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State Examinations Commission

Examinations 2016

Information Pack

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Introduction 04

1. Website Services for the 2016 examinations www.examinations.ie 05

2. Useful Dates 2016 06

3. Timetables and Schedules 06

4. Dates of Oral and Practical Tests 07

5. Points of Interest

(i) Enhancements to question paper preparation

(ii) Delivery of the 2016 Leaving Certificate in Malta

(iii) Junior Certificate Optional Oral Examinations

(iv) Mathematics

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6. Key Logistics 10

7. Examination Running Costs 11

8. Rates of Examination Fees 11

9. The Preparation of Test Items – Principles and Protocol 12

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 2016

(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 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 – 2016

b. Predicted Leaving Certificate Entries by County and Gender 2016

c. Predicted Leaving Certificate Entries by Subject and Gender 2016

d. Predicted Leaving Certificate Entries by Subject and Level 2016

e. Leaving Certificate Appeals 2015

f. Predicted Leaving Certificate Applied Entries by County and Gender 2016

g. Predicted Leaving Certificate Applied Entries by Subject and Gender 2016

h. Predicted Junior Certificate Entries by County and Gender 2016

i. Predicted Junior Certificate Entries by Subject and Gender 2016

j. Predicted Junior Certificate Entries by Subject and Level 2016

k. Junior Certificate Appeals 2015

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Appendix A – Timetables and Schedules 34

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INTRODUCTION

For the 2016 examinations, 56,595 candidates are entered for the Leaving Certificate examination,

2,811 candidates for the final year examinations in the Leaving Certificate Applied and 60,652

candidates for the Junior Certificate 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 2016 examinations. It is important to

note that the statistical information provided on the 2016 examinations is the predicted entry figures and are 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:

Cathal McDonagh

Press Officer

Phone: 090 644 2770 or 087 2830355

OR

Deirdre Dalton

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 2016

mailto:[email protected]

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1. WEBSITE SERVICES FOR THE 2016 EXAMINATIONS

www.examinations.ie

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

published on the website on the evening that the examination is completed.

2 Leaving Certificate results will be issued on Wednesday 17th August, 2016 and the on-line

Results Service will be available from 12 noon on that day for Leaving Certificate candidates

3 Junior Certificate results will be issued in mid-September and the on-line Results Service

will be available from 4pm on that day for Junior Certificate 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:

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

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

o Detailed information for candidates on the operation of the

examinations, including the Scheme of Reasonable Accommodations,

in the Candidates Section.

o All examination timetables and schedules of significant dates in the

2016 Examination Information Section.

o 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.

o The on-line Appeal Payment Service for the Leaving Certificate will be available

shortly after the release of the results. Candidates can also pay using Bank Giro.


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2. USEFUL DATES 2016

Date Event

Monday, April 11th Start of Leaving Certificate oral and practical tests

Wednesday, June 8th Start of written examinations

Thursday, June 16th End of Leaving Certificate Applied written examinations

Thursday, June 23rd End of Junior Certificate written examinations

Friday, June 24th End of Leaving Certificate written examinations

Wednesday, August 17th Leaving Certificate results in all schools

On www.examinations.ie from 12 noon

Tuesday, August 23rd Leaving Certificate candidates must return completed

application forms to view scripts to school by this date

Friday & Saturday,

September 2nd and 3rd Viewing of scripts in schools

Wednesday, September 7th Closing date for receipt by the SEC of Leaving Certificate

appeal applications

Mid-September

Release of Junior Certificate results on www.examinations.ie at 4pm

Mid-October Release of results of Leaving Certificate appeals

3. TIMETABLES AND SCHEDULES 2016

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

The timetable for the Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied written

examinations in June 2016

The timetable for the Junior Certificate written examinations in June 2016

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

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




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4. DATES OF ORAL AND PRACTICAL TESTS 2016

Oral tests in language subjects were conducted in the two week period between Monday 11th April

and Friday 22nd April, 2016.

Practical examinations were conducted over a two-week period in late April and early May.

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.

The LCVP Link Modules written examination was held on 4th May, 2016.

