For any student in Ireland, the Leaving Certificate is a significant milestone in their academic journey. With the 2026 exams approaching, ensure you're prepared and understand your timetable. Here, we've included the 2026 Leaving Cert timetable, insights into exam strategy, and more information to help you maximise your exam preparation.
Key Takeaways
- The Leaving Cert 2026 written exams run from Wednesday, 3 June to Tuesday, 23 June, following a national timetable set by the State Examinations Commission.
- Most exam days include two sessions: a morning paper at 9:30 am and an afternoon paper at 2:00 pm, which makes advance planning essential.
- The Leaving Cert timetable is a revision planning tool, not just a list of dates, helping students prioritise earlier subjects and manage days with multiple exams.
- Gaps between exams can be used strategically for targeted revision, rest, or past paper practice, reducing stress during the exam period.
- Understanding how the timetable works allows students to balance workload, manage energy levels, and approach the Leaving Cert with confidence.
Leaving Cert 2026 Exam Schedule and Key Dates
The State Examinations Commission has published the official timetable for the 2026 Leaving Cert.
| Date | Subject | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, June 3 | English, Paper 1 (H & O) | 9:30 – 12:20 |
| Wednesday, June 3 | Home Economics, Scientific and Social (H & O) | 2:00 – 4:30 |
| Thursday, June 4 | Engineering (O) | 9:30 – 12:00 |
| Thursday, June 4 | Engineering (H) | 9:30 – 12:30 |
| Thursday, June 4 | English, Paper 2 (H & O) | 2:00 – 5:20 |
| Friday, June 5 | Geography (H & O) | 9:30 – 12:20 |
| Friday, June 5 | Mathematics, Paper 1 (H & O) | 2:00 – 4:30 |
| Friday, June 5 | Mathematics (F) | 2:00 – 4:30 |
| Monday, June 8 | Mathematics, Paper 2 (H & O) | 9:30 – 12:00 |
| Monday, June 8 | Irish Paper 1 (H incl. aural) | 2:00 – 4:20 |
| Monday, June 8 | Irish Paper 1 (O incl. aural) | 2:00 – 3:50 |
| Monday, June 8 | Irish (F incl. aural) | 2:00 – 4:20 |
| Tuesday, June 9 | Irish, Paper 2 (O) | 9:30 – 11:50 |
| Tuesday, June 9 | Irish, Paper 2 (H) | 9:30 – 12:35 |
| Tuesday, June 9 | Biology (H & O) | 2:00 – 5:00 |
| Wednesday, June 10 | French (H & O) – Written & Aural | 9:30 – 12:00, 12:10 – 12:50 |
| Wednesday, June 10 | History (H & O) | 2:00 – 4:50 |
| Thursday, June 11 | Business (O) | 9:30 – 12:00 |
| Thursday, June 11 | Business (H) | 9:30 – 12:30 |
| Thursday, June 11 | Construction Studies (O) | 2:00 – 4:30 |
| Thursday, June 11 | Construction Studies (H) | 2:00 – 5:00 |
| Friday, June 12 | German (H & O) – Written & Aural | 9:30 – 12:00, 12:10 – 12:50 |
| Friday, June 12 | Art, Visual Studies (H & O) | 2:00 – 4:30 |
| Monday, June 15 | Polish, Lithuanian, Portuguese, Mandarin Chinese (H & O) – Written & Aural | 9:30 – 12:00, 12:10 – 12:50 |
| Monday, June 15 | Non‑Curricular Languages | 9:30 – 12:30 |
| Monday, June 15 | Agricultural Science (H & O) | 2:00 – 4:30 |
| Tuesday, June 16 | Spanish (H & O) – Written & Aural | 9:30 – 12:00, 12:10 – 12:50 |
| Tuesday, June 16 | Chemistry (H & O) | 2:00 – 5:00 |
| Wednesday, June 17 | Physics (H & O) | 9:30 – 12:30 |
| Wednesday, June 17 | Physics and Chemistry (H & O) | 9:30 – 12:30 |
| Wednesday, June 17 | Accounting (H & O) | 2:00 – 5:00 |
| Thursday, June 18 | Design and Communication Graphics (H & O) | 9:30 – 12:30 |
| Thursday, June 18 | Music – Listening (Core) (H & O) | 1:30 – 3:00 |
| Thursday, June 18 | Music Composing (H & O) | 3:15 – 4:45 |
| Thursday, June 18 | Music – Listening (Elective) (H) | 5:00 – 5:45 |
| Friday, June 19 | Economics (H & O) | 9:30 – 12:00 |
