State Examinations Commission Examinations 2019 ... · over a two-week period from 29th April to...

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State Examinations

Commission

Examinations 2019

Information Pack

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Introduction

1. Website Services for the 2019 examinations www.examinations.ie 5

2. Useful Dates 2019 6

3. Timetables and Schedules 6

4. Dates of Oral and Practical Tests 8

5. Points of Interest (I) On-Line Marking (II) Leaving Certificate Candidate Self Service Portal (III) Viewing of Leaving Certificate Scripts (IV) Leaving Certificate Appeals Revised Timelines (V) Access to Scripts (VI) Pilot for RACE Scheme (VII) Leaving Certificate Politics & Society

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6. Key Logistics 14

7. Examination Running Costs 16

8. Rates of Examination Fees 16

9. The Preparation of Test Items – Principles and Protocol 17

10. Orals, Aurals, Practicals and Practical Coursework (I) Leaving Certificate (II) Junior Certificate

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11. Catering for Diversity in the State Examinations (I) Scheme of Reasonable Accommodations (II) Use of Dictionaries in the Certificate Examinations

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12. Non-Circular EU Language Subjects Background to the Development of the Non-Curricular Language Subjects

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13. Emergencies during the Examinations (I) Remit of Schools (II) How to Get Help

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14. Other Useful Information (I) Chief Examiners’ Reports 2019 (II) Viewing of Leaving Certificate Scripts (III) External Candidates (IV) Grading Structure for the Leaving Certificate Examination (V) Grading Structure for the Leaving Certificate Applied Examination (VI) Grading Structure for the Junior Certificate/Cycle Examination (VII) Award of Bonus Marks for Answering Through Irish

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http://www.examinations.ie/

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15. Statistical Tables a. Examination Entries and Sits 1927 – 2019 b. Predicted Leaving Certificate Entries by County and Gender 2019 c. Predicted Leaving Certificate Entries by Subject and Gender 2019 d. Predicted Leaving Certificate Entries by Subject and Level 2019 e. Leaving Certificate Appeals 2018 f. Predicted Leaving Certificate Applied Entries by County and Gender 2019 g. Predicted Leaving Certificate Applied Entries by Subject and Gender 2019 h. Predicted Junior Certificate/Cycle Entries by County and Gender 2019 i. Predicted Junior Certificate/Cycle Entries by Subject and Gender 2019 j. Predicted Junior Certificate/Cycle Entries by Subject and Level 2019 k. Junior Certificate/Cycle Appeals 2018

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Appendix A – Timetables and Schedules 39

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INTRODUCTION For the 2019 examinations, 56,882 candidates are entered for the Leaving Certificate examination, 2,774 candidates for the final year examinations in the Leaving Certificate Applied and 64,723 candidates for the Junior Certificate/Cycle examination. The Corporate Affairs Division of the State Examinations Commission (SEC) has compiled this information pack. We hope that you will find it useful during this year’s examinations. This booklet provides information and statistics relevant to the 2019 examinations. It is important to note that the statistical information provided on the 2019 examinations is the predicted entry figures and is subject to change. If you have any queries on the information provided or on any issues that arise during the course of the examinations, please contact:

Eela Carr Press Officer Phone: 090 644 2770 or 087 2830355

OR

Jackie Wade Deputy Press Officer Phone 090 644 2851 or 087 1804466

Email: [email protected] Further detailed information about the SEC and the operation of the examinations is available on our website: www.examinations.ie The website will be updated as appropriate during the course of the written examinations in June. Press and Information Office Corporate Affairs Division State Examinations Commission Cornamaddy Athlone Co Westmeath June 2019

mailto:[email protected]

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1. WEBSITE SERVICES FOR THE 2019 EXAMINATIONS www.examinations.ie

1 All written examination papers taken by candidates in this year’s examinations will be

published on the website at 11:30am for the morning papers and 4.00pm for the the afternoon papers for the majority of subjects.

2 Leaving Certificate results will be issued on Tuesday 13th August 2019 and the on-line

Results Service will be available from the earlier time of 10am on that day 3 Junior Certificate/Cycle results will be issued in late-September and the on-line Results

Service will be available from 4pm on that day for Junior Certificate/Cycle candidates. 4 Detailed contact information, including e-mail, phone and fax details for all key

business areas of the SEC, is available in the Contacts Directory. 5 Other features of the website are:

• The approach taken by the SEC in the event of error occurring in an examination paper

• A directory of current circulars and forms in the Schools Section.

• Detailed information for candidates on the operation of the examinations,

including the Scheme of Reasonable Accommodations, in the Candidates Section, which includes details of the new pilot interim measure to better provide for Leaving Certificate candidates who suffer the bereavement of a close relative at examination time.

• All examination timetables and schedules of significant dates in the

2019 Examination Information Section.

• Examinations papers and marking schemes for past years and access to Chief Examiners’ Reports for the past number of years in the Examination Material Archive.

• The On-line Examination Fee Portal for the payment of examination fees

and applications for exemption of fees for medical card holders.

• The Candidate Self Service Portal for access to results, applications to view scripts, viewing of scripts (where subjects are marked online), applications to appeal results, payment of the appeal fee and viewing of appeal results.


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2. USEFUL DATES 2019

KEY RESULTS, VIEWING AND APPEAL DATES 2019

SERVICE IN SCHOOLS CANDIDATE SELF SERVICE PORTAL

Leaving Certificate Results In Schools: Tuesday 13th August 10 AM Tuesday 13th August

Application to View Scripts Online Only Opens: 9 AM Wednesday 14th August Closes: 5 PM Friday 16th August

Access to Component Marks Online Only Shown with results from 9 AM Wednesday 14th August

Viewing of Scripts

Scripts Marked on Paper Scripts Marked Online

1. Tuesday, 20th August 5 PM ‐ 8 PM

Online access to view over the period 5 PM Tuesday 20th – 5 PM Wednesday 21st August.

2. Wednesday, 21st August 9 AM – 12 PM

3. Wednesday: 21st August 2 PM – 5 PM

Appeal Application (Subject to a Fee) Online only Opens: 5 PM, Friday 16th August Closes: 5 PM Thursday 22nd August

Appeals Results Online only In the week ending Friday 20th September

Junior Certificate/Cycle Results In Schools: Late September Late September

3. TIMETABLES AND SCHEDULES 2019

Five documents giving the dates of the certificate examinations are at Appendix A:

• Timetable for the Leaving Certificate written examinations in June 2019

• Timetable for the Leaving Certificate Applied written examinations in June 2019

• Timetable for the Junior Certificate/Cycle written examinations in June 2019

• A schedule of examination dates for the non-written examinations at the Leaving Certificate, Leaving Certificate Applied and Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme

• A schedule of examination dates for non-written examinations at Junior

Certificate/Cycle

These are also available from the Examination Information section of www.examinations.ie


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Leaving Certificate Extended Timetable: For reasons of candidate wellbeing, the 2019 Leaving Certificate Written examination timetable has been extended beyond the traditional 13 day window. The new extended timetable has being designed to alleviate pressure on candidates by eliminating subject clashes as much as possible. There has been a very particular focus on ensuring that there is a minimal chance that a candidate will have to take three examinations on one day. However, not all clashes have been eliminated and there is still a possibility that some candidates, because of their particular subject choices, may have to sit three examinations in one day in 2019 or in a future year. In 2019 the examinations will take place over a 15 day period, commencing on Wednesday 5th June and concluding on Tuesday 25th June. The examinations scheduled for Monday 24th are Italian/Russian in the morning and Classical Studies/Latin/Technology in the afternoon. Examinations on Tuesday 25th morning are Japanese/Politics & Society and Arabic. There is no examination timetabled for the afternoon of the 25th. From 2020, this session will be used to facilitate the placement of new examinations. There are changes to the timetabling in the examinations of Accounting, Design & Communication Graphics, Economics, Agricultural Economics, Italian, Russian, Classical Studies, Latin, Technology, Arabic, Japanese and Politics & Society. These examinations were held on different days in 2018. All other Leaving Certificate examinations are timetabled in the same sessions as last year with the exception of Agricultural Science which will be held in the afternoon session. Leaving Cert Examinations in Hebrew Studies, Ancient Greek and Non Curricular Languages listed below will be held on Monday 17th June from 9.30am to 12.30pm.

