Getting your Leaving Cert Results

Leaving Cert results day is different for everyone. There will be people who are dying to find out how they did and people who’d rather hide under the bed. Whatever happens and however you did, it’ll be ok. It is definitively not the be all and end all. Some of history’s brightest people didn’t ace their exams or get where they wanted to be straight away.

Online or at school?

You can get your results at your school or from 12 noon online at www.examinations.ie. Do whatever you feel most comfortable with. Going to school can actually be a good option as you’ll be with your friends and you’re all in the same boat, and the camaraderie can get you through. Your principal and teachers should also be around to give you help and advice.That said, you might not want to be surrounded by people and that’s ok too.

Working out the points – take your time, don’t panic

After all the exams, adding together a few numbers might seem like a walk in the park, but with nerves, it’s easy to count things twice or not at all. Take a deep breath, and take your time. If you’re not the best at the old arithmetic, get out your calculator, and if you’re not sure ask someone to double check it for you. There is also a points calculator here.

The CAO offers

Results are out on Wednesday the 17 August, then come the celebrations (no matter how you did, it’s over, right?) and on Monday 22 August, the ‘first round’ of CAO offers will be sent to your house and uploaded to www.cao.ie – log on to find yours. The ‘second round’ will come out on the 1 September.Each offer will come with a date that you must accept it by – this is usually seven days later, so it’s important to be on the ball in terms of accepting it. There should be instructions about how to do that within the offer. The points required for each course will be published in the newspaper, so you should have a good idea what you might be offered in the coming days. Even if you haven’t hit the nail on the head in terms of points, if you’re not too far off you might still get an offer in the ‘second round’.

The rounds

In the first round, offers will be sent to people who got the required points or more for their CAO choices. In the second round, offers start to go out for any places that haven’t been filled and this keeps going until all places are allocatedIf you got the points for your first choice on either the degree or diploma list in the first round, you’ll be offered those and that’s it– you don’t have the option to pick your second choice, but hopefully you’ll be delighted with your choice.If you got the points for your second, third, or fourth choice on either list in the first round, you will be offered that, but may receive offers of your higher preferences in the second round. It’s ok to go ahead and accept these offers, and change to a higher preference if this arrives in the next week or two. Your latest acceptance will automatically undo any previous acceptances.However, if you deicide you’d like to stick with the original offer, you can, just by ignoring the new offer.In some cases, where too many people got the same points compared to the number of places available, there will be random selection of people accepted. Don’t worry, this doesn’t happen very often. You might still get the offer as people accept and turn down places.Offers will continue after the second round until places are filled, and this might take a little while, but it also means that you might have options that you weren’t expecting. That said, it’s good to keep making plans in the mean time.

Views, checks and appeals

If you want to view a paper, either because you want to have something re-checked or maybe because you’re thinking of repeating and want to see where you could improve, you need to apply to do this by the 23 August – so next Tuesday. There should be a form in your school that you can fill in.Viewings will take place on the 2 and 3 September in your school, and you can bring one person with you – it might be good to ask the teacher of the subject you want viewed, as they should have the most helpful perspective on whether or not you should appeal.To re-check or appeal your result, you need to apply by the 7 September and pay a fee, and results of appeals are out in October. There’s more information on this process on www.examinations.ie.Good luck with your exam results from all at ISSU

Anxious whilst waiting for you results?

Waiting for exam results can be a scary time; it's like you have an appointment with fear! As the hype starts to ratchet up, your stomach may very well start to churn. Of course this is normal. It is to be expected that you feel stressed, nervous, panicky and anxious. You may not even realise that you are feeling the effects of stress.  If you feel like you would like to talk to someone send Headsup a free text and they will text you back a list of helplines and support services. Just text HEADSUP to 50424.You may not even realise that you are feeling the effects of stress. The stress of waiting for exam results could mean that you are experiencing the following:

