Latest news with #JuniorCycle
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Science
- Irish Times
Leaving Cert and Junior Cycle: live reaction to day three of State exams
8 minutes ago Leaving Cert: geography (9.30-12 midday), maths paper one (2-4.30pm) Junior Cycle: history (9.30-11.30am), maths (1.30-3.30pm) Leaving Cert student diary : 'I'm running on adrenaline ... Albufeira, we're coming for you!' Reaction: State exams body defends Junior Cycle English exam in face of criticism 8 minutes ago Leaving Cert students at Ardscoil Ris, Griffith Avenue, Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill Leaving Cert geography: 'A fine paper students will be pleased with' Students are leaving leaving exam halls after today's Leaving Cert geography exam and the mood is upbeat. My colleague Peter McGuire reports: Geography students will be happy with a very fair and balanced 2025 higher-level paper, according to Dan Sheedy, geography teacher and principal of . 'In physical geography, plenty of choice was available from the challenging but frequently appearing isostatic processes to the widely predicted landform of deposition which will have pleased everyone,' Mr Sheedy said. 'Questions on human interaction with the rock cycle, folding or faulting will also have been welcomed by all students as a chance to display the fruits of their hard work in this, the section they are most likely to attempt two questions from. In the most widely chosen option, geoecology, some students may have been disappointed not to see the characteristics of a biome, however the anticipated topic of human Interference in biomes will have been seen with relief by many if not all. Mr Sheedy said. 'Migration and the European Union were themes throughout the paper, with both regional and human geography containing questions on these topics,' he said. 'The elective sections contained no surprises for the well-prepared student with sketch maps and 30-mark questions consistent with recent years. The short question section contained the usual mixture of physical, regional, statistical analysis and map/photo questions. 'Overall, it was a fine paper that all students will be pleased with,' he said.
Irish Times
2 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
State exams body defends ‘curveball' short story question in Junior Cycle English paper
The State Examinations Commission (SEC) has defended the inclusion of a question on short stories that sparked controversy in the Junior Cycle English paper on the basis that it was 'fully within the scope' of the curriculum. In Wednesday's Junior Cycle English exam at higher level, candidates were asked to respond to a question about 'any short story they had studied'. It was worth 15 marks from a total of 180 marks for the exam. [ Classroom to College: our essential newletter on the State exams for parents, guardians and students ] However, many students reported that they had not studied any short stories during their three years of the Junior Cycle and left the question blank, while parents reported that children felt upset and confused in the middle of their first ever State exam. While many teachers have covered short stories, others said they have not on the basis that they struggle to cover the full curriculum of the revised Junior Cycle English specification, which has been examined for all candidates since 2017. A question on short stories has not come up in the exam in recent years. READ MORE A SEC spokesman said it was assured that the questions was 'fully within the scope of the specification and in keeping with the aims, objectives and learning outcomes for Junior Cycle English.' The spokesman said its exam papers and draft marking schemes are developed through a 'rigorous development process' and those involved are 'experts in the subject who are also experienced teachers.' The spokesman also noted that the Junior Cycle English specification includes guidelines for teachers on the choice of texts which should be studied by students in first year, and by those in second and third year. 'The specification includes short stories among the texts which must be studied by students in both first and second/third year,' he said. In addition, he pointed to the Department of Education list of prescribed materials for the second and third year of Junior Cycle English which issued to schools in 2022 for those sitting this year's exam. This circular states that 'second and third year students MUST study texts as described' and includes 'a number of short stories' in the list of texts. In the case of novels, films and dramas to be studied for examination, teachers choose from those on the prescribed lists as set out in the circular. In the case of poetry, short stories, and non-literary texts teachers have the freedom to choose specific examples. The spokesman noted that 'commentary and correspondence on the examinations from students, parents, teachers, professional bodies, and other interested parties' will be reviewed by the subject's chief examiner in the context of preparing the marking scheme, 'The approach taken by the SEC to the development of marking schemes ensures consistency in the marking and fairness to all candidates. The marking scheme will be published, as will the marking schemes in all other subjects, after the issue of the Junior Cycle results. About 60,000 students sat the higher level Junior Cycle English paper. While some teachers described the inclusion of the question as a 'curveball', most overall said they were happy with a 'balanced' and 'fair' exam.