5. POINTS OF INTEREST FOR 2016

I) ENHANCEMENTS TO QUESTION PAPER PREPARATION

Review of Procedures

The SEC introduced a number of enhancements to the preparations of question papers in recent

years. Chief among these was a comprehensive review in 2014 of the personnel structures for the

preparation of examination papers. International practice in relation to examination paper

preparation and quality assurance measures was also researched and reviewed. Further to this review

and recognising that it is not possible to guarantee that examinations in the future will be completely

error free, the SEC introduced a significant additional quality assurance measure for the Leaving

Certificate examinations to minimise the risk of error. Under this measure, the 2016 curricular

Leaving Certificate written papers have again been subjected to scrutiny at an advanced stage of

preparation by a subject expert who has not been involved in generating the paper.

Communication in relation to error

One of the key objectives of the SEC is to provide an examinations system of the highest possible

quality. The aspiration of any examining body, including the SEC, is to preside over a system that

is completely error free. However, it is recognised, across the examination sector including

internationally, that this will always be an aspiration rather than a completely achievable goal.

In addition to the wide variety of quality controls put in place to ensure the risk of error is kept to

an absolute minimum, the SEC is developing a communication strategy specifically for dealing with

error if and when this occurs. The SEC has designated a specific area on its website for the provision

of information on its approach to dealing with errors in examinations.

https://www.examinations.ie/misc-doc/BI-AU-56881430.pdf This approach will always adhere to

the SEC’s core principle that candidates should not be disadvantaged as a result of an error on a

question paper or any other failing on the part of the SEC or its agents.

In addition, the SEC has published material on its website outlining how it sets and maintains

examination standards from year to year and answering the question on what happens if there are

fluctuations in the difficulty of questions in any examination from one year to the next.

https://www.examinations.ie/misc-doc/BI-AU-67246950.pdf

On-Line Marking Pilot Project The State Examinations Commission is piloting an alternative method for marking examination

papers in Junior Certificate Higher Level French this year. Instead of paper examination scripts

being marked by examiners, the scripts will be scanned and the examiners will mark the scanned

images using specially designed on-line marking software. This examination is due to be taken by



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26,000 students on the 15th June. There will be no change to the examination itself, though

candidates may notice that the examination answer books have a bar-code at the bottom of each

page to facilitate the scanning and traceability of the answer-book. Students must complete the

answer book using blue or black ink. Superintendents have been given special instructions for the

return of these answer books to the SEC. After the examination the answer books will be returned

to the SEC from where arrangements will be made to have them scanned locally and converted to

digital images ready for marking. A team of 90 examiners have already received some training in

the new marking software and further training will take place in June before examiners commence

marking at home during July. On-Line marking of examinations is widely used internationally,

including by examination boards in the UK and Northern Ireland. Research evidence from other

jurisdictions shows that on-line marking creates opportunities for enhanced quality assurance,

marking effectiveness and operational efficiency in the delivery of examinations. The SEC is

satisfied from international research into the technology and the result of a pre-pilot trial

conducted by the SEC in 2014 that on-line marking is as accurate and reliable as traditional

marking and provides enhanced standards of marking assurance and control. This project is one

element of the SEC’s efforts to make greater use of technology in the delivery of examinations.

II) DELIVERY OF THE 2016 LEAVING CERTIFICATE EXAMINATIONS IN MALTA

The Leaving Certificate has been taken by the students at the International School of the Martyrs

(ISM), Tripoli, Libya since 1997. In the early 1990s, the then Principal of ISM approached the

Examinations Branch of the Department of Education with a view to adopting the Irish Leaving

Certificate examinations system. The school was seeking the introduction of a broad-based,

internationally regarded examination system and selected the Irish system in favour of the

International Baccalaureate or the British GCE system. The school began teaching the Leaving

Certificate syllabus in September 1995 and the first examinations were held there in June 1997.

Given the highly unstable political and security situation in Libya since 2011, the SEC decided

that it was not possible to arrange examinations there. As an alternative, the SEC advised the

school authorities that candidates could take their examinations in either Ireland or Malta. In 2012

candidates travelled to Malta to sit their examinations.

