Leaving Certificate students taking their first State exam should view this month as a ‘celebration’, according to one education expert.
Many in this year’s Leaving Cert cohort would not have completed their Junior Cert after it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
More than 136,000 students will begin their Leaving Certificate and Junior Certificate examinations today, beginning with English at 9.30am.
Guidance counsellor and Irish Times education columnist Brian Mooney said people should take the stress of the period and turn it into a “celebration”.
“It’s celebration time,” he told Newstalk Breakfast yesterday. “After six years of secondary education through pandemics, through everything, you have arrived at the moment where you can demonstrate everything you’ve learned.
“Today is a time to relax, today is a time to get ready for a three-week marathon which starts in the morning and for some ends way out at the end of the month.
“It’s time to make sure the arrangements for tomorrow morning [are there] - getting that paper in front of you and being able to deliver.
“All of life today for you has come to this moment – no more stress, no more tension, you have arrived.”
The anticipation of the Leaving Cert is often worse than the Leaving Cert itself, according to Mr Mooney.
He noted in English Paper One, the first exam for all students, they will have the chance to “express themselves” and decide what topics to cover.
Leaving Cert prep
Mr Mooney also pointed out students will have the opportunity to change their CAO applications for third-level after exams – if that’s what they want.
“You'll have opportunities to go to further education if you want to go that route,” he said.
“There are 73 - going on 75 - apprenticeship programs in every sector of the economy that you can possibly imagine.
“There's nothing to be worried about - now is the time to give expression to all your learning.”
A central piece of advice Mr Mooney offered was to eat well and avoid high-sugared food as students prepare for a ‘marathon’.
The Leaving Cert will conclude on June 25th with Japanese, Arabic, Politics & Society, Religious Education and Applied Maths.
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