Bulgarian Croatian Czech Danish Dutch Estonian

Finnish Modern Greek Hungarian Latvian Lithuanian Polish

Portuguese Romanian Slovakian Slovenian Swedish Maltese

There are no changes to the timetable for the Leaving Certificate Applied. Junior Certificate/Cycle Timetable: The new Junior Cycle Science and Business Studies will be examined for the first time in 2019 and will consist of a single common level paper. This change facilitated a shortening of the Junior Certificate/Cycle examining period by one half-day. The 11 day Junior Certificate/Cycle examining period will conclude @ 12.00 noon on Wednesday 19th June. As a result, the examinations in Technology, Italian and Ancient Greek are scheduled for the afternoon of Tuesday 11th June. These subjects were examined on the final afternoon of the examinations in 2018.

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4. DATES OF ORAL AND PRACTICAL TESTS 2019

Oral tests in Leaving Certificate language subjects were conducted in the two week period between March 25th to April 5th 2019, along with the practical tests in Leaving and Junior Certificate Music and Junior Certificate Home Economics. In the case of a small number of schools the Junior Certificate Home Economics practical tests were scheduled during the week 8th to 12th April 2019. Leaving and Junior Certificate practical examinations in Art and Metalwork were conducted over a two-week period from 29th April to May 10th 2019. Although set dates are laid down for these examinations, they are indicative only and schools have the flexibility to use this two week period to organise the practical examinations in such a way as to minimise disruption in the school. New arrangements for the conduct of the Leaving Certificate practical examinations for the subjects Engineering and Construction Studies were introduced in 2018. Instead of a single paper for each subject, there were three variants of the paper for each subject with each variant being fixed to a particular day. Practical examinations in Leaving Certificate Construction Studies were conducted on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd May 2019. Practical examinations in Engineering were conducted on 8th, 9th and 10th May 2019. The LCVP Link Modules written examination was held on May 1st, 2019.

5. POINTS OF INTEREST FOR 2019

(I) ON-LINE MARKING

Commencing with the 2019 examinations, the SEC is planning to implement on-line marking of the majority of Leaving Certificate and Junior Cycle subjects over a three year period. The subjects being marked online in 2019 are;

LEAVING CERTIFICATE JUNIOR CYCLE

Mathematics Biology English Science

Chemistry LCVP -Link Modules (Written paper)

French Business Studies

Physics Politics & Society

The SEC successfully piloted online marking to mark Junior Certificate Higher Level French in 2016, and Junior Certificate Higher Level French and Junior Cycle English in 2017. The

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feedback from the examiners involved in the pilots was extremely positive - they found the system easy to use and were very happy at how it eliminated so much of the administrative work involved in paper-based marking. Overall, examiners expressed a strong preference for on-line over paper-based marking. The benefits of online marking include:

1. Administrative efficiency through reduction in the physical movement of paper scripts 2. Improved system efficiency in the capture of marks, as mark capture is embedded in

the marking process and no longer a separate process. This means that marks do not have to be totted by examiners, transferred manually to marking sheets and then keyed by clerical operators

3. Greater efficiency for the examiner as the system allows them to focus exclusively on the marking process and not on administrative tasks,

4. Enhanced quality assurance through improved monitoring and management of examiners’ work

5. Minimises risk of loss of material 6. Facilitates more comprehensive reporting as valuable additional data captured 7. Facilitates re-direction of scripts when problems arise: 8. Facilitates On-Line Viewing of scripts by candidates 9. Enables more comprehensive archiving

SEC Circular S51/19 issued to schools regarding the move to online marking in selected subjects this year and was designed to inform schools about online marking but also to reassure them that there is no significant change for candidates. The most important information for candidates is that they should complete their responses in black or blue pen but that pencil may be used for completing diagrams and graphs. Candidates who do use pencils to write their answers have been told to use a heavy pencil, as faint pencil may not be clearly visible to the examiner. Gel pens may not be used. Candidates have also been told to complete their responses using the spaces provided on combined question/answer books to ensure that all of their answers are captured in the scanning process. While the scanning process will capture an image that includes more than just the spaces for writing, there is a small risk that material written outside these areas will not be seen by examiners. There are also some minor changes to the appearances of answer books with the incorporation of barcodes to facilitate the scanning process. In addition, the short answer section in Leaving Certificate Biology is now a separate returnable section. There is also a new answer book for use in Leaving Certificate Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Sample have been provided to schools in advance of the examinations and a specimen is available on the SEC website. However, candidates will sit their examinations in the normal way. When the scripts are returned to the SEC these will be scanned and will become an electronic script. The paper script will also be retained. The scanned images of the candidates’ examination scripts will then be marked by examiners using specially designed software.

The recruitment of examiners for the 2019 examinations commenced last December. The SEC has been very clear in recruiting examiners in the subjects selected for on-line marking this year they would be marked on-line. In fact, it was a condition of the offer of appointment to an examining position in the selected subjects that it was being marked online at the 2019 examinations. Online marking facilitates high quality, reliable marking of candidates’ examination responses. There are many advantages to online marking both for the examiners and for the examination system as a whole. The on-line marking software is easy to use and there is no need for examiners to have a high level of computer literacy. All examiners will be provided with comprehensive training in using the software and will also have access to a help-desk to provide the necessary back-up and support.

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The adoption of on-line marking, a key objective in the SEC’s Statement of Strategy 2017-2021, represents a transformational change for the SEC which is in line with public service reform and modernisation objectives, and Government digital strategies. The move from a paper based marking model to one which is technology enabled will provide more efficient service delivery and improved turnaround times, improved quality management and enhanced security.

(II) LEAVING CERTIFICATE CANDIDATE SELF-SERVICE PORTAL

In line with the changes required to bring about the earlier issue of results of the Leaving Certificate appeals, the State Examinations Commission (SEC) has developed a Candidate Self Service Portal for Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied candidates. The Candidate Self Service Portal is an extension of our online examination results service. Candidates were issued with an Information Leaflet in mid-May which provided details of the portal and the services that will be provided through the portal. The range of online services available on the portal are as follows:

• Access to examination results • Access to component marks in subjects (e.g. oral marks; practical marks, etc.) • Apply to view scripts • View scripts online in subjects being marked online i.e. Mathematics, Biology, Physics,

Chemistry, LCVP (Written component) and Politics & Society • Make an appeal application • Access appeal results.

The application to view scripts, the viewing of scripts marked online, the appeal application and the appeal results services are being provided exclusively online this year. Candidates have been advised of how to register for this portal, using their candidate number and PIN number supplied to them at the end of May, along with an email address and mobile phone number.

(III) VIEWING OF LEAVING CERTIFICATE SCRIPTS

Candidates in the Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied examinations are afforded an opportunity to view their own marked scripts after the initial marking process. The viewing allows candidates to satisfy themselves that the marking scheme has been applied correctly to their work and, in addition to enhancing transparency, is designed to assist candidates in making a decision to appeal a result in one or more subjects. The SEC will provide two Viewing of Scripts services this year:

1) in schools for subjects marked on paper 2) online for subjects marked online.

The application process is the same for both services. Applications to view can only be made through the Candidate Self Service Portal between 9 am on Wednesday 14th August and 5pm on Friday 16th August.

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Subjects marked online (Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, LCVP, Physics and Politics & Society) will be available for viewing via the Candidate Self Service Portal. Access to view these Scripts online will be over the same period 5pm Tuesday 20th until 5pm Wednesday 21st August in line with the viewing of paper marked scripts in schools. Candidates will continue to have access to the published marking schemes, whether the subject was marked on paper or on-line. There is no facility to view Junior Certificate/Cycle scripts.

(IV) LEAVING CERTIFICATE APPEALS REVISED TIMELINES

In 2019, provisional results of the Leaving Certificate will be issued to students on Tuesday, 13th August, while CAO Round 1 offers will be issued to students by Friday 16th August.

Applications to appeal can only be made through the Candidates Self Service Portal between 5 pm, Friday 16th August and 5pm, Thursday 22nd August. In 2019 the results of the Leaving Certificate appeals will be released to students in the week ending September 20th, a full three weeks earlier than the normal timeframe (Wednesday 10th October in 2018). This fundamental re-engineering of the appeals process includes a combination of earlier releases of provisional results of the Leaving Certificate and of CAO Round 1 offers to students, bringing forward the process whereby students are able to view their examination scripts in advance of deciding to submit an appeal, having appeals examiners mark scripts on a full-time basis rather than only at evenings and weekends, and a streamlining of the overall appeals logistics.