In 2016, the SEC, again on advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs, has decided not to

travel to Libya to offer the Irish Leaving Certificate there. As an alternative, the SEC is working

with the Irish Embassy in Malta and the school authorities to offer the Irish Leaving Certificate

there. It is not known at this time exactly how many candidates will travel to Malta to sit the

examinations. All additional costs associated with these measures are met by the school.

III) Junior Certificate Optional Oral Irish Test

For the Junior Certificate Irish examination, the SEC issued detailed instructions regarding the

optional school-based oral Irish test which has carried 40% of the total marks from 2010. The Aural

test, which now carries 10% of the total marks, forms an integral part of Paper 1 at Higher Level

and of the written paper at Ordinary Level and at Foundation Level. There was no change to the

Junior Certificate syllabus.

The change in policy has seen an increase in the numbers of candidates taking the optional oral Irish

test. In 2015, a total of 16,487 candidates took the optional oral examination compared to 1,687

candidates in 2010 (an increase of 14,800 candidates). 54 schools offered the optional oral in 2010,

94 schools in 2011, 155 schools in 2012, 196 schools in 2013, 252 schools in 2014 and 309 schools

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in 2015. Figures are not yet available for the number of schools participating in 2016.

Year 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010

Candidates 16,487 14,269 10,640 7,388 4,276 1,687

% of Cohort 31.7 31.5 20.5 15 8.9 3.6

IV) MATHEMATICS

The Government’s Project Maths initiative was undertaken with the aim of improving the quality

of the mathematics learning experiences of second level students. It involved the introduction of

new syllabi and the promotion of more effective approaches to teaching and learning.

There were consequent changes to the structure and style of the examinations to support these aims.

The new syllabi and examinations were introduced on a phased basis over several years and this

transition was completed at Leaving Certificate level in 2014 when all students were examined

under the new programme.

From 2015 onwards, Mathematics at Leaving Certificate Foundation level consists of one written

paper. There is no longer a paper 2 at this level.

In line with the Government’s aims for mathematics education and to encourage more students to

take Mathematics at higher level, the higher education institutions introduced, on a pilot basis, a

scheme of awarding 25 bonus CAO points for applicants for entry who have taken Mathematics at

higher level and achieved a grade D3 or better. This bonus applied to applicants for entry to these

institutions from 2012 onwards. The data suggest that the combination of this bonus points scheme

and the Project Maths initiative have led to a significant increase in the numbers of candidates taking

Higher Level Mathematics. The table below shows the entries and sits for Mathematics from 2010

to 2016 as appropriate. While Leaving Certificate candidates nominate in advance the level at which

they intend to sit each subject, they have the option of subsequently changing from this nominated

level – up to and including the day of the examination. Traditionally, approximately 2,000

candidates change levels in Mathematics each year (mostly moving down one level). It is only when

the examination scripts are returned and marked in the SEC that the final numbers taking

Mathematics at each level will be confirmed.

Entries

Higher

Level

Sits Higher

Level

Entries Ordinary

Level

Sits Ordinary

Level

Entries Foundation

Level

Sits Foundation

Level

2016 19,202 33,980 2,035

2015 18,173 14,691 33,518 33,266 2,177 5,613

2014 17,065 14,326 34,034 32,428 2,296 5,628

2013 15,132 13,014 34,297 32,165 2,520 5,677

2012 12,900 11,131 36,100 33,917 2,669 5,395

2011 10,435 8,235 39,666 37,506 3,033 6,249

2010 10,516 8,390 40,093 37,903 2,950 5,997

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Please note that the entry and sits figures for Mathematics from 2010 to 2013 include candidates in the project maths initial

schools.

