The Leaving Certificate holds significance in Ireland with a focus placed on its importance, for various reasons. Initially the results of the Leaving Cert serve as a factor for gaining entry into higher education institutions like universities and colleges.
Given the competition for spots in these institutions, students grasp the vital role of excelling in their Leaving Cert exams to secure admission into their preferred courses.
These exams are often viewed as a gauge of a student's prowess and overall intellectual capacity. Employers often take into consideration Leaving Cert results when evaluating candidates for job opportunities as it offers insights into a candidate's discipline, diligence and ability to manage stress.
Consequently, students are aware that good Leaving Cert grades can boost their career prospects and broaden their horizons with opportunities ahead.
If you are preparing to sit your leaving certificate exams in 2024 then you are likely feeling a little hard done by given the disruptions that you faced in your education as a result of the recent pandemic you’ll be glad to hear this.
The disturbance has been taken into consideration by the board of education and amendments have been made to the exam format for a multitude of subjects in light of this!
Preparation for the Leaving Certificate Examinations is a pivotal time in the life of an Irish student. As the countdown begins for the Leaving Cert 2024, students are keen to understand the adjustments that have been made to the assessments.
With the advent of these changes, students are faced with a unique challenge that necessitates strategic planning and preparation to ensure that they are not needlessly caught off guard in the exam hall.
Over the years, there have been discussions about amendments to the Leaving Certificate system to reduce the stress and pressure on students. Some proposed amendments include introducing continuous assessment throughout the school year, reducing the number of subjects examined, or implementing a points system based on a student's overall performance rather than relying solely on exam results.
However, due to the disruptions that have affected the education of secondary school students in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, changes have been made to the layout of the state exams.
While numerous subjects will be impacted in some way, shape or form by the adjustments, not all students will sit the elective subjects.
This article aims to provide a thorough overview of these changes and detail the changes that students can expect to see in the three core subjects that are compulsory in the senior cycle, English, Irish and Maths.
Whether you're taking Higher or Ordinary level, this guide will help you navigate the new adjustments, understand the exam layout and learn proven strategies to excel in your Leaving Cert examinations.
For those undertaking the Junior Cycle, be sure to memorise the timetable.
How is the English Exam Being Changed?
English - Higher Level
English is the first core subject that students will sit in the 2024 leaving cert exams. For this reason, it is essential that you familiarise yourself with the changes so that you aren’t caught off guard on the day.
You also want to avoid spending valuable time during the lead-up to the exams, preparing material that won’t actually feature on the paper!
Here are the changes that you can expect to see on your English exams:
Paper One:
There are no adjustments in this section.
This is also the first exam that you will sit, so it's important to prepare accordingly. Make sure to familiarise yourself with this year's leaving cert timetable as early as possible.
Paper Two:
Alterations have been made to Paper Two with the inclusion of all three modes of the comparative in the next year's exam. This provides more choice in the exam as students will only have to answer one mode.
In essence, this makes it more likely that you will end up answering a favourable question in the comparative section of your exam!
An extra poetry question will be included and you will have to answer one out of five questions. On top of this, a compulsory Shakespeare question must also be answered.
English- Ordinary Level
Paper One:
No changes have been made to this section.
Paper Two:
Noteworthy modifications include no compulsory questions for the single text. This means that your exam paper will look somewhat different than it has in the past, as Q1 & Q2 will be merged into one three-part question.
Q3 will be split into three individual questions worth 30 marks each to offer more choices. The three modes will be available for the Comparative. Two additional poems will be included in the Prescribed poetry section.
Make sure to make note of these changes so that you can better prioritise your time when creating your leaving cert study plan.
What Amendments Are There To The Irish Exam?
Irish - Higher Level
The Irish higher-level exam is an exam that will see changes made in the oral assessment and paper 2. These changes will make life that bit easier on students, allowing for less variance in the assessment so that students can spend time revising a lesser pool of Sraith Pictiúr that are more likely to feature.
The Oral:
Students have the flexibility to select 10 Sraith Pictiúr instead of 20. Your chosen ones don't have to be the same as your classmates.
This is certainly a welcomed change by Irish students across the country as we all know how difficult it can be to prepare content on 20 pictures, with only one featuring on the day.
