The Junior Cycle is a crucial part of the Irish education system. It's certainly not the be-all and end-all. Still, it's a significant milestone on a student's educational journey, preparing them for the Leaving Certificate and beyond.
A few years ago, the Junior Cert grading system was changed. It moved away from traditional lettered grades like A, B, and C to a system that uses descriptors like Distinction, Higher Merit, Merit, Achieved, and Partially Achieved.
Despite being introduced to clarify grading, these new grades have only made things more confusing for students, especially with euphemistic grade descriptors like partially achieved. Many students wonder whether partially achieved is a pass or a fail and what it means for their academic future.
So What Does Partially Achieved Actually Mean?
Partially Achieved is the grade given to students who score between 20% and 39% in a subject on the Junior Cert grading system.
The reason the terminology and descriptors are used is to give a better and more nuanced picture of a student's performance that wouldn't have been clear using lettered or numerical grades.
Technically, partially achieved means that the student has demonstrated some understanding of the subject materials but hasn't met the objectives for the exams or the classroom-based assessments (CBAs).
For example, in subjects like Math, English, or Science, a Partially Achieved grade would mean that the student knows some of the core concepts, like algebra in math. However, it also means that the student has had difficulty with other topics, like problem-solving or geometry.
A student who has Partially Achieved has made some progress towards the learning goals but has significant gaps in their understanding or knowledge that need to be addressed before they can be given a higher level of achievement, such as Achieved or Merit.
Partially Achieved should be seen as an opportunity for growth, highlighting the subjects and areas students should consider prioritising first.
Is Partially Achieved a Pass or Fail?
Many students ask: Is Partially Archived considered a pass or closer to a fail?
In reality, it's not as black and white as that. Technically, Partially Achieved isn't classified as a pass in the way that Achieved (40% to 54%) or Merit (55% to 74%) are. However, the Not Graded descriptor is for students who get below 20%.
As we mentioned earlier, Partially Achieved means that the student hasn't met the full requirements for the subject, so we wouldn't call it a pass. That said, Partially Achieved does mean that the student has shown some of the required understanding, particularly in some key areas.
A student with a Partially Achieved grade should look to improve in some key areas in this subject, but that doesn't mean their journey in that subject is over. According to the State Examinations Commission, a student with a Partially Achieved can still progress. However, this does depend on the subject and is at the school's discretion.
Typically, this means that for the Leaving Certificate, they're unlikely to be recommended to take that particular subject at a higher level.
How Does Partially Achieved Impact Students?
Partially Achieved isn't a dead end for a student. Still, there are some significant ramifications for a student's progress.
This grade can affect students in many ways, depending on the subject and the student's academic goals. Students with Partially Achieved may be allowed to continue the following year, but with limitations on certain subject choices, especially the subjects they want to pursue at higher level.
Partially Achieved will generally affect core subjects like Maths more than optional subjects. Schools, teachers, parents, or tutors may suggest that students focus on strengthening foundational skills in core subjects before progressing to higher levels if they have a Partially Achieved in any subjects.
Suppose they want to choose higher level courses for their Leaving Certificate. In that case, it's unlikely that Partially Achieved will be considered sufficient for them to continue. Luckily, Partially Achieved does indicate to teachers and schools that the student may benefit from extra support to bridge the gap between Partially Achieved and Achieved grades.
Essentially, Partially Achieved isn't ideal, but it isn't the end of the world. If a student gets Partially Achieved, they should use this as an opportunity to take it as feedback and identify weakness areas where they could focus on more.
Partially Achieved Grades In Different Subjects
We've seen what Partially Achieved means, but here's what it could indicate for key subjects like Maths, Science, History, or Art.
- In Maths, a Partially Achieved could mean that the student struggles with problem-solving, algebra, geometry, or skills essential for higher-level mathematical thinking. It would typically mean that the student needs to practice and study more basic maths problems before progressing.
- For the English Junior Cert, Partially Achieved could be down to struggling with essay writing, comprehension, or critical analysis. Perhaps a student understands the basics of the subject but finds structuring their thoughts clearly in writing difficult.
- A Partially Achieved result in Science could indicate that a student finds applying theories difficult. Perhaps they understand scientific theories in isolation and all the core concepts they need for Junior Cert, but they could do better at applying these to real-world examples or problems in exams.
- In subjects like Art or Music, Partially Achieved could indicate that the student lacks the technical execution required.
However, it may provide a useful indication that the more advanced areas of any subject are probably where the student needs to focus more of their effort.
How to Go From Partially Achieved to Achieved
Any student that gets a Partially Achieved grade should see it as an opportunity to improve and bring their level up to Achieved or Merit, even if they won't be doing the Junior Cert again.
Here are a few tips and suggestions for students receiving Partially Achieved in a Junior Cert subject.
- Identify Weak Areas: If the student studied or revised significantly for their Junior Cert, they'll likely know which areas need work. If they didn't, the weak areas will likely be everything they didn't study!
- Get Feedback: Feedback from teachers or tutors is an excellent way for students to start taking the steps from Partially Achieved to Achieved. Teachers can also identify weak areas.
- Extra Tutoring and Support: A Partially Achieved grade definitely indicates that more academic support is required. If the student can't do this on their own, then working with a tutor or a teacher to close the gaps between their level and the expected level will be hugely beneficial.
- Set Clear Goals: A student with Partially Achieved needs to set realistic goals. While it would certainly be possible to work hard and get a Distinction in Leaving Cert after getting Partially Achieved, we'd recommend first getting to Achieved. Goals should consist of achievable short-term targets and be adjusted if progress is better than expected, not the other way around.
- Practice and Revision: Many students who get Partially Achieved will likely admit they could have studied or revised more. In this case, they should practice more past papers and regularly revise. If they feel they gave it their all and still got partially achieved, it's likely worthwhile looking at how they studied rather than how much.
How Partially Achieved Will Affect Students' Long-Term Education Goals
Partially Achieved won't fully close the door, but it doesn't really completely open it for students, either.
Consider getting Partially Achieved as a stepping stone and a key point in your education. What happens next is up to you, but it will require some thought and careful planning.
If your Partially Achieved grade is in a subject that you were thinking about studying at university, for example, it means that you're definitely going to have to shift more focus onto that subject for your Leaving Cert.
In this case, you should consider looking for something other than additional support from your school and also think about hiring a private tutor to help you with that subject (or even how you study in general) for Leaving Cert and beyond.
Fortunately, plenty of talented and experienced tutors are on the Superprof website. Search for the subject where you got your Partially Achieved grade and browse tutors' profiles today. Then shortlist the tutors that meet most of your requirements.
Many offer the first session for free, so why not try a few before choosing the one that's right for you?
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