• Difficulty in concentrating
• Headaches, abdominal pain, tightness in your chest, pounding heart or breathing difficulties
• Difficulty in getting to sleep at night
• Recurring nightmares
• Abnormal eating habits – eating more than usual or having no appetite for food
• Irritability
• Loss of sense of humour and a feeling that things are out of proportion
• Increased intake of coffee
• Increase in number of cigarettes smoked
• Negative thoughts
• Withdrawal from friends and social situations
• Lack of motivation
• Overly tired despite adequate sleep
• Feeling run-down

What causes stress around exam results time? Apart from the obvious fear of receiving results that are not what you expected, a lot of other factors are at play during this time. These include:

• Wanting to obtain results that reflect the work you put into your studies
• Pressure to fulfil the expectations of others
• The need to obtain results to progress to the next step in your career, the course, university or area of work of your choice
• The fact that these exams results may signify a new phase in your life. You may be leaving home, leaving your friends, leaving the country or changing your normal routine
• The whole uncertainty of your decisions – have you chosen the right course for you, have you made the right decision?
• Wanting to get results similar to your friends and peers
• Fear of failure

What you can do before the exam results?Look after yourself: In the days leading up to the exam results try to allocate some time for relaxation. This is really important as we often are too busy or too worked-up to think about taking a certain amount of time to just do something that relaxes you. This could include a long soak in a bubble bath, a walk by the beach, time spent on your Xbox or Playstation or just listening to your favourite music. It will be different for everyone and that's ok as long as you know what relaxes you and you put the time aside for that activity.Exercise: Exercise is an excellent way of dealing with stress and pressure. You may find it difficult to start exercising but hormones such as endorphins released during exercise help you feel better about yourself and the challenges you face.Talk to your friends: Consider talking to your friends who no doubt are going through similar feelings as you.Acknowledge your feelings: During this time you may feel anxious, nervous, excited, hopeless, nauseous or down. It's important that you recognise how you are feeling and express those feelings. If you feel you don't want to talk to someone about them, consider keeping a journal or expressing it through art. Check out our Art from the Heart section that allows you to express your feelings anonymously through art. http://www.headsup.ie/heart/Realise your own expectations: Take time to realistically consider your expectations for your exam results. Find out what results you would be happy with based on your own targets and not on the expectations of others. What subjects are you good at? What results are you hoping for in that subject? What subjects are you not so strong at? And what results would you be happy with in these subjects? Remember everyone has strengths and weaknesses.Address the unrealistic expectations of others: If you feel your stress is the result of the unrealistic expectations of others, sit them down and talk to them about what you feel is realistic and why. Dealing with the unrealistic expectations of others can be very difficult to cope with. Once this expectation is discussed and managed properly, it can be a huge relief.Consult a GP: If you feel like the stress you are experiencing is impacting negatively on your daily life and normal activities, consult a GP for further advice and treatment.How to manage stress after you get your exam resultsOnce you get your exam results, the immediate stress may be reduced. Congratulations! The wait is over and now you can consider your next step. Some people will be celebrating; others may be a bit disappointed but it is important to consider the following:After you receive your exams results, trust yourself and have the confidence to know you did your best: It can be easy to look back over your study time and think 'I could have done more' but this is not a very useful thing to do. Retrospective thinking may not always be realistic thinking.One person's disappointment is another person's success: Remember that everyone has different expectations of themselves and goals in life. Be aware of this during the exam results period.Put your results into perspective: Whether you have achieved the results you expected or not, remember that exams are stepping stones to something bigger. Exams are not always goals in themselves; they can be a means to a goal. Stepping stones can be of different sizes and sometimes may be difficult but the important thing is for them to be used productively to reach where you want to be. Marks should not be the goal; they only help you reach the next class or a level closer to your desired career. If you are disappointed about your results, your goal does not need to change but how you reach that goal may be different. Check out the goal setting fact sheet in the well-being section. http://www.headsup.ie/goalsetting.phpLearn to disassociate your performances from who you are: Everyone is made up of a lot of abilities and skills. Exams judge skills and knowledge; they are not a judgement about a person or a reflection of a person's self-worth. Remember this, it is important. If you find yourself thinking negatively recently, check out the Noticing Unhelpful Thinking and Changing Unhelpful Thinking modules in the Self Help section. http://www.headsup.ie/selfhelp/index.phpTreat yourself: The exam results are a stressful time and the hours of work put into achieving them deserves a reward. Whether you are delighted or disappointed with your results, allow yourself the time to treat yourself. If big celebrations are planned, be careful around your alcohol intake. Visit www.drinkaware.ie for more information.How can I prepare mentally for receiving my Leaving Cert results?Looking after your general mental health is something we should always do but especially around stressful periods. There are a lot of things you can do to prepare mentally for your leaving cert results. Set aside relaxation time and include rest in your daily schedule. Do not allow other obligations to take up time set aside for relaxation. This is your time to take a break from all responsibilities and to recharge your batteries.