| Friday, June 19 | Physical Education (H & O) | 2:00 – 4:30 |
| Monday, June 22 | Italian (H & O) – Written & Aural | 9:30 – 12:00, 12:10 – 12:50 |
| Monday, June 22 | Russian (H & O) – Written & Aural | 9:30 – 12:00, 12:10 – 12:50 |
| Monday, June 22 | Classical Studies (H & O) | 2:00 – 4:30 |
| Monday, June 22 | Latin (H & O) | 2:00 – 5:00 |
| Monday, June 22 | Technology (O) | 2:00 – 4:00 |
| Monday, June 22 | Technology (H) | 2:00 – 4:30 |
| Tuesday, June 23 | Japanese (H & O) – Written & Aural | 9:30 – 12:00, 12:10 – 12:50 |
| Tuesday, June 23 | Politics & Society (H & O) | 9:30 – 12:00 |
| Tuesday, June 23 | Arabic (H & O) | 9:30 – 12:30 |
| Tuesday, June 23 | Religious Education (O) | 2:00 – 4:00 |
| Tuesday, June 23 | Religious Education (H) | 2:00 – 4:30 |
| Tuesday, June 23 | Applied Mathematics (H & O) | 2:00 – 4:30 |
This timetable was extracted from the State Examinations Commission, but double-check your specific exam timetables with them, as there could be discrepancies or changes. The Leaving Certificate exams will start on Wednesday, June 3rd and finish on Tuesday, June 23rd.
weeks in June, giving students limited time to perform consistently across all subjects.
The exams are scheduled and regulated by the State Examinations Commission (SEC), meaning all candidates follow a national standardised schedule. Remember that most exam days consist of two exam sessions: a morning exam starting at 9:30 AM and an afternoon session beginning at 2:00 PM.
The Leaving Cert timetable is more than a list of exam dates; it’s a planning tool. Once you know when each subject is scheduled, you can structure your revision around exam order, not just subject difficulty.
Subjects scheduled earlier in June should be prioritised first in your study plan, while later exams allow more time for consolidation. The timetable also shows where two exams fall on the same day, which helps you plan lighter revision sessions or recovery time afterwards.
Pay particular attention to gaps between exams. Even a single free day can be used for targeted revision, reviewing exam techniques, or practising past papers under timed conditions. Planning these gaps in advance reduces panic and improves focus during the exam period.
Many students consider the Leaving Cert schedule when selecting their subjects before even entering their fifth year of secondary school, after finishing their Junior Cert. It is, in fact, just one area that can unknowingly put students at a disadvantage.
Leaving Cert FAQs: What Students Need to Know
Learning about the Leaving Cert is a good idea to best prepare for it. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions.
What Is the Leaving Certificate?
The Leaving Certificate (commonly called the Leaving Cert) is Ireland's state examination for the end of secondary school. Students aged 17 to 18 typically sit it. It covers a wide range of subjects across Higher, Ordinary, and Foundation Levels. The Leaving Cert results play an important role in determining eligibility for higher education and university courses through the CAO points system.
Which Subjects Can You Take in the Leaving Cert?
Students must sit core subjects such as English, Maths, and Irish (unless exempt), and can also choose from many optional subjects. Optional subjects include:
- Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, Physics
- Humanities: History, Geography
- Business: Accounting, Business, Economics
- Arts & Practical Subjects: Art, Music, Construction Studies
- Languages: French, Spanish, German, Japanese
When Are the Leaving Cert 2026 Exams Held?