(V) ACCESS TO EXAMINATION SCRIPTS

The State Examinations Commission (SEC) facilitates access to examinations scripts by Leaving Certificate candidates through a Viewing of Scripts facility which takes places in schools each year after the issue of the Leaving Certificate results. This facility, which has been available to Leaving Certificate candidates for the past twenty years, allows candidates to view their scripts and to see how the marking scheme has been applied to their work. This allows them to make an informed decision about whether or not to appeal their result(s) in advance of the appeals closing date. The Viewing of Scripts service allows candidates to see their script and if they wish to make copies of their scripts during the viewing sessions using their own digital device. Responses submitted by candidates in examinations and any comments made by examiners about those responses are considered to be their personal data under the Data Protection legislation. Under the Data Protection Act, the SEC, as a data controller, is required to respond to a data access request for personal data within 30 days of receipt of the request. However, data controllers are allowed to extend this time period to 90 days when the number and complexity of the requests received makes it too difficult to respond within 30 days. The SEC processes one million written examinations scripts and another million related examination components (practical and project work; oral tests; performances; etc.,) each year. Subject to the restrictions set out below, those making requests for scripts under the Data Protection Act should expect that it will be up to 90 days before they receive their scripts from the date of the request.

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In addition to these general time limits, there are specific time restrictions on access to examination results and scripts contained in the Data Protection legislation. These restrictions seek to strike a balance between allowing candidates to exercise their right to their personal data and ensuring that examinations providers, such as the SEC, can continue to deliver on their primary function of running examinations and providing results of examinations and appeals by expected deadlines. There is also a very specific restriction on access to a Leaving Certificate examination script which is the subject of an appeal.

Under the legislation, the earliest date on which a data access request for examination results or scripts can be considered by the SEC is the date of issue of the results. So if a request is made in advance of the issue date of the Leaving Certificate results, the clock does not start ticking on the request until the 13th August, the date of issue of the results. Similarly, there is a time restriction on making a data access request for the result of an appeal. If a result is appealed and then a data access request is made for the outcome of the appeal, the clock does not start ticking on the request until the date of publication of the appeal results in the week ending Friday 20th September.

In addition, if a Leaving Certificate examination result is appealed, and a data access request is already made for the script associated with that result, then the clock does not start ticking on the request until the date of issue of the appeal results. All candidates are strongly encouraged to exercise their right to view their scripts at the Viewing session or online. The Viewing of Scripts service presents candidates with the only opportunity to access their scripts in advance of the appeal closing date. This year the SEC will provide the final mark awarded to each individual component within a subject. This includes marks for orals, practicals, projects, coursework and written papers in the same subject (paper 1, paper 2). The marks will be available on the Candidates Self-Service Portal from 10am on Wednesday 14th August.

(VI) NEW PILOT INTERIM MEASURE FOR RACE SCHEME

For the 2019 examinations the SEC is introducing a new measure, on a pilot interim basis, for candidates who suffer the bereavement of a close relative during their Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied examinations. From this year, the SEC will provide an alternative Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied examination sitting in July for candidates who experience the death of a close relative during examination time, or in the two days prior to the examinations commencing on 5th June. The alternative examinations will take place in one central location in Athlone between the 8th and 12th July. Between the day that the relative dies and the day after the funeral, a candidate can decide to defer examinations for up to three days. These can be the day of the funeral and any other two days and do not have to be continuous. The purpose of the accommodation is to provide candidates with some time away from their examinations to prepare for and attend the funeral of their loved one without having to contend with the added pressure of a full set of examinations at the same time. For the purposes of this measure, a close relative is defined as one of the following: a father, step‐father, mother, step‐ mother, legal guardian, brother, step‐brother, half‐brother, sister, step‐sister, half‐sister, grandfather or grandmother. The scheme will also provide for the death of the

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child, spouse or civil partner of a Leaving Certificate candidate. This measure is available in the high-stakes Leaving Certificate examination only as missing examinations at this time may mean missing out on a college place or a job opportunity and having to wait for a full year for the next available opportunity to sit the examinations. The July sitting is not a repeat examination. If a candidate elects not to avail of this measure, at all or in full, and goes ahead with their examinations as scheduled in June, they will not be permitted to sit the alternative sitting in July. In the same way, a candidate who suffers a bereavement and who wishes to take particular examinations during the alternative July sittings cannot also sit those same examinations (in full or in part) during the original June sittings. However, bereaved candidates who choose to sit the examinations at the normal time (and who do not elect to defer their examinations) will continue to receive the same supports provided to candidates suffering trauma and adversity during their examinations as in previous years. These include early or late sittings of an examination in order to attend a funeral, sitting examinations in a smaller exam centre, and providing students with supervised rest breaks during their examinations.

In the context of the high stakes Leaving Certificate examinations, the SEC is very mindful of the tension to be managed between the need to maintain integrity and public confidence in the examinations on the one hand, and on the other, the need to better provide for candidates who have found themselves in traumatic circumstances which have impacted on their participation in the examinations.This interim, pilot measure is subject to review. The SEC will be arranging consultation with a broad range of stakeholders, including school management and principals’ representatives, parents and, of course, candidates, in order to inform the development of this provision into the future.

These consultations will be include a review of the operation of this pilot interim scheme and will commence in the early autumn.

(VII) LEAVING CERTIFICATE POLITICS AND SOCIETY

Politics and Society was examined for the first time at the 2018 Leaving Certificate. The new subject was introduced in September 2016 in 41 schools participating in an initial subject pilot. The Leaving Certificate examination in 2019 is limited to students of the pilot schools. The subject consists of a final written examination worth 80% of the marks and a coursework component, a Citizenship Project Report to be completed under the supervision of the class teacher, worth 20% of the marks available for the subject.

The examination is scheduled for the afternoon of 20th June and will be taken by 882 candidates.

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6. KEY LOGISTICSACHIEVEMENTS AND STATISTICS IN 2016

119,711 Providing

examinations to 119,711 candidates

across all examination

programmes.

578

Engaging 578 drafters, setters and translators to develop 506 different test instruments – including oral tests, aural recordings, practical briefs, project briefs, portfolio and coursework items as well as the written examination papers.

4 million Producing approx 4 million examination papers made up of approx 47.7 million A4 pages.

5,201 Engaging 5,201superintendents to superintend at ordinary

22,262 Providing 22,262 reasonable accommodations to facilitate 18,642 candidates with individual needs (15.4% of the overall cohort) to access the certificate examinations and establishing 9,330 special examination centres

6,692 Engaging 6,692 examiners to mark the examinations comprised of 4,254

written examiners, 1,145 oral examiners and 1,293 practical

examiners.

2 m

illio

n Examining over 2 million individual test items

1 million Generating just over 1 million individual grades leading to the award of 119,711 examination results.

502,302 Returning 502,302 marked scripts to schools for viewing.

12,611 Processing some 12,611 appeals at Leaving and Junior Certificate

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Established in 2003, the S EC assumed responsibility from the Department of Education and Skills for the operation of the second level examinations of the Irish State, the Junior Certificate and the Leaving Certificate. The SEC is based at Cornamaddy, Athlone, Co. Westmeath.

The SEC currently employs just over 160 permanent staff supplemented by 97 temporary staff at peak period to assist in key seasonal functions such as the packing and distribution of examination material and the examination resulting process.

To give an idea of the scale of activities involved in conducting the state examinations, it is worth noting that the 2018 examinations involved the following activities and outcomes: • Providing examinations to 119,711 candidates across all examination programmes; 62,562 at

Junior Certificate, 54,440 at Leaving Certificate, and 2,709 at Leaving Certificate Applied Programme;

• Arranging for examinations in 90 curricular and 18 non-curricular examination subjects; • Engaging 578 drafters, setters and translators to develop 506 different test instruments –

including oral tests, aural recordings, practical briefs, project briefs, portfolio and coursework items as well as the written examination papers;

• Producing 4 million examination papers comprised of almost 47.7 million A4 pages; • Arranging for the recording of over 94,000 Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied oral tests; • Engaging 5,201 superintendents to superintend at ordinary examination centres; • Providing 22,262 reasonable accommodations to facilitate 18,642 candidates with individual needs

(15.4% of the overall cohort) to access the certificate examinations and establishing 9,330 special examination centres as a result;

• Engaging 6,692 examiners to mark the examinations comprised of 4,254 1written examiners, 1,145 oral examiners and 1,293 practical examiners;

• Examining over 2 million individual test items including written examination scripts, art and craftwork pieces, project and practical pieces in Leaving Certificate Construction Studies and Engineering and Junior Certificate Metalwork, Materials Technology (Wood) and Technology, oral tests, coursework journals, research reports and portfolios;

• Generating just over 1 million individual grades leading to the award of 119,711 examination results;

• Returning 502,302 marked scripts to schools for viewing; • Processing some 12,611 appeals at Leaving (incl. LCA) and Junior Certificate

1 includes examiners of the written scripts and the supervisory teams for the Leaving (including Non-Curricular languages) and Junior Certificate examinations, along with those for the Leaving Certificate Applied.