• Connect with others. Spend time with positive people who enhance your life. A strong support system will buffer you from the negative effects of stress.
• Do something you enjoy every day. Make time for leisure activities that bring you joy, whether it be exercising, listening to music or dancing or any of the suggestions listed above.
• Keep your sense of humour. This includes the ability to laugh at yourself. The act of laughing helps your body fight stress in a number of ways.

Learn the relaxation responseYou can control your stress levels with relaxation techniques that evoke the body's relaxation response, a state of restfulness that is the opposite of the stress response. Regularly practicing these techniques will build your physical and emotional resilience.Adopt a healthy lifestyleYou can increase your resistance to stress by strengthening your physical health. The following can help with strengthening your physical health:

• Exercise regularly. Physical activity plays a key role in reducing and preventing the effects of stress. Make time for at least 30 minutes of exercise, three times per week. Nothing beats aerobic exercise for releasing pent-up stress and tension.
• Eat a healthy diet. Well-nourished bodies are better prepared to cope with stress, so be mindful of what you eat. Start your day right with breakfast, and keep your energy up and your mind clear with balanced, nutritious meals throughout the day.
• Reduce caffeine and sugar. The temporary "highs" caffeine and sugar provide often end with a crash in mood and energy. By reducing the amount of coffee, soft drinks, chocolate, and sugar snacks in your diet, you will feel more relaxed and you will sleep better.
• Avoid alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs. Self-medicating with alcohol or drugs may provide an easy escape from stress, but the relief is only temporary. Don't avoid or mask the issue at hand; deal with problems head on and with a clear mind.
• Get enough sleep. Adequate sleep fuels your mind, as well as your body. Feeling tired will increase your stress because it may cause you to think irrationally.

How can I relieve the stress of exams results day?In the build-up to receiving your Leaving Cert results there are many things you can do to ensure that you are as stress-free as possible. If you have been keeping a stress diary, you will know what type of things stresses you out, how you react to stress and how to best deal with stress.If you have not been keeping a stress diary, you can still benefit from stress relief techniques. There are many healthy ways to manage and cope with stress. You can either change the situation or change your reaction. When deciding which option to choose, it's helpful to think of the four As: Avoid, Alter, Adapt, or Accept.Avoid the stressor, which means changing the situationAlter the stressor, which means changing certain aspects of the stressorAdapt to the stressor, which means changing your reaction to the stressorAccept the stressor, which means accepting the stressful issue in your life and learning from it.You cannot change the fact that the Leaving Cert results will arrive but you can alter the stressor, adapt the stressor or accept the stressor. For example, if the idea of going into the school to collect your results, meet your teachers and friends causes you stress then get your results online or via telephone.In order to adapt the stressor you could adapt how you think about the Leaving Cert results. Instead of seeing them as a major milestone, view them as one step to where you want to be in your future life and career.In order to accept the stressor, just acknowledge that getting exams results is a stressful time but something that a lot of people go through in order to get to the next point in their lives.Suppose all my friends do better than me, how can I show that I am happy for them if I'm disappointed with my results?It can be difficult experiencing mixed emotions. On one hand you are disappointed with your own results but happy for your friends. Remember these people are your friends. Just tell them how you feel. Honest conversations between friends are what keep friendships alive. Don't let this situation be any different from others.Are there any physical signs to show that I'm stressed? How do I deal with these?There are some physical signs that may indicate that you are stressed. These include some of the following:

• Headaches
• Aches and pains
• Indigestion
• Feeling faint
• Constant fatigue
• Dizziness
• Blurred vision
• Diarrhoea or constipation
• Nausea, dizziness
• Chest pain, rapid heartbeat, tightness in chest
• Loss of sex drive
• Frequent colds

If these physical symptoms are persistent, consult your GP.What are the emotional symptoms that indicate I'm stressed? How do I deal with these?Some of the emotional symptoms of stress include the following:

• Moodiness
• Irritability or short temper
• Agitation, inability to relax
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Sense of loneliness and isolation
• Depression or general unhappiness

In order to deal with these symptoms, take some time to relax and look after yourself. Do something you enjoy and that takes your mind off all your worries. Talk to someone you can trust and tell them exactly how you are feeling. If you would prefer to talk to someone you do not know, free text HEADSUP to 50424 for a list of support organisations.

CAO can't defend high charges

 PRESS STATEMENT

Irish Second-Level Students' Union

*** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ***

CAO CAN'T DEFEND HIGH CHARGES

Second-Level Students' Union calls for review of CAO fees

15 August 2011

The Irish Second-Level Students’ Union is urging the Central Applications Office (CAO) to revise the fee charged to submit an application for entry to third-level courses in 43 colleges of education across the state.Speaking this afternoon, an ISSU spokesperson said:“The fee which currently stands at €45 per application or a reduced fee of €35 for those that submit an early application generated the CAO a profit of almost €1.4m last year – the application fee for the U.K equivalent of the CAO, UCAS, stands at the sterling equivalent of just under €24.Over recent years, the majority of applications are now made online, substantially reducing the administrative burden on the Central Applications Office.  With this in mind, we firmly believe that the CAO fee should be reduced for 2011-2012 onwards particularly in the current economic climate in which the cost of education for parents and students is already a huge financial drain. Even a small reduction in the CAO charges could somewhat offset the newly increased student levy. It is simply not good enough for a not-for-profit company to charge exorbitant fees, resulting in grossly excessive profits. We should be encouraging our young people to further their education and any barrier to this is inexcusable". ***************** ENDS *****************Notes to Editor:The Irish Second-Level Students' Union is the national umbrella body for school Student Councils, aiming to represent and connect Irish second-level students the length and breadth of the country, ensuring that the voice of the Irish second-level student is heard and striving for innovation and democracy within the education system. ISSU is a not-for profit student rights organisation.At ISSU we believe that young people are not merely citizens in waiting - we deserve better, we deserve to be heard. We can and will contribute positively to society. It is so important that our voices, views and opinions are (i) heard (ii) listened to (iii) and most importantly respected.ISSU's main aims include:

• To provide training and development of second-level school Student Councils, in conjunction with relevant bodies.
• To develop policies on issues affecting Irish second-level students and bring the needs and rights of students to the attention of the relevant authorities.
• To provide a transparent, democratic and reliable organisation.
• To work in collaboration with other educational institutions and bodies both in Ireland and Europe.
• To work closely with educational curriculum policy makers and teachers’ unions to continually develop a transparent, fair and modern education system.
• And most importantly, to give students a structured platform through which the voice of the Irish second-level student will be heard.

Introducing YouthConnect

YouthConnect is an exciting new programme that will be rolled out in second-level schools nationwide during Autumn 2011. YouthConnect is a joint-initiative of the Irish Second Level Students’ Union (ISSU) and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU). The two organisations have come together combining expertise and resources to work on issues of mutual concern and interest.

YouthConnect aims to actively engage second-level students in their school enviornment through a series of school visits and activities. It will promote activism and solidarity in schools and workplaces among students and young workers. It will also provide training and support in the areas of active-citizenship, awareness of rights, student empowerment, student partipication and student council development and training.