Junior Certificate Project Maths

In 2011, as part of the phased implementation of curricular reform in Mathematics, the SEC

provided examinations in Junior Certificate at Higher, Ordinary and Foundation Level in Project

Maths. This was the first time in the phased implementation that Project Maths had been examined

at Junior Certificate. From 2015 onwards, all candidates sat the new Project Maths examination

papers following the completion of the transition to Project Maths at Junior Certificate level. The

proportion of candiates who sat Higher Level Mathematics in the Junior Certificate has risen from

45% of the total candidature in 2010 to 55% in 2015 as illustrated below:

Sits

Higher Level

Sits

Ordinary Level

Sits

Foundation Level

2010 24840 25853 4597

2015 32535 22856 3484

6. KEY LOGISTICS

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 150 permanent staff supplemented by 80 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 2015 examinations involved the following activities and outcomes:

Providing examinations to 117,453 candidates across all examination programmes;

59,522 at Junior Certificate, 55,044 at Leaving Certificate, and 2,887 at Leaving

Certificate Applied Programme;

Arranging for examinations in 90 curricular and 16 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 50 million A4 pages;

Arranging for the recording of almost 90,000 Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate

Applied oral tests;

Engaging 5,055 superintendents to superintend at ordinary examination centres;

Providing 19,806 reasonable accommodations to facilitate 16,194 candidates with

individual needs (14% of the overall cohort) to access the certificate examinations

and establishing 10,223 special examination centres as a result;

Engaging 6,709 examiners to mark the examinations comprised of 4,307 written

examiners, 1,146 oral examiners and 1,256 practical examiners;

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Examining over 1.9 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 under 1 million individual grades leading to the award of 117,453

examination results;

Returning 360,000 marked scripts to schools for viewing;

Processing some 14,249 appeals at Leaving & Junior Certificate.

7. EXAMINATION RUNNING COSTS

The overall cost of running the examinations in the period 1st January 2015 to 31st December 2015

was €74.14 million, of which €8.91 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 2015

€m

Fees paid to Examiners, Superintendents and

other Contract Personnel 34.84

Staff Salaries 9.81

Travel & Subsistence (Contract and Staff) 8.34

8. RATES OF EXAMINATION FEES 2016

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

2016 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

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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

Repeat entry (1 subject) €116

LATE FEES (EXTERNAL CANDIDATES ONLY)

Received 16th February to 4th March: an additional €32.00 per subject.

Received on/after 5th March: an additional €52.00 per subject.

APPEAL FEES

The fees for appealing a result in a subject in the 2016 certificate examinations are as follows:

Junior Certificate: €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. Refunds are made through the

school system in the case of school candidates and are paid directly to external candidates.

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. During 2006 the SEC

published a 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

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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.

• 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.

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The booklet was distributed to all second-level schools, to the education partners and was

published on www.examinations.ie.

10. ORALS, AURALS, PRACTICALS AND PRACTICAL COURSEWORK

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.

LEAVING CERTIFICATE

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, Construction

Studies, Engineering, Home Economics, Links Modules, Music, History, Geography, Religious

Education, Technology and Design and Communication Graphics have practical coursework

components.

There were also practical examinations in Art, Engineering, Construction Studies, Music and

Home Economics.

JUNIOR CERTIFICATE

The Junior Certificate subjects examined entirely by written examination are English,

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 the numbers taking the optional oral in Irish with the reweighting

of this component to 40%.

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,

Metalwork, and Typewriting. There are no written examinations in Junior Certificate Art, Craft

& Design or Typewriting.

http://www.examinations/

http://www.examinations/

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11. CATERING FOR DIVERSITY IN THE STATE EXAMINATIONS

SCHEME OF REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS

The SEC is fully committed to providing an examination and assessment system with the

highest standards of equity and fairness and which enables all candidates to display their

achievements. The SEC provides a range of measures in order to facilitate candidates with

particular needs under its Scheme of Reasonable Accommodations. These reasonable

accommodations are intended to diminish, as far as possible, the impact of a physical or

learning difficulty on a candidate’s performance and thus enable a candidate to demonstrate

his or her level of attainment. They are not intended to compensate for lack of attainment.

The SEC provides a range of measures to facilitate candidates with particular needs. These

include the provision of readers and scribes; the production of modified papers; brailed and

enlarged papers; the use of tape recorders and personal computers; and exemption or waivers

in respect of particular components. Some of these measures require the establishment of

special examination centres.