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7. EXAMINATION RUNNING COSTS The overall cost of running the examinations in the period 1st January 2018 to 31st December 2018 was €68.62million, of which €9.28 million was collected in fees. The main running costs associated with the examinations are the fees paid to superintendents, examiners, drafters and setters, and their associated travel and subsistence costs. The cost of printing, packing and posting examination materials is also significant. Examination materials, past papers, aural tests, marking schemes etc. are provided free of charge to schools and candidates in a variety of different formats including paper, CD and on our website. Key Costs in 2018 €m Fees paid to Examiners, Superintendents and Other Contract Personnel 37.53 Staff Salaries 11.17 Travel & Subsistence (Contract and Staff) 8.82 8. RATES OF EXAMINATION FEES 2019 In 2018, the State Examinations Commission (SEC) introduced an online facility to allow candidates pay examination fees or submit an application for a Medical Card exemption electronically, which is again available in 2019, and into the future .

Students who hold a medical card or who are dependent on a Parent or Guardian who is the holder of a medical card are exempt from examination fees. For other candidates the lists of fees for the 2019 examinations are listed below. School Candidates Leaving Certificate (Established and LCVP) €116 Leaving Certificate Applied Programme €116 Junior Certificate €109 Repeat Leaving Certificate €301 Post Leaving Certificate course (1 or 2 subjects) € 71 Post Leaving Certificate course (3+ subjects) €116 VTOS and Analogous Candidates Leaving Certificate (3+subjects) €116 Mix of LC/JC subjects (3+) €116 Junior Certificate (3+subjects) €109 1 or 2 subjects – LC/JC/mix € 71 External candidates ORDINARY FEES First time entry (3+ subjects) €116 First time entry (1 or 2 subjects) € 71 Repeat entry (3+ subjects) €326 Repeat entry (2 subjects) €211

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Repeat entry (1 subject) €116 LATE FEES (EXTERNAL CANDIDATES ONLY) Received 15th February to 6th March: an additional €32.00 per subject. Received on/after 7th March: an additional €52.00 per subject. Appeal Fees The fees for appealing a result in a subject in the 2019 certificate examinations are as follows: Junior Certificate/Cycle: €32 per subject Leaving Certificate Established €40 per subject Leaving Certificate Applied: €15.50 per subject Appeal fees are refunded in the event that a result is upgraded and are refunded directly to the card which was used to pay the fee. 9. THE PREPARATION OF TEST ITEMS - PRINCIPLES AND PROTOCOL The preparation of test items of the highest standard and the maintenance of an examination system providing valid and reliable certification requires rigorous quality assurance measures based on sound principles articulated through a comprehensive protocol. This year the SEC published a revised booklet, The Preparation of Test Items - Principles and Protocol, setting out the principles and protocol which underpin and inform the preparation of test items used by the Commission. It describes the context in which the SEC fulfils its role, indicating, in particular, the importance of the SEC’s relationship with its partners and customers in the broad education community, with the Department of Education and Skills and the National Council of Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) in the matter of the provision of state certificate examinations. The key principles underpinning and informing the preparation of test items outlined in the booklet include validity, reliability, freedom from bias, inclusiveness and equity, discrimination, and accessibility. The booklet also sets out the protocol which personnel responsible for the preparation of test items follow in applying these principles and outlines the roles and responsibilities of key personnel within the SEC in relation to the preparation of these same test items. In publishing this booklet the SEC wishes to assure candidates, parents, teachers, schools and the broader education community of the care taken with the preparation of test items. In so doing, the SEC reiterates its commitment to openness and transparency, fairness and accountability and to the maintenance of the highest standards possible in the preparation of state certificate examinations. The following outlines the key principles that underpin and inform the preparation of test items used by the SEC in more detail: • Validity Validity refers to the accuracy with which an examination measures what it is intended to measure. • Reliability Reliability refers to the consistency of the results produced by an examination.

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• Freedom from Bias Freedom from bias refers to the elimination, as far as possible, of bias from an examination. Bias is the presence of some characteristic in an examination that results in different levels of performance by candidates of the same level of achievement, but from different groups, such as ethnic or gender. • Inclusiveness and Equity Inclusiveness and Equity refer to the extent to which examinations should reflect an inclusive view of society and a respect for diversity

• Discrimination Discrimination refers to the extent to which an individual test item, or an examination as a whole, effectively distinguishes between candidates o f different underlying levels of achievement. • Accessibility The accessibility of an examination refers to the extent to which all candidates are facilitated in demonstrating their achievements, in the context of the need to preserve the integrity, fairness and standards of the examination. The booklet is published on www.examinations.ie.

10. ORALS, AURALS, PRACTICALS AND PRACTICAL COURSEWORK

(I) LEAVING CERTIFICATE Each year, the state examinations involve the preparation of 506 different test components in almost 90 curricular subjects. These components include oral tests, practical tests, aural tests, project briefs, practical coursework specifications, journals, reports and portfolios as well as the written examination papers. This year the SEC will provide the final mark awarded to each individual component within a subject. This includes marks for orals, practicals, projects, coursework and written papers in the same subject (paper 1, paper 2). The marks will be available on the Candidates Self-Service Portal from 10am on Wednesday 14th August. The Leaving Certificate subjects examined entirely by written examination are English, Mathematics, Latin, Ancient Greek, Classical Studies, Hebrew, Physics, Chemistry, Physics and Chemistry, Biology, Accounting, Business, Economics, Arabic and the non-curricular EU Languages. The subjects with oral and aural components are Irish, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese and Russian. Music has an aural component. The Leaving Certificate subjects Agricultural Science, Agricultural Economics, Art, Construction Studies, Engineering, Home Economics, Links Modules, Music, History, Geography, Politics and Society, Religious Education, Technology and Design and Communication Graphics have practical coursework components. There are also practical examinations in Art, Engineering, Construction Studies and Music.

http://www.examinations/


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(II) JUNIOR CERTIFICATE The Junior Certificate subjects examined entirely by written examination are Mathematics, Ancient Greek, Business Studies, Classical Studies, Geography, History, Latin and Technical Graphics. In addition to the written examination, Junior Certificate Irish, French, German, Spanish and Italian have an aural component. There are also optional oral tests in these subjects which are taken by a small number of candidates in the modern European languages each year, with a significant increase evident in recent years in the numbers taking the optional oral in Irish with the reweighting of this component to 40%. In 2019, as part of Junior Cycle reform, the state examination in English, Business Studies and Science comprise two elements – an Assessment Task worth 10% of the marks completed by students in school time and a Final Examination, worth 90% of the marks, to be undertaken in June. Both elements will be marked by the SEC. The Junior Certificate subjects Art, Craft & Design, Home Economics, Materials Technology (Wood), Metalwork, Religious Education, Science, Environmental and Social Studies (ESS), Technology, Jewish Studies and Civic, Social and Political Education (CSPE) have practical coursework components. There are also practical examinations in Art, Craft & Design, Home Economics, Music and Metalwork. There are no written examinations in Junior Certificate Art, Craft & Design.

11. CATERING FOR DIVERSITY IN THE STATE EXAMINATIONS

(I) THE SCHEME OF REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS AT THE CERTIFICATE EXAMINATIONS

The SEC facilitates access to the certificate examinations by candidates who would have difficulty in accessing the examination or communicating what they know to an examiner because of a physical disability, including visual and hearing impairments, or a learning difficulty. The access scheme is referred to as the Scheme of Reasonable Accommodations at the Certificate Examinations or RACE Scheme. The scheme provides accommodations for students with a complex variety of special educational needs including learning difficulties as well as permanent or temporary physical, visual, hearing, medical, sensory, emotional, behavioural or other conditions. The purpose of the scheme is to allow candidates who have special educational needs that interfere with their capacity to engage with the standard examination arrangements to demonstrate what they know and can do, without compromising the integrity of the assessment. This involves such students being held to the same standard as other candidates with regard to what the examination is intended to measure. In common with similar schemes which operate in other jurisdictions, the focus of the RACE scheme is on the need to remove barriers to accessing the examinations, while retaining the need to assess the same underlying skills and competencies as are assessed for all other candidates, and to apply the same standards of achievement as apply to all other candidates.

