THE LEAVING CERTIFICATE started today and all over the country thousands of students have bitten off the last of their fingernails and are wondering if all the schooling they attended was worth it. It probably wasn’t but anyway.
Gonna walk into my first exam and turn into Jared who’s 19 and never learned how to read #LeavingCert
— Anna (@annastephburke) June 3, 2018
We sympathize with you and so we’ve put together a list of the worst things about doing the Leaving Cert (sorry Junior Certers, your time will come eventually).
Here’s what we came up with.
1. The weather
The weather is always glorious during the Leaving Cert (except for the day you finish obviously). While everyone is having cans by the canal and suffering 3rd degree burns because they forgot suncream, you’re stuck inside learning trigonometry and trying to remember what your last choice was on the CAO. We commend your sacrifice.
Good luck #LeavingCert students. Your sacrifice is appreciated. pic.twitter.com/moB5uT4KJj
— TwistedDoodles (@twisteddoodles) June 6, 2018
2. The timetable
We know that we’re supposed to sit at least 6 exams and some of these have 2 parts but by god the timetable takes forever. Good luck if you study religion or music because you’ll be there until the very end my friend. At least you’ve extra time to study?
3. The unsolicited advice
It’s amazing how many people are suddenly you offering advice. They’re only trying to help you of course but sometimes you just want to be left alone. No mam just putting any answer into the biology paper won’t get me attempt marks. No dad I can’t just make the maths up. It’s a nightmare.
If I could give leaving cert students one piece of advice for tomorrow, it's that nobody gives a shite what 35-year-old sportswriters have to say about the leaving cert
— Steve O'Rourke (@steveohrourke) June 5, 2018
4. People telling you ‘it doesn’t matter’
Any of us who have sat the Leaving Cert and come out the other side know that a lot of the time it has very little influence on what we end up doing. But at the time, it’s put to you as the biggest exam of your life and tt matters to you a lot. Telling someone it doesn’t matter isn’t helpful. Just give them a cup of tea and leave them be.
my dad said he and my mum would still love me regardless of my results
— mangoesandpeaches (@WalpoleDaniel) June 5, 2018
keep that same energy on the 15th of august old man #LeavingCert
5. The Irish aural
Nothing strikes fear (and laughter) into the heart of a Leaving Cert than the Donegal Irish part of the aural. Just breath and remember that attempt marks DO count in the Irish aural. Stick a fada in there somewhere and it’ll be grand.
What that beep in the Irish Aural Exam felt like. (Turn down the volume before playing!) #juniorcert #leavingcert #asgaeilge 🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/XPULXzvj2u
— Ireland Simpsons Fans (@iresimpsonsfans) April 10, 2018
6. The melt behind you who somehow has a cold in summer
Listen there’s always someone who annoys you in the exam hall. The guy behind you who won’t stop snuffling because of his hay fever. The girl who breathes really loudly when you’re trying to remember that precise quote from Shakespeare to hammer home your half baked point about imagery. My examiner wore heels on the first day and fell over. Just breathe.
7. The nightmares
The nightmares that you get about waking up late for an exam or turning up naked to an exam or getting into an exam and forgetting everything, they’re not specific to the Leaving Cert. They’ll be with you forever.
Every year I cover the #LeavingCert for the @IrishTimes and every year I have several horrible LeavingCert dreams but you lot are all grand. This year I've had no horrible LC dreams and so I assume all the kids are doomed now, night.
— Peter McGuire (@PeterMcGuireIE) June 5, 2018
8. The analysis after each exam
There’s nothing worse than comparing answers after each exam. ‘Did you get 67 for number 3?’ ‘No I got 435′. ‘Well I got 4′. Listen lads, either you’re all wrong or one of you is right. Either way, you’ll never know unless you choose to look at your paper at the end. Try not to think about it.
❤️❤️ For those doing the Leaving Cert:
— Senan Byrne (@SenanByrne) June 5, 2018
1.Don’t stress, life will go on
2.Chill in the evenings don’t mull over the exam
3.Switch off your phone, less distractions the better.
4.Don’t take more then 2 berocca as you’ll shit yourself during the exam ❤️❤️ #LeavingCert
9. The system in general
Let’s be real here, a system that’s essentially a large memory test and encourages you to rote learn then actually understand the material is probably not the best measure of your intelligence. The entire system needs overhaul but remember if you fail something, it’s ok. You can always repeat or come back as a mature student or do a PLC.
Best of luck all doing your #LeavingCert. I didn’t do well & let it define me as ‘thick’ for the next 10 years. I’m now at Trinity thanks to @AccessTCD studying a course that requires 579 points. I’m doing well. Huge reform of LC is required. There are lots of routes to education
— Carly Bailey (@CarlyBee25) June 6, 2018
Good luck everyone!