This is a very exciting project for second-level schools and centres of education around Ireland. It will equip second-level students with knowledge that will empower them in the school and workplace environment.

Further information is available at www.youth-connect.ie or email fiona.dunne@ictu.ie

The Final Countdown

The Final Countdown has begun to the commencement of the State Certificate Examinations 2010 - Junior Certificate, Leaving Certificate, and Leaving Certificate Applied. The examination hall is the final stage of your two/three years of studying. Good preparation will mean that you are going into the exams well prepared and well equipped to give your best performance on the day.Time until exams begin:[fergcorp_cdt_single date="June 8th 2011, 9.30 am"]What should you be doing?* Make an exam plan and revision timetable* Check the exam format for each subject again* List possible questions based on suggestions from your teachers or past papers* Write a one-page summary of key points for each major topic in each subject* Look after yourself — take regular breaks, gentle exercise, eat well and sleep!* A certain level of stress is healthy and helps you perform, but ask for support when you need itAt this stage, good planning is essential.Approach your revision in an organised, systematic way. You will cover more ground, and you will feel you are making progress. You will feel more in control, especially if you are able to tick off topics that you have covered as you cover them. This in turn increases your confidence and encourages you to keep working, and so helps you to keep your motivation and effort high. Use the system of rewards for revision topics covered to keep your enthusiasm high.

• Past exam papers

Exam papers are excellent preparation because they give you a template (a working example) of what you can expect. Use them to see the kinds of questions that are likely to set, how to approach structuring your answers, and how to time yourself when answering questions.Course or topic summaries

• Write out a summary for each course or topic.

Keep it to A4 size if you can. This is time and effort very well spent, as it will show you the main areas you know, and more importantly, those you need to know, and which you need to work on.

• Notes Copies

Use your past notes and summaries to go over main points. Skim texts, always looking to draw information out rather than stuff it into your brain. Exams are about retrieving information quickly and efficiently from your brain. Aim to train yourself to improve at this.

• Outline answers

Prepare basic or "skeleton" answers. Use summarising techniques here, and by condensing learning you will be able to access it more easily in a real situation. Practise writing under exam type conditions, even if you only write out the outline of what you would cover. This will get you used to writing under pressure.

• Practice the exam format

Make sure you know, and that you are comfortable with, the layout of the papers. Each subject will have different sections, choices of questions, compulsory questions, and questions that attract different marks. This information is provided at the beginning of the past exam papers/books which you buy in the bookshop. Use these as a guide for the exam structure and outline: they're excellent.