Changes to the RACE Scheme From 2017 the SEC has made significant improvements to the RACE Scheme. The changes made mean students with special educational needs now have greater certainty about the supports they can expect to have for the Leaving Certificate. The revised scheme enables greater access to the scheme by students whose needs

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are as a result of a learning difficulty and provision to of access to an exam reading pen and digital coursework booklets. The SEC continues to explore the broader use of assistive technology. This year, the SEC is introducing a new measure, on a pilot basis, for Leaving Certificate candidates who experience a bereavement prior to or during the examinations by way of an alternative examination in July. The most significant elements of the revised RACE scheme are described in greater detail below. Change 1. Application Process Schools have devolved authority to recommend to the SEC the supports to be provided at Junior Certificate based on a full assessment of eligibility within the school against the criteria for the particular accommodations sought. The criteria include evidence of need; a history of learning support and intervention in the school as well as, in the case of students with learning difficulties, recent attainment scores and error rates in reading and spelling. When it comes to Leaving Certificate, schools also have devolved authority to recommend to the SEC that the same supports provided at Junior Certificate should be put in place at Leaving Certificate based on their judgment that the need for support persists. Schools can also recommend the provision of accommodations that were not provided at Junior Certificate, subject to a full assessment of eligibility as applies to all Junior Certificate applications. In general the SEC will accept the recommendation of the school unless some exceptional circumstance arises such as the student being clearly ineligible for the accommodations being recommended or the accommodations not being available within the scheme, etc. Change 2. Broader Access to the Scheme on grounds of learning difficulty The second change is that there is greater access to the scheme by students with learning difficulties. Eligibility for reasonable accommodations on grounds of a learning difficulty is assessed based on level of need as evidenced by the student’s attainment in, for example, spelling and/or reading. There is no longer any need for a student to have a diagnosis of a specific learning difficulty to be eligible. This brings RACE into line with the overall needs-based approach to allocating special education resources. The revisions to the RACE Scheme have been designed to provide certainty to students with special needs about the supports they can expect to have for the Leaving Certificate and to enable greater access to the examinations by students whose needs are as a result of a learning difficulty. Benefits The main benefits are that the revised RACE scheme: 1. Provides certainty at an earlier point in students’ schooling of the level of support that they can expect

to receive in their state examinations 2. Addresses the issues associated with the creation of expectations of students, parents and school

authorities as a result of the previous decision making process 3. Maintains the autonomy of schools in relation to the RACE application process and is consistent with

the ethos of the Junior Cycle reform 4. Allows for the enhancement of NEPS role in RACE, in terms of training and support for schools and

auditing schools and quality assurance of RACE applications 5. Is more inclusive for student with learning difficulties and accords with overall educational policy of

mainstreaming students of all needs throughout their education 6. Accords with the needs based approach embedded in the revised Allocation Model for the allocation of

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resources to students with special needs. 7. Ensures consistency and fairness through the application of criteria and/or other conditions of eligibility. 8. Addresses the concerns raised about the scheme by the offices of the Ombudsman and the Ombudsman

for Children. 9. Leaving Certificate candidates who experience a bereavement of a close relative immediately prior to or

during the examinations are accommodated in the scheme. In keeping with the SEC’s commitment to transparency in its decision making, all decisions made by the SEC in relation to the provision of reasonable accommodations are open to appeal to a Reasonable Accommodations Independent Appeals Committee. In 2018, 22,262 reasonable accommodations were granted to 18,642 candidates (15.4% of the overall cohort) to facilitate their participation in the state examinations. This required the establishment of 9,330 special examination centres.

Type of Accommodation 2015 2016 2017 2018 Tape Recorder 328 249 305 453 Reading Assistance 6,261 6,431 6,816 7,274 Scribe 2,253 2,310 2,033 1,940 Word Processor 1,338 1,530 1,808 2,095 Visually Modified 175 155 194 191 Component/Subject Exemption 2,300 2,292 2,244 2,354

Spelling / Grammar Waiver 7,151 7,242 7,370 7,955 TOTAL 19,806 20,209 20,770 22,262

Reasonable Accommodations 2015 – 2018

Special Centres Candidates

10,223 16,194

10,685 16,764

10,100 17,661

9,330 18,642

(II) USE OF DICTIONARIES IN THE CERTIFICATE EXAMINATIONS

Candidates whose first language is not English or Irish are allowed to use bi -lingual translation dictionaries in certain examinations. In 2018, a total of 2,391 candidates applied to use bi-lingual dictionaries in the state examinations.

12. NON-CURRICULAR EU LANGUAGE SUBJECTS The SEC provides examinations in a range of subjects in the language area referred to as the non-curricular EU languages. These are languages which do not appear as part of the normal school curriculum but which students may opt to be examined in if they meet certain criteria. Chief among these conditions are the requirements that candidates for these examinations: • Be from a member state of the European Union; • Speak the language in which they opt to be examined in as a mother tongue; • Have followed a programme of study leading to the Leaving Certificate; • Are taking Leaving Certificate English.

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Another condition is that candidates may undertake examination in one non-curricular language subject only and for this reason in 2019, the SEC has again scheduled all of the non-curricular examinations for one session – Monday 17th June 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. For the 2019 Leaving Certificate examinations, candidates will be examined in the following eighteen non -curricular language subjects including Maltese for the first time:

Bulgarian Croatian Czech Danish Dutch Estonian

Finnish Modern Greek Hungarian Latvian Lithuanian Polish

Portuguese Romanian Slovakian Slovenian Swedish Maltese The following table compares the predicted candidate entries for these subjects in the 2019 Leaving Certificate to the number of candidates that sat these examinations in 2018. Subject 2018 (Sits) 2019 (entries) Dutch 29 18 Portuguese 84 123 Polish 687 820 Latvian 63 72 Lithuanian 156 194 Romanian 267 359 Hungarian 38 53

Czech 13 13 Slovakian 25

18 Bulgarian 15 23 Croatian 47 65 Modern Greek 18 14 Others less than 10 * 19 28 Total 1,461 1,800

Non-Curricular Language Subjects 2018 and 2019

* Danish, Estonian, Swedish, Finnish, Slovenian and Maltese

Background to the development of the Non-Curricular language subjects The development of the examinations in these languages has evolved over time. From time to time the SEC, and prior to 2003, the Department of Education and Science, have received requests to provide examinations for native speakers in their mother tongue. The policy has been to accede to these requests in the case of the national languages of EU states in line with the commitment made by member states under Article 149 of the Treaty of Nice. This states that "Community action shall be aimed at developing the European dimension in education, particularly through the teaching and dissemination of the languages of the Member States." The model for the non-curricular language examination papers is based on the First Foreign Language final written paper of the European Baccalaureate and the syllabus on which it is based. Although no national syllabi have been developed for these subjects, the SEC is satisfied as to the rigour of the standard that applies. The European Baccalaureate model has been developed by the European Schools taking into account the

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educational standards of all member states including Ireland. The SEC is satisfied with the very high academic standard of this qualification and indeed the European Baccalaureate is recognised by all Irish universities. The structure of these examinations has been agreed between the SEC, the Academic Board and the Board of Inspectors of the European Schools. The delivery of these examinations is overseen by a senior Examinations and Assessment Manager of the SEC. This official meets regularly with the college of examiners in order to provide training and to ensure standardisation between all of the non-curricular language subjects. The examinations are set and marked by highly qualified subject experts and experienced practitioners in the relevant subject areas. The benefit of this arrangement for the SEC is the link to an accredited syllabus in a high calibre, well recognised examination and access to a range of expertise that would be difficult to find elsewhere.