The Scheme also provides certain measures to accommodate students who experience accidents,

illness or other traumatic events at examination time. In the case of a candidate granted an

exemption or waiver in a particular component, or where the method of examining is

significantly altered, the examination certificate is annotated. For example, in the case of a

candidate granted an exemption from an aural component of a language examination, the

certificate would state that, “All elements were assessed except for the aural component”.

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. The following tables

illustrate the significant increases in the provision of reasonable accommodations and special

centres in recent years. In 2015, 19,806 reasonable accommodations were granted to 16,194

candidates (14% of the overall cohort) to facilitate their participation in the state examinations.

This required the establishment of inter alia, 10,223 special centres.

Type of Accommodation 2012 2013 2014 2015

Tape Recorder 457 477 349 328

Reading Assistance 6566 6995 6352 6261

Scribe 1580 1900 2123 2253

Word Processor 847 914 726 1338

Visually Modified 137 164 145 175

Component/Subject

Exemption 2222 2170 2385

2300

Spelling/Grammar Waiver 7588 8018 7422 7151

TOTAL 19397 20638 19502 19806

Reasonable Accommodations 2012-2015

Special Centres 9782 9610 9951 10223

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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 2015, a total of 2 ,560 cand ida tes

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.

Another condition is that candidates may undertake examination in one non-curricular

language subject only and for this reason in 2016, the SEC has scheduled all of the non-

curricular examinations for one session – Monday 20th

June 9.30am to 12.30pm

For the 2016 Leaving Certificate examinations, candidates will be examined in the

following sixteen non -curricular language subjects:

Bulgarian Croatian Czech Danish

Dutch Estonian Finnish Greek Modern

Hungarian Latvian Lithuanian Polish

Portuguese Romanian Slovakian Swedish

The following table compares the predicted candidate entries for these subjects in the

2016 Leaving Certificate to the number of candidates that sat these examinations in 2015

Subject 2015 (Sits) 2016 (entries) Dutch 19 22 Portuguese 92 105 Polish 671 751 Latvian 83 78 Lithuanian 247 223 Romanian 138 177 Hungarian 24 49 Czech 15 17 Slovakian 30 30 Bulgarian 10 17 Croatian - 28 Others less than 10 2015# 15 Others less than 10 2016* 27 Total 1,344 1,524

Non-Curricular Language Subjects 2015 V 2016 #Modern Greek, Danish, Swedish, Finnish and Estonian. *Modern Greek, Danish, Estonian, Finnish and Swedish.

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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 educational standards of all member states including Ireland. The State Examinations Commission

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 b y 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.

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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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 e mail [email protected]

19

14. OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION

CHIEF EXAMINERS’ REPORTS 2016

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 2015 examinations have been published on the Leaving Certificate and Junior

Certificate examinations. The reports are accessible on the Examination Material Archive on

the Commission’s website www.examinations.ie .

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. This year,

the viewing will take place, in schools, on Friday 2nd September and Saturday 3rd September

2016.

Examination and Assessment Managers monitor the viewing centres to ensure that the

viewing process conforms to the strict regulations that apply. To protect the integrity of the

process, only the organising superintendent is allowed to bring writing material or

instruments into the viewing centre, or to remove scripts from the centre.

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 2,973 students have entered as

external candidates.


20

Grade Percentage

Range C3 55>60 D1 50>55 D2 45>50 D3 40>45 E 25>40 F 10>25 No Grade 0>10

GRADING STRUCTURE FOR THE LEAVING CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION

(Introduced 1992)

Grade Percentage

Range A1 90+ A2 85>90 B1 80>85 B2 75>80 B3 70>75 C1 65>70 C2 60>65

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

Distinction 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.

GRADING STRUCTURE FOR THE JUNIOR CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION

Grade Percentage Range

A 85+ B 70>85 C 55>70 D 40>55 E 25>40 F 10>25 No Grade 0>10

21

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, Typewriting, 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, Technical

Drawing*, 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.

* Design and Communication Graphics replaced Technical Drawing as a subject in 2009.

