Second-Level Education

State Examinations

Irish Second-Level Students’ must sit their Junior Certificate Exam (by law legal age for school leaving is 16), and then are presented with the option to leave school or continue on with formal education to pursue the Traditional Leaving Certificate or the Leaving Certificate Applied. Non-formal education is provided by Youth Reach Centres of Education after the Junior Certificate.

The State Examinations Commission was founded in 1997 to develop and administer the state examinations and to coordinate the exam roll out, correction and results distribution. The State Examinations are examined in June of each year (some practical and oral elements are examined from March-May), and corrected in July. Leaving Cert & Leaving Cert Applied results are made available in early August and Junior Cert results are available in mid-September.

Junior Certificate Exam

The Junior Certificate examination is held at the end of the Junior Cycle in post-primary schools. The Junior cycle caters for students from 13 to 16 and students normally sit the exam at the age of 15 or 16, after 3 years of post-primary education. Students usually take 10-11 subjects for their Junior Cert; including English, Irish, Maths, EU language, CSPE, History, Geography, Religion and an option from 15 other available subjects.

Leaving Certificate Exam

The Leaving Certificate examination is held after the Junior Cert cycle. Students may opt to take a “Transition Year”, between 3rd and 5th years. This allows students to explore areas of learning outside out text books. The Leaving Cert is a two year programme. Students must take at least 6 subjects. All students must study English, Irish and Maths. A European Language is required for entry to the majority of third level universities. The best 6 grades are awarded points for entry to college.

Leaving Certificate Applied Exam

An alternative to the tradtional Leaving cert is the Leaving Certificate Applied. The Leaving Certificate Applied is a distinct, self-contained two-year Leaving Certificate programme aimed at preparing students for adult and working life. The programme sets out to recognise the talents of all students and to provide opportunities for developing personal responsibility, self-esteem and self-knowledge. The programme focuses on the talents of each student and helps students apply what they learn to the real world.

The Irish Second-Level School’s Sector