13. EMERGENCIES DURING THE EXAMINATIONS Each year brings a number of events which impact in significant ways on individual candidates or on groups of candidates as they prepare for and take their examinations. Events such as serious illness, accidents and death are deeply upsetting when they involve a close relative or friend and can be felt with particular intensity at the time of an examination - itself a stressful event for most. Reasonable accommodations can be made in order to assist candidates affected by such emergencies in continuing their examinations.Please see Section (VI) “New Pilot Interim Measure for RACE Scheme” above for additional information regarding provision for Leaving Certificate candidates suffering a bereavement immediately prior to or during the examinations. The SEC is anxious to provide all the assistance it can to schools and to candidates to help them through their examinations at what is for them a most difficult time while being careful to maintain the highest standards of fairness and equity in the interests of the generality of candidates and of society as a whole. There may be a misconception that examiners can allow in some subjective way for the life circumstances of individual students. This is not the case. Examiners are confined to applying the marking scheme to the work actually produced at the examination. An examiner has no scope to deviate from the marking scheme. The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provide assistance to schools and candidates in crisis situations during the examinations. A candidate who is unable to take the examinations in their normal centre may be permitted to take them in a special room in the school or in a hospital. Other arrangements can also be made depending on the individual circumstances. Where an emergency occurs, the school is likely to be in the best position to make the necessary alternative arrangements at short notice. In addition, the school is authorised to make certain specified arrangements without advising the SEC. (I) REMIT OF SCHOOLS Schools have the authority to make a number of specified arrangements to facilitate examination candidates based on local knowledge of what is in the best interest of the candidate and without requesting advance permission from the SEC. The specified arrangements include granting breaks or rest periods in each examination session that are warranted by the physical or medical condition of the candidate; allowing candidates to take medicine, food or drinks into the examination centre where this is required for

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medical reasons; allowing the candidate to move within the centre; allowing the use of a special desk or chair; allowing the use of low vision aids used normally in the classroom; ensuring that a candidate with a hearing impairment is positioned close to the superintendent. (II) HOW TO GET HELP Throughout the examination period, SEC personnel are generally on hand from 8.30 a.m. to 9.00 p.m. on examination days, and often outside of those hours, and at weekends. Contact may be made through the main number 090 644-2700 on a 24 hour basis and a brief message can be left with the security staff if the office is closed. Alternatively details can be faxed to 090 644-2744 or email [email protected]

14. OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION

(i) CHIEF EXAMINERS’ REPORTS 2019 Chief Examiners' Reports provide a review of the performance of candidates in the examinations and detailed analysis of the standards of answering. The Chief Examiners’ Reports on the 2018 Leaving Certificate examinations have been published and are accessible on the Examination Material Archive on the Commission’s website www.examinations.ie.

(ii) EXTERNAL CANDIDATES A candidate who is not a recognised pupil in a post -primary school and who is not following a course of study organised under the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme, the Adult Literacy and Community Education Scheme, the Department of Social Protection second level scheme for the unemployed, or other similar course, may enter for the Leaving Certificate examination as an external candidate. This year 2,849 students have entered as external candidates.

(iii) GRADING STRUCTURE FOR THE LEAVING CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION

A new grading system was applied to all of Leaving Certificate subjects from 2017. The following table provides an explanation of the revised grading system compared to the previous grading system. OLD NEW

Level

Percentage

Grade Descriptor

Percentage

Grade Descriptor

Higher (HL), Ordinary (OL), Foundation/ Ard (FL),

Gnath, Bonn (CL)

≥ 90 to 100

A1

≥ 90 to 100

1

≥ 85 and < 90 A2 ≥ 80 and < 90 2

≥ 80 and < 85 B1 ≥ 70 and < 80 3

≥ 75 and < 80 B2 ≥ 60 and < 70 4

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.examinations.ie./

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≥ 70 and < 75 B3 ≥ 50 and < 60 5

≥ 65 and < 70 C1 ≥ 40 and < 50 6

≥ 60 and < 65 C2 ≥ 30 and < 40 7

≥ 55 and < 60 C3 ≥ 0 and < 30 8

≥ 50 and < 55 D1

≥ 45 and <50 D2

≥ 40 and < 45 D3

≥ 25 and < 40 E

≥ 10 and < 25 F

≥ 0 and < 10 NG

(iv) GRADING STRUCTURE FOR THE LEAVING CERTIFICATE APPLIED EXAMINATION The Leaving Certificate Applied programme consists of a range of courses each designed on a modular basis. The number of modules depends on the course. Each year of the two year programme is divided into two sessions; September to January, and February to June. A module within a given course is usually completed within one session. Over the two year duration of the programme, participants complete 44 modules. Credits towards the final award are accumulated throughout the two years of the programme through: 1.) Satisfactory completion of modules (Maximum of 62 credits); 2.) Performance of student tasks (Maximum of 70 credits); 3.) Performance in the final examinations (Maximum of 68 credits);

This LCA Certificate is awarded at three levels. Each level represents a percentage range of marks as follows:

Level Percentage Range Credits Distinctio

85+ 170 - 200 credits Merit 70>85 140 - 169 credits Pass 60>70 120 - 139 credits

Candidates who acquire less than 120 credits or who leave before the end of the programme receive a Record of Credits. Unlike the Leaving Certificate grading structure, there are no changes to the existing LCA grading structure.

(v) GRADING STRUCTURE FOR THE JUNIOR CERTIFICATE/CYCLE EXAMINATION

English was the first subject examined in the reformed Junior Cycle programme. A revised grading system will apply in English, Science and Business Studies this year which will be rolled out to other subjects as other reformed subjects come on stream. For this year’s examinations, both sets of grades will be in use; the new descriptors for Junior Cycle English, Science and Business Studies and the existing Junior Certificate

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grades for all other subjects. This format of grading will continue to apply until 2021, when the last of the Junior Certificate examinations are terminated.

The following table provides an explanation of the current and revised grading system for Junior Certificate / Junior Cycle subjects while more detailed information on this structure is provided at section 5 above.

Junior Certificate Junior Cycle Level

Percentage

Grade Descriptor

Percentage

Grade Descriptor

Higher, Ordinary, Foundation ≥ 85 to 100 A ≥ 90 to 100 Distinction

Ard, Gnath, Bonn ≥ 70 and < 85 B ≥ 75 and < 90 Higher Merit

≥ 55 and < 70 C ≥ 55 and < 75 Merit ≥ 40 and < 55 D ≥ 40 and < 55 Achieved

≥ 25 and < 40

E ≥ 20 and < 40 Partially Achieved

≥ 10 and < 25

F ≥ 0 and < 20 Not Graded (NG)

≥ 0 and < 10 NG

(vi) AWARD OF BONUS MARKS FOR ANSWERING THROUGH IRISH

At the Certificate Examinations, candidates shall, except where otherwise directed, have the option of answering either in Irish or in English, except in the case of the subjects Irish and English and questions in other language subjects where the use of the target language is specified. Candidates will be supplied with Irish or English versions of the examination papers as indicated on their entry forms. A candidate who answers in Irish at the written examination in the various subjects as set out below may be given bonus marks in addition to the marks gained in the subject. Bonus marks at the rate of 10 per cent of the marks obtained will be given to a candidate who obtains less than 75 per cent of the total marks in the case of the following subjects: - Latin, Ancient Greek, Classical Studies, Hebrew Studies, History, Geography, Physics, Chemistry, Physics and Chemistry, Biology, Science, Business, Economics, Agricultural Science, Agricultural Economics, Home Economics, Music, Business Studies, History and Appreciation of Art, Civic, Social and Political Education, Religious Education, Arabic, Links Modules -Written Component only. Bonus marks at the rate of 5 per cent will be given to a candidate who obtains less than 75 per cent of the total marks in the case of the following subjects: French, German, Italian, Spanish, Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Accounting, Engineering, Construction Studies, Materials Technology (Wood), Metalwork, Technology, Russian, Japanese. Above 75 per cent the bonus will be subjected to a uniform reduction until the candidate who scores 100 per cent gets no bonus. No bonus will be given in the case of the following subjects: - Technical Graphics, Design and Communication Graphics, Leaving Certificate Art (other than History and Appreciation of Art). For the purpose of the award of bonus marks, Mathematics, Paper I and Paper II, will be treated as separate subjects. Candidates who answer partly in Irish and partly in English will receive no bonus marks.

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15. STATISTICAL TABLES

A. EXAMINATION ENTRIES AND SITS 1927 – 2019

Year Entered Sat 1927 823 (516m/307f) 1935 2,165 (1325m/840f) 1955 6,098 (3153m/2945f) 1967 13,590 1975 29,206 1980 36,539 1989 58,435 (incl. 4,397 External) 1990 60,074 (incl. 4,928 External) 1992 60,919 LC 59,509 (incl. 4,326 External& 6,599 repeats) 1993 63,234 61,561 (incl. 4,332 External & 6,330 repeats) 1994 66,033 LC (incl. 4,845 External) 64,033 (incl. 4,120 External & 7,748 repeats) 1995 68,492 LC (incl. 4,865 External & 7,819 repeats) 66,304 (incl. 4,292 External) 1996 62,277 LC (incl. 5,087 External, 7,540

repeats) 1,278 LCA 59,176 (incl. 4,558 External)

1997 65,881 LC (incl. 4,597 External, 4,674 repeats) 1,056 LCA

63,234 (incl. 4,181 External) 750 LCA

1998

65,584 LC (incl. 4,621 External 5,226 repeats) 2,450 LCA

64,155 (incl. 4,137 External) 1,700 LCA

1999 64,761 LC (incl. 4,574 External 5,013 repeats) 2,499 LCA

62, 844 (incl. 4,089 External) 2,092 LCA

2000 62,235 LC (incl. 4,614 External, 3,889 repeats) 2,821 LCA

60,737 (incl. 4,053 External) 2,682 LCA

2001 58,388 LC (incl. 4420 External, 2786 repeats) 2928 LCA (final year exam)