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Irish Times
Carl O'Brien: ‘Students buoyed by positive to start to State exams 2025'
So, it's day two and done. For many students, the first 48 hours of the Junior Cycle and Leaving Cert exams have been nerve-racking, energy-sapping and emotionally draining. Yet, candidates have also been getting into their stride, honing their exam technique and learning to pace themselves. The generally positive reaction to Leaving Cert English papers one and paper two has certainly helped, buoyed by the much-predicted appearance of Eavan Boland. If your student is still struggling, our guidance counsellor Brian Mooney has solid advice on how to approach the papers: take time to review then initially and leaving time and space to review answers. READ MORE Anxiety Exam anxiety can still be a factor for some students: bursts of panic, feeling sick, stomach turning to jelly, stage fright. My colleague Peter McGuire has spoken to experts in the field . We were stuck by this comment. 'Testing is not a natural state – it is an artificial condition that we have created that has negative impacts on many people's mental health,' says Dr Jennifer Symonds, associate professor of education at UCD school of education. His article has plenty of tips to help address exam anxiety such as 'diaphragmatic' breathing', keeping smartphones at bay and avoiding marathon study sessions. Marathons Speaking of which, my colleague Cian O'Connell has documented the rise of 'extreme study ' online, such as 5am starts and 12-hour sessions. It's fair to say that none of the expert we spoke to recommended it. Friday, at least, gives students a chance to relax, breathe out and take stock. As Brian Mooney says in his advice for parents, some young people taking the Leaving Cert can mistakenly believe their standing in their parents' eyes is dependent on their success in the exam. 'Ensure your son or daughter is clear that your love for them is in no way dependent on how they perform,' he says. 'This affirmation is one of the greatest gifts you can give them during the exams.' Tomorrow : Leaving Cert: geography (9.30-12 midday), maths paper one (2-4.30pm) Junior Cycle: history (9.30-11.30am), maths (1.30-3.30pm) How are we doing? If you are a parent/ guardian of a Leaving Cert student, we'd love to hear from you. Maybe you have a personal story to share, have a burning question or want to comment on the exams, CAO and further education applications process. Please click the link below to send us your questions or feedback: ingCert
Irish Times
4 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
Junior Cycle English exam: ‘Balanced and fair'
The first of this year's Junior Cycle exams, English, was a balanced and fair paper, but with some surprises, teachers have said. Aoife O'Driscoll, junior cycle English teacher at the , said that the paper focused on the theme of perception. 'Overall, it struck a good balance between familiarity and challenge,' she said. 'The poetry question asked students to reflect on how two poems gave them a broader understanding of the world. This is a task that many will have practiced, though it's worth noting that the expectation to discuss more than one poem is becoming more common.' READ MORE Kate Barry, a teacher at Loreto Secondary School in Cork and ASTI subject representative for English, said that students and teachers alike were happy with the paper. However, she said that a question on the moral or lesson an audience may draw from a Shakespearian play may have been tricky for some candidates. 'I would have preferred a more thematic approach, perhaps asking how the playwright ties it all up at the end, as people and life are complicated, and it isn't always easy to draw simple moral lessons from Shakespeare,' Ms Barry said. Studyclix subject expert Sue O'Sullivan Casey from Pobalscoil Inbhear Scèine, Kenmare, Co. Kerry, agreed that this may have been tricky for some candidates. 'They may have had some difficulty with this terminology,' she said. 'Another curveball was the question asking candidates to write about a short story in class. This is a new style of question for JC English and candidates may not have prepared for this going into the exam.' Ms Barry said that the ordinary level paper was 'really lovely, and it gave good opportunities to write.' There was a lot of content that students would have felt comfortable with, said Ms O'Driscoll, including an unseen piece based on Kensuke's Kingdom, a novel by the author Michael Morpurgo, whose books would be familiar to many students.
Irish Times
4 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
Leaving Cert and Junior Cycle: Live reaction to day one of the exams
25 minutes ago Up today: Leaving Cert: English paper one (9.30am-12.20pm) and home economic (2-4.30pm); Junior Cycle : English (9.30-11.30am) and religious education (1.30pm-3.30pm) Leaving Cert parent Damian Cullen: 'Is there any chance we can have the kitchen table back?' Exam advice for students (and parents) : 'Allow them time and space to tell their story and move on to the next challenge ' Analysis : Why are more students than ever availing of additional supports in the exams? 7 minutes ago How not to give Leaving Cert advice Thousands of Leaving Cert students are streaming out of exam halls after completing English paper one. We'll have reaction shortly. If as a parent you're wondering how to sympathise / encourage / congratulate your child, here's an example of what not to do ... Your Mother when You have Exams... Posted by 24 minutes ago Leaving cert students this morning preparing to start English paper one at Belmayne Educate Together Secondary School, Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill Mind-boggling logistics It's only natural to empathise with students on the first day of the State exams – but spare a thought for those involved in the mammoth logistics of the Junior Cycle and Leaving Cert this year. A record number of students – more than 140,000 – started the Junior Cycle and Leaving Cert exams on Wednesday. It involves the secure distribution of about four million exam papers to thousands of exam halls and other settings across the State. In total, there are some 5,900 exam halls and a further 9,500 'special examination centres', typically smaller classrooms. Meanwhile, about 10,000 teachers will work as examiners, over the coming weeks, marking millions of pages of exams.