The Leaving Cert 2026 exams will be between Wednesday, June 3rd and Tuesday, June 23rd. Exam days are usually split into morning and afternoon sessions, with a different paper in each session. Some subjects, such as English and Maths, may span multiple exam days, which include various papers.
Most Leaving Cert exam days are split into a morning session (9:30 am) and an afternoon session (2:00 pm). Understanding how you perform at different times of day can help you prepare more effectively.
If you have an afternoon exam, avoid intensive revision in the morning. Instead, focus on light review, key definitions, or exam strategies. For morning exams, practising early starts in the weeks before June can help you feel more alert on exam day.
Nutrition, hydration, and rest play a major role here. Eating familiar foods, staying hydrated, and avoiding last-minute cramming can significantly improve concentration during longer papers.
How the Leaving Cert Grading System Works
The Leaving Cert grading system uses numbers and letters to indicate the level taken (H for higher, O for ordinary) and numbered grade boundaries from 1 to 8. The lower the number, the higher the mark achieved.
Here is the grading scale for Leaving Cert:
- H1/O1: 90-100%
- H2/O2: 80-89%
- H3/O3: 70-79%
- H4/O4: 60-69%
- H5/O5: 50-59%
- H6/O6: 40-49%
- H7/O7: 30-39%
- H8/O8: 0-29%
Technically, there are no "pass" and "fail" at Leaving Cert. Instead, consider the CAO points you need for your desired course.
Which Leaving Cert Subjects Are Considered the Most Challenging?
Claiming that one Leaving Cert subject is more difficult than all the others is problematic, as no two students are alike. What one student finds challenging might be incredibly easy for another.
However, physics is often cited as one of the hardest subjects at Leaving Cert due to its demanding theoretical content and complex problem-solving requirements.
Physics is often said to be the trickiest subject at Leaving Cert.
Which Leaving Cert Subjects Do Students Often Perform Well In?
Again, the easiest and most difficult are relative terms. In the most recent Leaving Cert results from 2025, overall H1 rates declined slightly compared to 2024, but certain subjects continued to perform strongly. Languages, including Russian, often show high achievement levels due to smaller, highly motivated cohorts and students with prior exposure to the language.
Leaving Cert Results 2025: H1 Performance Overview
In the 2025 Leaving Cert, approximately 11.7 % of higher-level grades achieved a H1, the highest possible result. While the State Examinations Commission does not publish a full subject-by-subject H1 league table, overall performance remained strong across sciences and languages. Just remember that this doesn't necessarily indicate relative ease. These results could also have been achieved by having particularly strong student cohorts opt for these subjects.
of higher-level grades awarded were H1s, the highest possible grade.
Understanding the Structure of the Leaving Cert Timetable
The Leaving Cert timetable is more than just the exam dates; it's a detailed schedule that shows you the date, time, and subject for every exam you will sit on. The State Examinations Commission (SEC), the timetable is an essential tool for effective planning and preparation. By knowing your exam dates in advance, you can strategically prioritise subjects based on when you'll sit the exam. For example, if your first exam is English Paper 1, followed by Home Economics, you could focus on the days leading up to the exam while planning time for Home Economics afterwards.
The exam timetable will also affect your exam strategy. It shows the start, duration, and conclusion of your entire examination period. You will need every edge that you can get if you are looking to maximise your grades in the Leaving Cert. Make sure you get the points that you deserve when the moment comes!
In 2026, most days have two exams scheduled: a morning and an afternoon session. It may feel overwhelming to sit multiple papers in a single day. Consider using short-term memory retention when reviewing key topics in the days leading up to each test.
full exam papers; one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
Review the Leaving Cert schedule early and plan around your strengths. For example, if your schedule places subjects like Maths Paper 2 right after a tricky English Paper 2, consider focusing on both subjects in your revision sessions. Planning and preparation is key to exam success.
Some students will sit two exams in one day, which can feel overwhelming without a plan. The key is not to treat both exams as equally intense on the day itself.