56,670 (incl. 3,970 External) 2815 LCA

2002 56,837 LC (incl. 5014 External 3,384 repeats) 3130 LCA

55,435 (incl. 4,490 External, 3,217 repeats)

2003 57,722 LC (incl. 4749 External, 3298 repeats) 4763 LCA

56,237 (incl. 4,261 External, 3,298 repeats) 3299 LCA

2004 56,124 LC (incl. 4331 External, 3004 repeats) 3620 LCA (final year exams) 57,378 Junior Certificate

55,222 (incl. 3,946 External, 2,818 repeats) 3520 LCA (final year exams) 56,864

2005 55,467 LC (in cl. 4,065 External, 2,704 repeats) 3,404 LCA 57,104 Junior Certificate

54,073 (incl. 3,732 external , 2,523 repeats) 3,318 LCA 56,640 Junior Certificate

2006 52,050 LC (incl . 3,939 External, 2,099 repeats) 3,282 LCA 58,212 Junior Certificate

50,955 (incl. 3, 689 External, 1,973 repeats) 3,155 LCA 57,782 Junior Certificate

2007 52,021 LC (incl. 3,930 External, 2,020 repeats) 3,132 LCA 57,883 Junior Certificate

50,873 LC(incl. 3,651 External, 1,880 repeats) 3,021 LCA 57,287 Junior Certificate

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2008 53,345 LC (incl. 4,447 External, 1,890 repeats) 3,475 LCA 57,006 Junior Certificate

52,143LC(incl. 4,101External, 1,778 repeats) 3,400 LCA 55,940 Junior Cert

2009 55,383 / 3,269 / 56,513 Leaving Certificate / LCA / Junior Certificate

54,197 LC (incl. 4,361 external, 2,212 Repeats) 3,264 LCA 55,557 Junior Cert


54,479 / 3,358 / 56,086 Leaving Certificate / LCA / Junior Certificate





2013 53,749/ 2,853/ 60,243 Leaving Certificate / LCA / Junior Certificate

52,767 / 2,810 / 59822 Leaving Certificate / LCA / Junior Certificate

2014

54,933/ 3,042/ 60,698 Leaving Certificate / LCA / Junior Certificate

54,025/2,964/60,328 Leaving Certificate/LCA/Junior Certificate

2015 55,963/2,902/59,919 Leaving Certificate/LCA/Junior Certificate






2018 55,255 /2,744 /62,968 Leaving Certificate/LCA/Junior Certificate


2019 56,882/2,774/64,723

Leaving Certificate/LCA/Junior Certificate

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B. PREDICTED LEAVING CERTIFICATE ENTRIES BY COUNTY AND GENDER 2019 Subject Female Male Total CARLOW 409 450 859 CAVAN 442 377 819 CLARE 668 624 1,292 CORK 3,183 3,161 6,344 DONEGAL 1,092 1,047 2,139 DUBLIN 7,393 7,069 14,462 GALWAY 1,599 1,556 3,155 KERRY 899 892 1,791 KILDARE 1,444 1,474 2,918 KILKENNY 513 548 1,061 LAOIS 485 454 939 LEITRIM 208 204 412 LIMERICK 1,235 1,272 2,507 LONGFORD 311 327 638 LOUTH 899 976 1,875 MAYO 850 796 1,646 MEATH 1,221 1,160 2,381 MONAGHAN 419 372 791 OFFALY 488 457 945 ROSCOMMON 228 231 459 SLIGO 418 394 812 TIPPERARY 1,048 1,053 2,101 WATERFORD 826 851 1,677 WESTMEATH 691 653 1,344 WEXFORD 944 882 1,826 WICKLOW 776 842 1,618 TOTAL COUNTIES 28,689 28,122 56,811 MALTA2 30 41 71 GRAND TOTAL 28,719 28,163 56,882

2 Candidates from the International School of the Martyrs (ISM), Tripoli, Libya. In 2019, the SEC, again on advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs due to the highly unstable political and security situation in Libya since 2011, has decided not to travel to Libya to provide the Irish Leaving Certificate examination there. As an alternative, the SEC is working with the Irish Embassy in Malta and the school authorities to provide the Irish Leaving Certificate in Valetta. While 71 candidates are entered to sit the examination, it is not known at this time exactly how many of these will travel to Malta to sit the examinations. All additional costs associated with these measures are met by the school.

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C. PREDICTED LEAVING CERTIFICATE ENTRIES BY SUBJECT AND GENDER 2019

SUBJECT FEMALE MALE TOTAL Irish 25,350 23,779 49,129 English 27,945 27,575 55,520 Mathematics 28,176 27,852 56,028 Accounting 3,858 4,247 8,105 Agricultural Economics * * 39 Agricultural Science 3,307 4,680 7,987 Ancient Greek * * 20 Applied Mathematics 588 1,682 2,270 Arabic 106 112 218 Art 6,397 3,079 9,476 Biology 21,005 13,850 34,855 Business 8,883 8,853 17,736 Chemistry 5,591 4,203 9,794 Classical Studies 267 257 524 Construction Studies 1,047 8,281 9,328 Design & Communication Graphics 752 4,917 5,669 Economics 2,199 3,801 6,000 Engineering 405 5,199 5,604 French 14,113 9,772 23,885 Geography 10,990 13,619 24,609 German 4,648 4,070 8,718 Hebrew Studies * * 10 History 5,456 6,674 12,130 Home Economics S & S 10,648 1,575 12,223 Italian 325 165 490 Japanese 155 129 284 Latin 13 47 60 Link Modules 7,158 6,449 13,607 Music 4,727 2,009 6,736 Physics 2,195 5,985 8,180 Physics & Chemistry 233 324 557 Politics And Society 424 386 810 Religious Education 743 650 1,393 Russian 237 242 479 Spanish 4,460 3,407 7,867 Technology 340 1,576 1,916

* Less than 10 female, male or total candidates

Note: The entry figures for the non-curricular language subjects are shown in a separate table.

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D. PREDICTED LEAVING CERTIFICATE ENTRIES BY SUBJECT AND LEVEL 2019

SUBJECT HIGHER ORDINARY FOUNDATION TOTAL Irish 24,701 22,291 2,137 49,129 English 41,883 13,637 55,520 Mathematics 21,024 33,335 1,669 56,028 Accounting 6,895 1,210 8,105 Agricultural Economics * * 39 Agricultural Science 7,331 656 7,987 Ancient Greek * * 20 Applied Mathematics 2,217 53 2,270 Arabic 191 27 218 Art 8,347 1,129 9,476 Biology 31,231 3,624 34,855 Business 15,640 2,096 17,736 Chemistry 9,219 575 9,794 Classical Studies 496 28 524 Construction Studies 8,597 731 9,328 Design & Communication Graphics 4,807 862 5,669 Economics 5,514 486 6,000 Engineering 5,018 586 5,604 French 17,619 6,266 23,885 Geography 22,056 2,553 24,609 German 6,909 1,809 8,718 Hebrew Studies * * 10 History 9,862 2,268 12,130 Home Economics S & S 10,887 1,336 12,223 Italian 410 80 490 Japanese 238 46 284 Latin * * 60 Link Modules 13,607 Music 6,456 280 6,736 Physics 7,510 670 8,180 Physics & Chemistry 514 43 557 Politics And Society 758 52 810 Religious Education 1,304 87 1,393 Russian 467 12 479 Spanish 6,215 1,652 7,867 Technology 1,766 150 1,916

* Less than 10 candidates

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E. LEAVING CERTIFICATE APPEALS 2018 A total of 5,197 candidates made applications for appeals against 9,094 grades leading to 1,485 upgrades. This represents 0.40% of the 376,100 of all grades awarded. There were five downgrades.