22

15. STATISTICAL TABLES

A. EXAMINATION ENTRIES AND SITS 1927 – 2016

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


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


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)


4763 LCA 56,237 (incl. 4,261 External, 3,298 repeats)

3299 LCA


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


54,073 (incl. 3,732 external , 2,523 repeats)

3,318 LCA


2006 52,050 LC (incl . 3,939 External, 2,099 repeats)

3,282 LCA


50,955 (incl. 3, 689 External, 1,973 repeats)

3,155 LCA


2007 52,021 LC (incl. 3,930 External, 2,020 repeats)

3,132 LCA


50,873 LC(incl. 3,651 External, 1,880 repeats)

3,021 LCA


2008 53,345 LC (incl. 4,447 External, 1,890 repeats)

3,475 LCA


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

2010 55,783 / 3,418 / 57,133

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

Leaving Certificate / LCA / Junior Certificate

23

2011 55,550 / 3,245 / 57,732



2012 53,789 / 3,301 / 59,684



2013 53,749/ 2,853/ 60,243

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


2014

54,933/ 3,042/ 60,698


54,025/2,964/60,328

Leaving Certificate/LCA/Junior Certificate

2015 55,963/2,902/59,919


55,044/2,887/59,522


2016 56,595/2,811/60,652


24

B. PREDICTED LEAVING CERTIFICATE ENTRIES BY COUNTY AND GENDER 2016

County Female Male Total Carlow 444 416 860

Cavan 407 413 820

Clare 659 630 1289

Cork 3200 3292 6492

Donegal 1089 1082 2171

Dublin 7199 7016 14215

Galway 1450 1538 2988

Kerry 1020 986 2006

Kildare 1295 1378 2673

Kilkenny 500 530 1030

Laois 390 442 832

Leitrim 218 251 469

Limerick 1307 1293 2600

Longford 279 310 589

Louth 939 887 1826

Mayo 825 802 1627

Meath 1113 1125 2238

Monaghan 412 415 827

Offaly 504 506 1010

Roscommon 297 266 563

Sligo 421 419 840

Tipperary N.R 540 493 1033

Tipperary S.R 535 576 1111

Waterford 794 836 1630

Westmeath 686 718 1404

Wexford 944 917 1861

Wicklow 704 849 1553

Counties Total 28171 28386 56557

Malta 15 23 38

TOTAL 28186 28409 56595

25

C. PREDICTED LEAVING CERTIFICATE ENTRIES BY SUBJECT AND GENDER 2016

Subject Female Male Total Irish 24564 23515 48079

English 27098 27490 54588

Mathematics 27349 27868 55217

Accounting 3393 3423 6816

Agricultural Economics 35 94 129

Agricultural Science 3130 5007 8137

Ancient Greek 3 11 14

Applied Mathematics 516 1716 2232

Arabic 61

82 143

Art 6601 3474 10075

Biology 20739

14182 34921

Business 8879 9004 17883

Chemistry 5116 4308 9424

Classical Studies 344 345

692

689

Construction Studies 801 8057 8858

Design and Communication

Graphics 676 4931 5607

Economics 2072 3807 5879

Engineering 315 5254 5569

French 14887 11533 26420

Geography 11000 13632 24632

German 4279 3530 7809

History 5633 7043 12676

Home Economics 10514

1385 11899

Italian 365 158 523

Japanese 189 150 339

Latin 26 87 113

LCVP Link Modules 8037 7117 15154

Music 4555 2112 6667

Physics 1935 6102 8037

Physics & Chemistry 246 366 612

Religious Education 715 701 1416

Russian 180 164 344

Spanish 3804 2912 6716

Technology 234 1210 1444

Notes: This table shows curricular subjects with a total of more than 10 candidates only. The

entry figures for the non-curricular language subjects are shown in a separate table on page

16.

.

