The leaving cert is not
In June 2014, an online poll was released by Christine
dents and teachers to help with exams. Also notable, is
Bohan, enquiring “if the Irish Leaving Cert is im-
that 71% of students reported the most prominent issue
portant?”. Out of a sample size of 9,638, 55% reported
regarding this is anxiety, and that 37% reported they
“It's important in the short term but not the long
would prefer to be graded by more continuous assess-
term” (p=5330), 31% reported “Yes, it's very im-
ment.
portant” (p=3025), and 13% reported “No” (p=1283).
Irish students’ post-secondary level have stated when
With around 121,000 Irish students submerging them-
previously asked about their experiences with the Irish
selves in the Leaving Cert, it s notable to mention the
Leaving Cert period of their lives, that it “crushed their
possible indirect effect on the Irish youth? This approach creativity”. It can also be suggested that such an assessof assessing students in Ireland’s second-level institu-
ment merely rewards rote learning.
tions, is not without fault.
What may be causing such a rise in anxiety during this
Research on the effect of this grading system and its
exam cycle? This is relating to “exam pressure” which if
implication for the youth
dissected sounds not too dissimilar to attitudes towards expectations. Such expectations? Well, there are numer-
As per survey reported in the Irish Times in 2019 by author Ellen O'Riordan, “75% of students surveyed, reported ‘extreme’ stress over the course of the two-year Leav-
ous possible (and probable) factors at play here. Firstly, where are these expectations originating, such factors may include, parents, teachers, media or even peers.
ing Cert cycle”. Exam pressure is a real thing, said survey of nearly 2,700
What’s to be done? Don’t worry, its not the end all
students has noted that over half of Irish Leaving Cert
There are numerous options regarding alternatives to
students have developed mental or physical health is-
the Irish leaving cert, for whatever the persons ambition
sues as a result of exam pressure. The online survey con- is, there are ways around this institutionalised method of ducted across the State by Studyclix for second level stu- assessment at such a young age.
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