The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn TD, congratulated the 59,823 young people and those returning to education who are receiving their Junior Certificate results today.
This is the highest number of students to sit the exams in recent years and is an increase of 1.7 per cent on last year’s number. As in 2012, English, Mathematics, Civic, Social & Political Education (CSPE), Geography, History, Science and Irish are the top seven subjects.
The results are available in schools throughout the day, with online results available from 4pm, on www.examinations.ie.
This year schools involved in the pilot Project Maths initiative sat exams in Strands 1-5 of the new programme. Students in all other mainstream schools sat exams with a Project Maths component for the first time.
More students also opted to take higher level Maths paper, with 52 per cent of all learners sitting the higher paper, compared to 48 per cent in 2012.
The Minister said: “I want to send my very best wishes to all students who are receiving their results and I sincerely hope that the results today reflect the hard work that you put into your studies.
“I am especially pleased to see that the positive trend of more young people sitting higher level Maths is continuing.”
The Minister also noted that participation at higher level in Science was up to 79 per cent, which he described as part of a positive trend, building on increases in participation at higher level in recent years.
Changes to the oral component of the Irish exam are also having an impact. The marks for this component increased in 2010 from 20 per cent to 40 per cent. While the oral component is optional, the number of candidates opting to be examined orally rose significantly. A total of 10,486 students took this optional test compared to 7,388 students in 2012 (an increase of 3,098). A total of 194 schools offered the oral component in 2013.
Noting this increase, the Minister said: “I am very pleased to see that the number of students opting to take the oral component of the Irish exam has increased again this year and I would advise future students to consider this option.”
Students who wish to appeal their results can do so through their school, no later than Friday 27th of September.