26

D. PREDICTED LEAVING CERTIFICATE ENTRIES BY SUBJECT AND LEVEL 2016

Subject

Higher

Ordinary

Foundation

Total

Irish 21566 23701 2812 48079

English 38823 15765 54588

Mathematics 19202 33980 2035

2035 55217

Accounting 5587 1229 6816

Agricultural Economics 122 7 129

Agricultural Science 7379 758 8137

Ancient Greek 14 14

Applied Mathematics 2158 74 2232

Arabic 132 11 143

Art 8537 1538 10075

Biology 30412 4509 34921

Business 15128 2755 17883

Chemistry 8735 689 9424

Classical Studies 619 70 689

Construction Studies 8005 853 8858

Design & Communication

Graphics

4673

934

5607

Economics 5306 573 5879

Engineering 4834 735 5569

French 18079 8341 26420

Geography 21373 3259 24632 German 6054 1755 7809

History 9995 2681 12676

Home Economics 10194 1705 11899

Hebrew Studies

Italian 401 122 523

Japanese 295 44 339

Latin 109 4 113

LCVP Link Modules (Common) 15154

Music 6295 372 6667

Physics 7221 816 8037

Physics & Chemistry 520 92 612


Russian 335 9 344

Spanish 4975 1741 6716


Notes: This table shows curricular subjects with a total of more than 10 candidates only.

27

E. LEAVING CERTIFICATE APPEALS 2015

NUMBER AND OUTCOME OF APPEALS 2015

A total of 5,661 candidates made applications for appeals against 9,810 grades leading to 1,836

upgrades. This represents 0.47% of the 387,096 of all grades awarded. There were 6 downgrades.

Level * Grades Appeals Upgrades

ACCOUNTING A 4,748 181 42

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE A 6,067 314 108

APPLIED MATHEMATICS A 1,729 68 10

ART A 7,840 189 25

BIOLOGY A 25,595 923 248

BIOLOGY G 8,269 10 0

BUSINESS A 12,154 653 75

CHEMISTRY A 7,533 344 69

CLASSICAL STUDIES A 473 63 7

CONSTRUCTION STUDIES A 6,877 55 5

DESIGN & COMMUNICATION A 4,192 115 15

ECONOMICS A 4,088 268 39

ENGINEERING A 4,408 47 7

ENGLISH A 36,060 1,736 232

ENGLISH G 17,064 41 11

FRENCH A 15,408 580 119

FRENCH G 11,390 38 4

GEOGRAPHY A 19,796 665 129

GERMAN A 5,154 127 19

HISTORY A 8,441 329 74

HOME ECONOMICS A 8,754 275 80

IRISH A 19,460 908 117

IRISH G 23,562 32 4

LINKS MODULES C 14,946 234 61

MATHEMATICS A 14,691 795 183

MATHEMATICS G 33,266 200 50

MUSIC A 5,866 179 25

PHYSICS A 5,764 174 18

PHYSICS & CHEMISTRY A 437 6 1

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION A 1,010 48 0

SPANISH A 3,655 118 34 Smaller numbers of appeals were processed in:

Level * A = Ard (Higher), G = Gnath (Ordinary), B = Bonn (Foundation) C = Common.

Higher Level: Agricultural Economics, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Romanian, Swedish,

Technology.

Ordinary Level: Accounting, Agricultural Science, Arabic, Art, Business, Chemistry, Design & Communication, Economics,

Geography, German, Hebrew Studies, History, Home Economics, Italian, Japanese, Physics, Spanish.

Foundation Level: Mathematics.

28

F. PREDICTED LEAVING CERTIFICATE APPLIED ENTRIES BY C O UNT Y A ND GENDER 2016

County

Female

Male

Total Carlow 0 Cavan 27 32 59 Clare 35 46 81 Cork 127 131 258 Donegal 49 88 137 Dublin 381 436 817 Galway 43 39 82 Kerry 29 39 68 Kildare 53 88 141 Kilkenny 5 13 18 Laois 16 14 30 Leitrim 0 Limerick 98 65 163 Longford - - - Louth 80 94 174 Mayo 33 44 77 Meath 35 66 101 Monaghan 15 15 30 Offaly 48 47 95 Roscommon 9 9 18 Sligo 18 31 49 Tipperary N.R 33 29 62 Tipperary S.R 22 37 59 Waterford 38 46 84 Westmeath 10 11 21 Wexford 44 66 110 Wicklow 25 47 72 Total 1273 1538 2811