Final Preperations

It is natural to be afraid of the unknown. Knowing what is ahead of you in an examination takes away much of the fear.Have the exam format well thought out beforehand. Know how best to use time during the exam: how to plan your answers, and how to answer the question you have been asked.Exams are about what you understand more than what you remember. It is your chance to show just how well you can cope with a stressful situation and still give your best performance. It is not just what you know but how you use it that counts on the day.A certain level of stress is healthy. It gears you up for the "big performance". Ensure you keep your stress levels healthy so that they work for you rather than against you on the day.Arrive at the examination hall a few minutes early. Do not bring a stock of books. You can bring a few notes/flash cards to glance over as a last-minute measure.Have bottled water, but avoid chewy (noisy) sweets and chewing gum. Some people find it useful to have chocolate in your pencil case. It is ok to eat during an exam (just don't have a picnic) - you will get your self in trouble if you disturb other exam candidates. It is helpful to have something quick to eat in the short break before your Aural exam (tape).When you are handed your paper, attend to the routine details first. Fill in all the examination paper details correctly. Steady yourself.Read the question carefully. Read it again. Read it thoroughly. Circle the verbs. Check exactly what you are being asked to do, not what you want to do.Never panic, even if at first the question seems alien. It will be linked with something you have covered in your coursework. It is your job to find the link.Choose your questions and stick to your choice. The reason for this is that your brain will continue to work on other questions while you plan the first one. Resist temptation to switch to another question, particularly if you have already started one. This is only a panic response. Ignore it and continue.Plan your answer before you start. If points or ideas for your other choice question come up, you can write them on a separate page. Never, ever rush into writing - planning is time well spent.Do your best question first. This will get the "flow" going and give you confidence. Once you have completed your first (best) question, it might be useful to plan your other questions. If you are pressed for time later on, you will not have to rush your thinking: your plan will be there for you.Check weighting. Spend the time on questions that will bring you higher marks, not on questions that have fewer marks. Managing your time in an exam is crucial to getting you the best advantage.Pacing and timing (rather than speed) in an exam are very important. Have a clear idea of how you will use your time - even before you start. Good preparation is the key.Show the starting point and the various stages in any calculation so that the examiner can follow what you are doing. This way, even if you make a small mathematical slip and end up with the wrong answer, you can still score almost full marks (only one mark is deducted for an arithmetical slip). If you do not show the starting point and the various stages, and end up with a wrong answer, you score no points.Avoid going for what appears to be an easy option, for example, choosing the "B" or more personal/creative option in the comprehension section of the English paper. Any creative or personal response needs to be as well planned and organised as the more formal type questions.You have 2 - 3 weeks of examinations. Do not burn out half-way through. Preserve your energies. Keep your best for the examination hall.Write clearly. NO post mortems. They will only fill you with dread or complacency. Neither is useful. Reward yourself afterwards .Study past marking schemes. It is crucially important that you know what each subject examiner is looking for, always remembering to answer what you’re asked and to think before you ink. At this stage, you are fine tuning what you already know with a little cramming on the side. A quick glance over Chief Examiners Reports are also helpful – these give you an insight into where students fell down in previous years, be wise and don’t let the same one’s happen to you. www.examinations.ieNew for 2010 - Due to the leaking of last year's HL LC English Paper 2, this year exam question papers will be handed to exam candidates FRONT PAGE FACE UP, where before they were face down. The intention here is to give you time to check the subject before the exam begins. Don't turn the page, until told to do so.  http://bit.ly/bkLhCrPrepare for your next exam. Good luck. You have worked hard to deserve it!Time until exams end aka. COMPLETE FREEDOM (when exams offically end):[fergcorp_cdt_single date="June 24th 2011, 4.00 pm"][pro-player width='530' height='253' autostart='true' type='video']http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssWYnRlW_CM[/pro-player]

Finally, Best of Luck from the ISSU Team

National Consultation with children and young people

on the new National Children’s Strategy (2012-2017)Monday, 4th April – Friday, 8th April 2011

Work has commenced in the Department of Children on the development of a new NationalChildren’s Strategy. The new Minister for Children, Frances Fitzgerald, TD, would like to findout the issues of real importance to children and young people all over the country in orderto inform the strategy. The national consultation will give them the opportunity to have theirvoices heard in relation to matters that directly affect their lives.Children and young people are invited to complete questionnaires in all schools andYouthreach Centres throughout the country from Monday, 4th April – Friday, 8thApril 2011. The questions were designed in consultation with children and young peoplethemselves and ask about what’s good, what’s not good and what they would change aboutbeing a child or young person in Ireland today.All data collected will be analysed by a consultation team at Trinity College, Dublin andfed into the development of the new National Children’s Strategy. A report of the children’sconsultation process will be published online later this year.This exciting project represents the Government’s commitment to the goals of the currentNational Children’s Strategy (2000-2010) and to the continued implementation of the UNConvention on the Rights of the Child. By helping promote this consultation, you are ensuringthat children and young people in Ireland will have their voices heard on issues of importanceto them.ISSU is very supportive of this consulation, and we look forward to working with the Department of Children on the implementation of this strategy over the upcoming years

Census 2011

The 2011 census will take place on Sunday April 10th next, when everyhousehold in the country will complete their Census form.In the lead up to the 2011 census, sets of resource materials have been developed for schools to assist teachers and students to learn about the census. (CLICK HERE)