the next paper and stay in exam mode until you finish your final subject. Remember the Leaving Cert is a marathon rather than a sprint.

When the entire exam is over, forget about it and enjoy your summer. There is no advantage in dwelling on what might have been. Be happy and satisfied that you have done your best.

Leaving Cert results will be available on Friday, 23rd August and the CAO Round One college offers will quickly follow on Wednesday, 28th August.

The State Examinations Commission (SEC) is holding a second set of exams from the 27th June to the 13th July for candidates who are unable to sit one or more papers in the main sitting in June on grounds of a close family bereavement – funeral preparation and attendance or serious medical conditions – accident, injury or illness.

So, it’s looking very promising for exam candidates. You’ve done the hard work so go in there and reap the rewards. Good luck to all candidates starting exams next week.

CHECKLIST

• Concentrate on subjects being examined in the first week
• Complete major revision by Sunday night
• In a relaxed study session on Monday concentrate on tips and predictions
• On Tuesday just skim over your revision notes for an hour or two
• Have a clear and alert mind going into each exam
• Arrange the equipment and materials you will need for the exams
• Organise your personal needs such as a watch and tissues
• Spend the few minutes before entering the exam centre in peace and quiet
• Be in your seat a few minutes before the start of each exam
• Check that your seat and desk are firm and steady
• Read the instructions carefully
• Know what to expect but be prepared for the unexpected
• Use all the time available to you
• Once an exam is over, avoid protracted post-mortems
• The exams are a marathon rather than a sprint
• Eat well during the exams when you’ll need lots of energy
• Be sun smart during the exam period
• Keep fluid levels high to avoid dehydration
• Take regular aerobic exercise during the exam period
• Exam timetables are available on www.examinations.ie
• Leaving Cert results will be published on Friday, 23rd August
• CAO Round One offers will be available on Wednesday, 28th August

Good luck to everybody doing exams.

• Billy Ryle is a Career Guidance Counsellor and educational commentator

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