Education Minister Ruairí Quinn is wishing 116,774 students across the country the best of luck as they begin the State exams this morning.
The Minister said:
I want to send my very best wishes to all of the country’s Leaving and Junior Cert exam students. The next two weeks will be the culmination of all their hard work, and are an opportunity to show all that they have learnt.
Initial figures show that 53,789 Leaving Certificate students, 3,301 Leaving Certificate Applied students and 59,684 Junior Certificate students will be taking the exams.
Almost 90 curricular subjects, including those at higher, ordinary and foundation levels, will be examined in centres across the country. In addition, native speakers from other EU countries will sit examinations in their mother tongue at Leaving Certificate level in 15 non-curricular languages, such as Finnish, Hungarian and Slovakian.
A significant change this year is the introduction of 25 bonus CAO points for students sitting higher level Maths for the Leaving Cert, to encourage uptake at that level. This has led to an almost 25% increase in the number of students who have indicated that they will take the higher level paper.
Noting the increase, Minister Quinn said:
I know that students might be nervous about the higher level paper, but if they have worked hard they should stay the course. Traditionally, many students hesitate at the last hurdle and opt for the lower level paper, but I would urge each student to think of the work that they have put in, listen to the advice of their teachers, and have faith in themselves.
This is the first year that all Leaving Cert students will be examined in at least some elements of the Project Maths programme. A similar change will be introduced for the Junior Cert next year.
Noting this development, the Minister said:
Project Maths is designed to transform teaching and learning in Maths. It enables students to develop an understanding of the ‘hows and whys’ of maths, and the ability to apply their knowledge and skills in familiar and unfamiliar contexts. This is a hugely important step in ensuring that students have Maths skills which are relevant to the today’s employers.
There are also changes to the Irish exam for both the Leaving and Junior Certs this year. Picture sequences have been introduced to the oral Irish Leaving Cert test, and the oral element of the exam now accounts for 40% of the overall mark for the subject at all levels. Previously, it accounted for 25%. The aural element of the Irish exam for both Leaving and Junior Certificates now carries 10- 20% of the total marks for the subject.
Oral and practical exams took place in April and May.
Minister Quinn urged students to avail of the excellent supports offered by their teachers, parents, families and friends at this time.