An overhaul to this year’s Leaving Cert will gives students more choice and fewer questions, the State Examinations Commission (SEC) has confirmed.
The changes will provide students with more choice as the number of questions in examinations will be reduced for the exams which begin on Wednesday, June 8th.
A hybrid model of exams and predicted grades has already been ruled out.
But adjustments have been made to take into account the “disruption to teaching and learning experienced by the Leaving Certificate class of 2022”, according to the SEC.
The changes have been made to provide students with “certainty and clarity”.
“The adjustments will provide the fairest pathway to successfully completing their post-primary education and enabling them to progress to further and higher education and training, apprenticeships, and the world of work,” it said.
The changes will be in place for written exams only and do not apply to aural or listening component in language subjects or music.
There will be no changes to practical coursework, orals, and practical performance tests.
The SEC said the changes to this year’s paper aim to maintain the structure and layout of the paper.
“This means that no new material has been added to the papers and, for the most part, no material removed.”
“While this will have the effect of also reducing the time needed to complete the examination, the duration of each examination will remain unchanged, thus substantively relieving time pressures.”
Students will not be expected to provide more extensive or detailed answers because of the extra time.
“The relief of time pressure will allow for more time to read and consider the questions carefully, and will thereby help them to make best use of the additional levels of choice available.”
Full details of the further adjustments made to the examinations are published on gov.ie/LeavingCertificate and on examinations.ie.
Timetables for the exams were also published on Tuesday evening.
