The exams kick off with English Paper 1, with the final tests taking place on Friday the 21st.

The Taoiseach, among many others, has wished exam students the best of luck, saying it's a tough time for students but advising them to focus on what they know.

The next two and a half weeks will see the Irish media report heavily on the on-going exams. Newspapers, websites and broadcast media will be dedicating large amounts of space to paper analyses, exam diaries, general advice and whatever controversies may arise over the course of the State exams.

These will follow the months of columns, supplements and advice that have already been released.

But do the media place too much emphasis on the examinations, especially compared to the more low-key major exams in other countries such as the UK and US?

Is the widespread coverage placing further pressure on students already stressed by CAO choices, seemingly endless study and the prospect of an intense exam schedule?

Or is the media merely reflecting a major and important event for well over 100,000 students, not to mention their families and teachers?