Your primary preparation for both subjects should already be complete before exam week begins. On the day, focus only on short-term recall, formulas, quotes, or definitions; not new material.
After your first exam, avoid discussing answers with friends, as this often increases stress and distracts from the second paper. Practising mock exams on the same day during revision can help build stamina and confidence for these demanding days.
Why the Leaving Cert Timetable Matters for Exam Success
Crafting a successful exam strategy requires considering the timetable. Knowing when your exams are scheduled is not enough; you also need to optimise your preparation and performance.
Your first step should be downloading the official timetable from the State Examinations Commission website. We recommend you print a copy and keep it somewhere you'll see it regularly, like your study area. Highlight the subjects you'll be sitting for, and note whether they're in the morning or afternoon session. This simple step will help you be aware of what's coming up.
It's also worthwhile highlighting the gaps between exams. These gaps are great opportunities for extra revision or much-needed rest. Imagine you have a two-day break before Biology. Then would be a good time to consolidate your knowledge, view past exam papers, or recharge. Knowing your timetable is far from everything, you will also need to be aware of the Leaving Cert amendments that are being implemented in this year's Leaving Cert exams!
Benefits of Knowing Your Leaving Cert Timetable Early
The Leaving Cert timetable is more than just the dates. Use it to shape your revision strategy and exam-day performance. Familiarising yourself with it in advance will help you make informed decisions. The most significant advantage of knowing your exam timetable so early is that you can create a balanced revision schedule. You can plan your study sessions based on the sequence of your exams, first studying earlier subjects.
You can also manage multiple exam days. If you have to sit two exams on the same day, ensure you know about it and split your efforts across revising for them both. You can even sit mock exams under similar conditions on the same day for the corresponding subjects.
The timetable will help you plan study breaks between exams. The gaps between subjects can be used for light revision or reviewing past papers. You can even focus on short-term memory recall strategies.
By studying your timetable in advance, you can:
- Prioritise revision for subjects scheduled earlier.
- Prepare for days with back-to-back exams.
- Maximise revision breaks effectively.
- Stay organised and reduce last-minute stress.
How to Prepare Effectively for the Leaving Cert
The key to doing well on the Leaving Cert isn't to try to game the system. Don't attempt to get good results by looking for "easy" subjects or giving yourself a better timetable. Instead, it's a matter of clever planning, hard work, and effective time management. Here are our favourite strategies for preparing for the Leaving Cert exams.
- Create a Study Plan: Break down your revision schedule based on the timetable, prioritising subjects with earlier exams.
- Practice with Past Papers: Familiarise yourself with the exam format and common question types.
- Time Management: Allocate specific revision sessions to different subjects and stick to the timetable.
- Use Active Recall: Techniques like flashcards, summarising topics, and self-testing can improve retention.
- Take Breaks: Avoid burnout by scheduling breaks and maintaining a healthy study-life balance.
If you create a solid Leaving Cert study plan that is based on your assessment schedule, you will have a concrete goal to work towards, which can take a lot of pressure off you!
Getting Extra Support: Private Tutoring for the Leaving Cert
When you first see the timetable for the Leaving Cert exams, you may feel overwhelmed by all the exams you have coming up. Exam preparation can be testing; make sure that you are employing an optimal strategy by consulting our guide to the Leaving Cert.
An effective way to manage this challenge is to work alongside private tutors. Private tutors can offer personalised support in any subject. A tutor can support you if you're struggling with subjects like Maths, Irish, or Physics or want to work on your exam technique.
Benefits of Working with a Private Leaving Cert Tutor
- 🎯 Tailored Study Plans: Customised strategies based on your subject mix and exam schedule.
- 🧠 Focus on Weak Areas: Targeted support for challenging topics.
- ✏️ Exam Techniques: Practice with mock exams and time management strategies.
- ⏰ Consistent Feedback: Regular assessments to track progress.
If you're looking for a private tutor to help with your Leaving Cert, you can search for one on the Superprof website!
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