Mixed reaction as Leaving Cert to revert to written form

The Leaving Cert examinations are set to return to the older format of written examinations, with no option for calculated grades as there was in 2020 and 2021.

The Junior Cert exams, discussion of which has been almost exclusively eclipsed by Leaving Cert chatter, are also to return having been cancelled for the last two years.

The rationale for the decision by the Department of Education is based on the fact that a quarter of this year’s Leaving Cert students did not do their Junior Cert, hence it is not possible to accurately assess their performance.

Instead, students will sit the exams and do oral exams and project work where required. An increase in options will be provided to students. For example, in the Ancient Greek exam, there is one less section of the book to be learned, and there won’t be any obligatory sections. In previous years, a student would be required to do ‘one question from Section A and one from Section B’ - now, they have more choice in what sections they choose the questions from.

For Leaving Cert Applied students, ‘ allowances will be made’ when assessing oral exams and practical coursework briefs. Coursework briefs will also be issued to students earlier in the year. While there is no change to the examinations themselves, marks will be scaled up by a factor of 1.15 - e.g. if a student achieves 200/300, they will in fact be awarded 230 points.

Grades will be set so that they are on a bell curve, as has always been the case. A bell curve means that X amount of people will get the highest grade (say, 5%), and another 5% get the lowest grade. Then, in-between, grades are proportionally balanced so that the majority will get the middle grade, while the outliers, the higher and lower than average, are balanced out on either end of the scale. This means that if it’s a particularly good year, there isn’t a case where a huge number of students all get 600 points.

This year, Minister Norma Foley has announced that grades will be inflated to match 2021’s, meaning that any students who did their Leaving Cert in 2021, won’t be at an advantage when competing for CAO places against a student who does the exam this year.

‘HUGELY BENEFICIAL’

Principal of Scoil Pól in Kilfinane, Mike O’Hara, is welcoming the return to sit-down exams for students, for both Senior and Junior cycles. However, speaking to The Avondhu on Wednesday, he said some details still need to be ironed out.

“First and foremost, we have to wait for the devil in the detail which is due on Friday. It sounds like students will be afforded the time in the exam - that there’ll be more time to reflect on the questions, to make up for the time lost on study during Covid.”

“Am I happy to see them sit-down again? I am. The examinations are a process, and it’s something that benefits them hugely. The process of doing the exams is hugely beneficial for their future; for an apprenticeship, for an interview, it prepares them.”

Asking Mr O’Hara about what he makes of the news that grades will be inflated to match last year’s, the principal is happy to wait for the exams to be over.

“In all my years teaching, the bell curve is as unpredictable as the weather. We won’t know what the bell curve will look like until we see the end of it.”

COMBINATION OPTION - ‘PREFERRED’

At Blackwater Community School in Lismore, Principal Denis Ring noted high attendance at after-school study which suggests that many students were preparing for the possibility of traditional exams being held this year.

“The students are resilient and they have responded well. I’ve seen it in the numbers attending study, it’s very encouraging. I know students were looking at the likelihood of a traditional Leaving Cert going ahead and they have been knuckling down for this.

“They got down to work after Christmas and have been doing well. If attendance at study is anything to go by, I think it’s promising.”

With the news of a traditional Leaving Cert for 2022 announced this week, Mr Ring said that he believes a combination of traditional exams and calculated grades would have been the preferred Leaving Cert method amongst students at the school.

“Generally, I think students would have preferred to have calculated grades, most would have preferred a combination of calculated grades and exams.

“I feel for them as they have missed a lot since the pandemic began. It is difficult for them,” Mr Ring said.

For teachers, however, knowing the approach to the Leaving Cert and being prepared in advance was a priority and with some changes to the format of the written exam being made, Mr Ring noted that teachers seem ‘ satisfied’ with the announcement.

“I feel teachers are happy with the system suggested. More choice is being given and I think generally there is satisfaction with it. The main thing is that we needed a decision, the sooner they know, the better so that they can get on with it,” he added.

STUDENTS’ RESILIENCE

In Fermoy, St Colman’s College also welcomed the clarification for students and teachers regarding the upcoming Leaving Cert exams, meaning they can ensure students are as prepared as possible.

“We understand that some students may be disappointed that there isn’t a hybrid model, but we know from experience that the boys are very resilient and we know that they will work towards the exam in June with great engagement, as they always do.

“We are confident that they will continue to apply themselves, work hard and achieve the excellent results that the boys in St Colman’s traditionally have always done,” Principal Veronica O’Donoghue said.

Ms O’Donoghue went on to state that staff and students are looking forward to getting information from the Department regarding any additional adjustments to the papers, which they hope will happen soon.

“The last two years have been challenging and uncertain for the students but they have adapted remarkably well to all that has been asked of them and have done so in their usual good humour leaving us, as always, feeling very proud of them,” Ms O’Donoghue added.

‘A SQUANDERED OPPORTUNITY’

Seán Sherlock, Cork East TD, said this week that the decision to revert to the old style Leaving Certificate is ‘ a squandered opportunity’ for students.

“The fact that the government has now taken a decision to go back to the old style Leaving Cert signals to me, a government that is very conservative and very old in its thinking, and it was a squandered opportunity.”

“And we need reform of the Leaving Cert. The hybrid model, though not perfect, was at least an attempt to progress education so that young people could feel that freedom of choice.”