Paper One (Aural and Essay)
There are no changes in this section.
Paper Two:
Modifications include the requirement to answer both reading comprehension. Two poems and two stories will appear in the poetry and prose sections respectively, and you will have to answer one from each. There is no change to the additional text question (Q4).
Ease the stress of 6th year by taking up some of the tips in our guide to the leaving cert exams.
Irish - Ordinary Level
The Oral:
Just like the Higher Level, you can select 10 Sraith Pictiúr instead of 20. Your selected ones don't need to match those of your classmates.
Paper One (Aural and Essay)
This section remains unchanged.
Paper Two:
Both reading comprehension pieces must be completed. Three poems and three stories will appear in the poetry and prose sections respectively, and you must answer two from each.
Seeing how competitive the leaving cert exams are here in Ireland, it's essential that you do anything you can to maximise your grades in the leaving cert.
What Changes Can You Expect In The Maths Exam?
Maths - Higher Level
Maths is the core subject where changes are the most plentiful. The changes to both ordinary and higher-level papers are also identical.
Given the degree of difficulty and the amount of examinable material associated with the higher level maths papers in particular, these changes certainly do a lot to relieve some of the pressure on students sitting the subject in 2024.
Section A (Concept and Skills):
You have an option to select five out of six questions. Each question is worth 30 marks, making the section worth 150 marks in total. The questions will cover the same type of content as previous years, just that you will have to answer one less question.
This gives a great deal of time back to students sitting the exam, allowing more time to focus on their selected questions and to revise the paper if they manage to complete it before the time is up.
Section B (Contexts and Applications):
You will have a choice of four questions, and you must answer three. Each question is worth 50 marks, making the section worth 150 marks in total.
Maths - Ordinary Level
The ordinary level Maths adjustments are identical to those made at the higher level.
Taking these changes into consideration when you are preparing for the exams may just ensure that you have any option available when filling out your CAO application form.
How Does Understanding These Amendments Help You?
The Leaving Cert Adjustments 2024 are aimed at easing the burden on students due to the impact of Covid-19 on their learning experience. It's essential to understand these changes and strategise your preparation accordingly.
Understanding these adjustments can help you manage your time effectively during the exam. By getting familiar, with the exam structure you can distribute your time across sections or questions.
For instance, if you're aware that the exam starts with multiple choice questions, followed by answers and an essay you can plan to dedicate less time to multiple choice and more time to the essay part, which demands critical thinking and analysis.
This way you can ensure that you have time for all parts of the exam and give each question the attention it needs.
Being aware of how your exam paper is set up in advance aids in better time allocation. You can strategize how much time to spend on each section based on your strengths and weaknesses.
If you excel in multiple-choice questions you might opt to spend time on them and allocate time to sections requiring deeper knowledge or writing skills. This approach helps increase your chances of performing in areas where you feel more confident.
Remember, knowing the layout of your exam paper in advance is a significant advantage. It helps you to plan your time efficiently and identify the sections where you can score maximum marks.
It is always important to keep your exams in mind when choosing your leaving cert subjects,
Hopefully, these amendments help you to get the grade that you deserve in your exams.
Prepare For Your Leaving Cert Exams With A Tutor From Superprof
Now that you have a more vivid understanding of how your exams are going to look, you should begin prioritising your time towards exam preparation and consider supplementing your study with a private tutor from Superprof.
With personalised attention and a customised study plan, a private tutor can enhance your exam preparation and help you achieve your academic goals.
By engaging with a tutor through Superprof you have the opportunity to enhance your preparation and increase your chances of success, in your leaving Cert exams. Superprof offers tailored learning experiences that cater to each student's needs.
This allows you to receive instruction and support in the areas where you require assistance the most.
Whether you are facing challenges in a subject or aiming to boost your performance a private tutor can offer the necessary guidance and expertise for excelling in your leaving cert exams.
The platform’s rigorous vetting process also guarantees that you collaborate with a tutor equipped with the skills and knowledge to assist you in excelling in your Leaving Cert exams.
Remember success doesn't solely depend on hard work, but also on smart study strategies. Embrace these adjustments and plan your preparation effectively. Get ready for triumph in the Leaving Cert Exams 2024!
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