To repeat or not to repeat...

THE number of students repeating the Leaving Certificate has been dropping in recent years although it is still an option worth considering. But ponder deeply before deciding to have another go.

The majority of CAO applicants will get one of their top three choices today but inevitably some will be disappointed.

It is often disappointment about not getting a particular offer that drives the decision to repeat. A student may feel they performed badly in a subject or lacked confidence in their ability to achieve. After today’s offers, some are considering what the outcome might have been had they settled down to early revision for the exams.

Regardless of why a student might think about repeating, it is essential to consider all options and the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Leaving Cert year is one of the most challenging of any young person’s life. It will still be challenging the second time around. Many simply want to achieve the requirements necessary to gain access to a chosen course and this goal should be kept at the forefront of one’s mind when making decisions. If a student receives a college offer that will lead them to their general career goal, even if it is not their dream course, moving to third level may be the better choice.

There is also further education, such as a Post-Leaving Certificate (PLC) course, which can act as a stepping stone to higher education. For an 18 to 19-year-old, it is often more beneficial to progress in education than to return to a school environment.

Many students do extremely well when they repeat as they are more mature and have had the experience of sitting the exam already.

Some do only slightly better but that extra few points may be all they need to get the course of their dreams.

Unfortunately, a small number do slightly worse the second time round.

So students have to guard against reverting to old habits that prevented them from achieving their goal the first time.

Those thinking about repeating should ask themselves: what stopped me from gaining the result I wanted this time? Were these circumstances within my control? Will it be different next year, or am I likely to fall into the same old practices?

This year brought a new way of awarding exam grades and CAO points, which should also give pause for thought about repeating.

Students should, in addition, consider that their subjects such as English, have different coursework each year. It is also worth recalling that, for college entry, points must come from one sitting of the exams but it is possible to repeat a subject, or subjects, in order to meet specific entry requirements.

Students who decide to repeat must consider where to do it. They may wish to return to their own school, which would normally be at the discretion of the principal. Even if the principal agrees, if the school does not have a dedicated repeat class (which most do not) students may find they have outgrown that old environment. They will be surrounded by others who will be taking Leaving Cert for the first time, which can create its own challenges. Those interested in repeating should check with local education and training boards (ETBs), as many further education centres offer a repeat year, but in a college environment

A small number of secondary schools run dedicated repeat years, for both male and female students, including O’Connell’s, on the north side of Dublin city. and CBS Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, where the typical intake for the repeat year is 80-90 students.

A number of private colleges, such as Yeats College, Galway and Waterford, Ashfield College and the Institute of Education, both Dublin, also have strong track records in delivering results, although this is the most expensive option.