LC Viewing Scripts and Rechecks

Viewing Scripts

Will I be able to view my scripts this year?

Yes. The Viewing of Marked Scripts process provides Leaving Certificate Candidates with an opportunity to see how the script in question was marked. Each candidate will be allowed to bring one other person with him/her to the viewing session.Will I have access to my oral and practical marks?Only the scripts from the written and aural examinations are returned for viewing. However, the results of all examination components including written, oral, aural and practical components are re-marked on appeal.Is it essential that I view my scripts if I wish to appeal?No. An appeal application may be made without having viewed the script. However, the viewing facility provides a candidate, who may feel that his/her grade does not fully reflect his/her performance on the day of the examination, with an opportunity to see how the marking scheme was applied to the work.Can anyone else view my script?Only if they are accompanying you to the viewing. As the candidate concerned you must first decide whether or not you wish to view a script and then you must be present in person at the viewing centre in order to do so. Your scripts will not be released to any other person even with your permission. You may wish to take particular note of this requirement when making holiday arrangements.Where can I view my scripts?Marked scripts will be returned to the examination centre where you sat your examinations.How do I apply to view scripts?Application forms for Viewing Scripts are issued by the Commission to schools and other education providers together with the Leaving Certificate results. The forms are personalised and will show your exam details including your subjects. If you decide you would like to view a particular script(s) you mark the form accordingly. You must return the completed form to the school by Tuesday, 23rd August 2011. If you are an external candidate, your personalised application form will be sent to you with your results. The completed form should be returned directly to the school named on your personalised application form by the closing date of Tuesday 23rd August 2011.Is there a fee for this service?No. This service is provided to candidates without charge.What happens next?The Organising Superintendent appointed by the Commission to your school will assign you to a viewing sessions. The viewing sessions for the 2011 examinations are as followsSession 1.   Friday, 2nd September 2011 6.00 pm to 9.00 pmSession 2.   Saturday, 3rd September 2011 9.00 am to 12.00 noon.Session 3.   Saturday, 3rd September 2011 from 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm.What else do I need to know about viewing my marked script(s)?Click here to download the detailed information note for candidates viewing marked scripts.

Rechecks

What is the procedure for appealing results?The Commission will provide your school or education with a personalised appeal application form. In the case of external candidates the form will be enclosed with your results. This form is designed so that you can indicate the subject(s) you wish to appeal.What is the appeal fee?The fees for appealing a result in a subject in the certificate examinations are as follows:Leaving Certificate Established €40 per subjectLeaving Certificate Applied €15.50 per subjectAppeal fees must be paid in advance and will be refunded to you if your result is upgraded. The refund will be made through your school if you are entered by a school.How do I pay my appeal fee?If you decide to appeal, your appeal is clearly important to you. You alone have control over, and responsibility for, the vital first steps in making a valid appeal:use the giro/internet form provided, ensuring it is correctly completed.return it on time to the School/Organising Superintendent.Bank Giro facility: Your personalised appeal application form and associated bank giro form contains a unique reference number which enables the Commission to trace your payment and match it with your appeal application when it is received from your school. You should take the form to a bank and pay the fee through the bank giro facility. The form duly stamped by the bank should then be returned to the school so that your scripts can be associated with it and forwarded to the Commission. Please ensure that you use the bank giro form provided by the Commission. If you use a bank giro slip provided by the bank (which does not have a unique identifier) it may delay or totally invalidate your appeal because it could prove exceedingly difficult to subsequently establish that you actually paid the appropriate fee.Internet facility: When you have completed your appeal application procedure on the Internet you will be provided with a Form (which you must print) showing the subject(s) which you have opted to appeal. This Form should then be returned to the school so that your scripts can be associated with it and forwarded to the Commission.The On Line Appeals service will be available on the 26th August.If you are an external candidate (E10) you should return your personalised appeal application form/Internet form to the Organising Superintendent at the centre where you viewed your scripts so that he/she can forward your appeal application to the Commission with the script(s) concerned.What is the appeal closing date?The closing date for receipt of completed appeal applications for the 2011 Leaving Certificate Examinations is 5.30 pm on Wednesday, 7th September 2011. The closing date for Junior Certificate appeals will be announced at a later dateOutside of the formal appeal process, what can I do if, on viewing a script, I see what I believe is a clear discrepancy between the mark awarded and the grade awarded?In the event that you discover a clear and substantial discrepancy between the mark awarded and the grade awarded, you should ask the Organising Superintendent at the location where you viewed your scripts for a Form AP1 and complete it in accordance with the instructions. The Organising Superintendent will attach this form to your script and send it to the Commission in Athlone where it will receive immediate attention.You should note that this facility applies only where it is clear that the total mark awarded is inconsistent with the grade awarded and where the matter can be resolved administratively (i.e. without recourse to the question paper or the marking scheme).The test therefore for what can receive immediate attention after the viewing of scripts is a very rigorous one. Any issue of interpretation regarding disallowed questions, computation of marks within questions and in the script, in relation to the application of the marking scheme, or claims that work has not been fully marked can be resolved only through the formal appeal process and the re-application of the marking scheme by an appeal examiner.Candidates who opt for this administrative facility should be aware that, because of the short time interval involved, they are unlikely to know the outcome in relation to their claim before the passing of the appeal deadline. It may be prudent, therefore, to lodge a formal appeal, so that in the event that the point raised is not upheld, or requires interpretation by an Examiner, you will not have denied yourself access to the appeals process because of the passing of the appeal deadline.[issuu width=550 height=390 showHtmlLink=false documentId=110817104817-0ab6da68e2904b84b84abc8713cce2f2 name=a11 username=issu4u tag=education unit=px id=e40eab5e-c721-fab4-22bf-b7fc496db2f4 v=2]

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.

Leaving Cert Results HELPLINE

ISSU recommends the exam advice helpline courtesy of National Parents Council in association with the Irish Independent, the Institute of Guidance Councillors, Eircom and supported by the Dept. of Education & Skills.The Institute of Guidance Counsellors provides qualified guidance counsellors to give advice and support to both students and their parents.The Leaving Certificate Results for 2011 will be released on Wednesday 17th August. The Helpline will be in operation at 8am on Wednesday 17th of August and continue as follows;

Wednesday (17th) 8am – 7pm

Thursday (18th) 8am – 7pm

Friday (19th) 10am - 3pm

Monday (22nd) 8am - 7pm

Tuesday (23rd) 8am - 7pm

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