SUBJECT LEVEL CANDIDATURE APPEALS UPGRADES

ACCOUNTING A 5551 145 45

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE A 6543 309 71

APPLIED MATHEMATICS A 1826 64 13

ART A 7293 238 25

BIOLOGY A 26543 835 183

BUSINESS A 13329 520 57

CHEMISTRY A 7943 465 107

CLASSICAL STUDIES A 527 49 8

CONSTRUCTION STUDIES A 7104 95 5

DESIGN & COMMUNICATION A 4480 105 10

ECONOMICS A 4947 209 17

ENGINEERING A 4668 40 6

ENGLISH A 38283 1431 165

ENGLISH G 14753 35 9

FRENCH A 15485 615 95

FRENCH G 8225 27 2

GEOGRAPHY A 19106 421 78

GERMAN A 6194 191 27

HISTORY A 8509 231 41

HOME ECONOMICS S & S A 9190 264 44

IRISH A 22400 723 73

IRISH G 21439 44 8

LINK MODULES C 13369 118 30

MATHEMATICS A 16837 836 168

MATHEMATICS G 31336 303 81

MUSIC A 5921 164 20

PHYSICS A 6258 267 29

POLITICS & SOCIETY A 774 40 4

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION A 1081 40 3

SPANISH A 4967 175 36

TECHNOLOGY A 1430 37 13

Level: A = Ard (Higher), G = Gnath (Ordinary), B = Bonn (Foundation), C = Common. Smaller numbers of appeals were processed in: Higher Level: Agricultural Economics, Arabic, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Lithuanian, Physics & Chemistry and Romanian. Ordinary Level: Accounting, Art, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Geography, German, Japanese and Spanish. Foundation Level: Mathematics

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F. PREDICTED LEAVING CERTIFICATE APPLIED ENTRIES BY C O UNT Y A ND GENDER 2019

COUNTY FEMALE MALE TOTAL CARLOW * * 10 CAVAN 23 37 60 CLARE 42 41 83 CORK 106 123 229 DONEGAL 26 57 83 DUBLIN 299 372 671 GALWAY 30 63 93 KERRY 43 53 96 KILDARE 45 107 152 KILKENNY 17 20 37 LAOIS 26 28 54 LEITRIM * * * LIMERICK 92 84 176 LOUTH 86 65 151 MAYO 29 67 96 MEATH 35 75 110 MONAGHAN 20 28 48 OFFALY 40 43 83 ROSCOMMON * * 13 SLIGO * * 36 TIPPERARY 46 79 125 WATERFORD 54 69 123 WESTMEATH 11 11 22 WEXFORD 59 97 156 WICKLOW 27 33 60 GRAND TOTAL 1,183 1,591 2,774


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G. PREDICTED LEAVING CERTIFICATE APPLIED ENTRIES BY SUBJECT AND GENDER 2019 SUBJECT FEMALE MALE TOTAL

Active Leisure Studies 59 97 156 Agriculture/ Horticulture 105 212 317 Arts 1,181 1,586 2,767 Childcare / Community Care 245 33 278 Craft & Design 233 278 511 Engineering 102 372 474 English And Communication 1,182 1,587 2,769 French 510 756 1,266 Gaeilge Chumarsáideach 1,175 1,583 2,758 German 169 274 443 Graphics And Construction Studies 266 835 1,101 Hair And Beauty 150 10 160 Hotel Catering & Tourism 631 625 1,256 Information & Communication Tech. 435 554 989 Italian 53 47 100 Mathematical Applications 1,182 1,587 2,769 Office Admin And Customer Care 126 125 251 Social Education 1,182 1,587 2,769 Spanish 446 510 956 Technology 14 40 54

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H. PREDICTED JUNIOR CERTIFICATE/CYCLE ENTRIES BY COUNTY AND GENDER 2019 COUNTY FEMALE MALE TOTAL CARLOW 499 493 992 CAVAN 467 529 996 CLARE 751 736 1,487 CORK 3,494 3,701 7,195 DONEGAL 1,146 1,243 2,389 DUBLIN 8,033 8,110 16,143 GALWAY 1,690 1,812 3,502 KERRY 959 994 1,953 KILDARE 1,703 1,814 3,517 KILKENNY 601 589 1,190 LAOIS 539 602 1,141 LEITRIM 248 250 498 LIMERICK 1,377 1,478 2,855 LONGFORD 321 356 677 LOUTH 1,098 1,171 2,269 MAYO 885 853 1,738 MEATH 1,318 1,432 2,750 MONAGHAN 441 438 879 OFFALY 550 594 1,144 ROSCOMMON 293 321 614 SLIGO 405 433 838 TIPPERARY 1,128 1,169 2,297 WATERFORD 884 895 1,779 WESTMEATH 765 726 1,491 WEXFORD 1,137 1,200 2,337 WICKLOW 1,004 1,048 2,052 GRAND TOTAL 31,736 32,987 64,723

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I. PREDICTED JUNIOR CERTIFICATE/CYCLE ENTRIES BY SUBJECT AND GENDER 2019

SUBJECT FEMALE MALE TOTAL Irish 28,667 27,969 56,636 English 31,567 32,697 64,264 Mathematics 31,595 32,759 64,354 Ancient Greek * * 32 Art Craft Design 13,248 7,099 20,347 Business Studies 17,784 18,873 36,657 C.S.P.E 29,809 30,877 60,686 Classical Studies 192 517 709 Environ & Social Studies 177 245 422 French 16,959 14,575 31,534 Geography 29,135 29,851 58,986 German 5,889 6,264 12,153 History 28,407 29,312 57,719 Home Economics 18,932 4,235 23,167 Italian 356 164 520 Jewish Studies * * * Latin 50 212 262 Material Technology (Wood) 3,498 14,638 18,136 Metalwork 990 7,131 8,121 Music 7,797 3,149 10,946 Religious Education 14,129 13,365 27,494 Science 29,322 31,059 60,381 Spanish 6,350 5,952 12,302 Technical Graphics 2,710 11,197 13,907 Technology 995 3,615 4,610


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J. PREDICTED JUNIOR CERTIFICATE/CYCLE ENTRIES BY SUBJECT AND LEVEL 2019 SUBJECT HIGHER ORDINARY FOUNDATION COMMON TOTAL Irish 34,257 21,236 1,143 56,636 English 52,393 11,871 64,264 Mathematics 39,244 22,729 2,381 64,354 Ancient Greek * * 32 Art Craft Design 16,966 3,381 20,347 Business Studies 36,657 36,657 C.S.P.E 60,686 60,686 Classical Studies 612 97 709 Environ & Social Studies 201 221 422 French 25,084 6,450 31,534 Geography 51,129 7,857 58,986 German 9,852 2,301 12,153 History 44,533 13,186 57,719 Home Economics 20,031 3,136 23,167 Italian 364 156 520 Jewish Studies * * * Latin 249 13 262 Material Technology (Wood) 15,031 3,105 18,136 Metalwork 6,519 1,602 8,121 Music 9,357 1,589 10,946 Religious Education 23,141 4,353 27,494 Science 60,381 60,381 Spanish 9,469 2,833 12,302 Technical Graphics 10,441 3,466 13,907 Technology 4,084 526 4,610

* Less than 10 candidates

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K. JUNIOR CERTIFIC ATE/CYCLE APPEALS 2018

Following the release of the 2018 Junior Certificate results, appeals were made against 3,472 grades, leading to 958 upgrades. There were no downgrades.

Subject Level No. of Candidates Appeals Upgrades

Art Craft Design A 15355 313 68

Business Studies A 27839 333 64

C.S.P.E C 59361 96 33

Classical Studies A 564 14 9

English A 48902 616 179

French A 23624 90 25

Geography A 49389 555 191

German A 9612 41 8

History A 40914 256 114

Home Economics A 19152 83 19

Irish A 31472 296 68

Irish G 21822 15 9

Materials Technology Wood A 14635 22 9

Mathematics A 35443 208 44

Music A 8924 64 10

Religious Education A 22609 50 1

Science A 46423 295 61

Spanish A 7804 21 8

Technical Graphics A 9447 55 13

Technology A 3573 21 14 Levels: A = Ard (Higher), G = Gnath (Ordinary), C = Common Small numbers of appeals were also processed in the following subjects: Higher Level: Italian, Latin and Metalwork. Ordinary Level: Art Craft & Design, Business, French, Geography, History, Mathematics, Religious Education and Spanish.

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APPENDIX A – TIMETABLES AND SCHEDULES

• Timetable for the Leaving Certificate written examinations in June 2019

• Timetable for the Leaving Certificate Applied written examinations in June 2019 • A schedule of examination dates for the non-written examinations at the

Leaving Certificate, Leaving Certificate Applied and Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme

• Timetable for the Junior Certificate/Cycle written examinations in June 2019

• A schedule of examination dates for non-written examinations at Junior Certificate/Cycle

State Examinations Commission Examinations 2019 ... · over a two-week period from 29th April to...

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Transcript of State Examinations Commission Examinations 2019 ... · over a two-week period from 29th April to...