- Total Less than 10 candidates

29

G. PREDICTED LEAVING CERTIFICATE APPLIED ENTRIES BY SUBJECT AND GENDER 2016

Subject Female Male Total French 618 802 1420 German 190 257 447 Spanish 387 418 805 Italian 71 51 122 Gaeilge Chumarsáideach 1262 1526 2788 English and Communication 1272 1534 2806 Social Education 1272 1534 2806 Mathematical Applications 1272 1534 2806 Agriculture / Horticulture 84 151 235 Information and Communication Technology 532 582 1114 Hotel Catering & Tourism 711 665 1376 Crafts & Design 261 272 533 Engineering 115 293 408 Technology - - - Graphics and Construction Studies 244 790 1034 Childcare / Community Care 281 75 356 Office Administration and Customer Care 122 139 261 Active Leisure Studies 32 77 109 Hair and Beauty 162 19 181

-Total Less than 10 candidates

30

H. PREDICTED JUNIOR CERTIFICATE ENTRIES BY COUNTY AND GENDER 2016

County Female Male Total Carlow 440 459 899 Cavan 429 461 890 Clare 761 632 1393 Cork 3369 3388 6757 Donegal 1113 1147 2260 Dublin 7483 7658 15141 Galway 1637 1664 3301 Kerry 899 922 1821 Kildare 1463 1680 3143 Kilkenny 540 609 1149 Laois 520 499 1019 Leitrim 184 205 389 Limerick 1335 1404 2739 Longford 314 342 656 Louth 1033 1112 2145 Mayo 917 844 1761 Meath 1218 1247 2465 Monaghan 449 438 887 Offaly 500 550 1050 Roscommon 285 284 569 Sligo 410 450 860 Tipperary N.R 615 570 1185 Tipperary S.R 505 612 1117 Waterford 809 876 1685 Westmeath 734 714 1448 Wexford 1004 1030 2034 Wicklow 876 1013 1889 Total 29842 30810 60652

31

I. PREDICTED JUNIOR CERTIFICATE ENTRIES BY SUBJECT AND GENDER 2016

Subject Female Male Total

Irish 27075 26240 53315

English 29743 30613 60356

Mathematics 29692 30575 60267

Ancient Greek 1 38 39

Art, Craft, Design 13521 7609 21130

Business Studies 16672 17292 33964

C.S.P.E (Common Level) 29153 30049

59202


Environmental & Social Studies 231 324 555 French 17064 14974 32038

Geography 27931 28465 56396

German 5829 6157 11986

History 27377 27587 54964


Italian 302 173 475

Jewish Studies - - -

Latin 42 231 273

Material Technology (Wood) 2699 13897 16596

Metalwork 804 7199 8003

Music 7822 3069 10891


Science 27301 28849 56150

Spanish 4803 4413 9216

Technical Graphics 1876 10299 12175


Typewriting 20 2 22


32

J. PREDICTED JUNIOR CERTIFICATE ENTRIES BY SUBJECT AND LEVEL 2016

Subject Higher Ordinary Foundation Total

Irish 31196 20893 1226 53315

English 46176 13044 1136 60356

Mathematics 34753 22874 2640 60267

Ancient Gree k 39 0 39

Art, Craft, Design 17498 3632 21130

Business Studies 27480 6484 33964

C.S.P.E (Common Level) 59202


Environmental & Social Studies 204 351 555

French 25272 6766 32038

Geography 48552 7844 56396

German 9730 2256 11986

History 42863 12101 54964


Italian 352 123 475

Jewish Studies - - -

Latin 261 12 273

Material Technology (Wood) 13872 2724 16596

Metalwork 6358 1645 8003

Music 9323 1568 10891


Science 45645 10505 56150

Spanish 7187 2029 9216

Technical Graphics 9276 2899 12175


Typewriting 19

3 22


33

K. JUNIOR CERTIFIC ATE APPEALS 2015

Following the release of the 2015 Junior Certificate results, appeals were made against

4439 grades, leading to 1031 upgrades. There were no downgrades.

Subject Level No. of Candidates Appeals Upgrades

C.S.P.E Common 58136 116 24

Geography Higher 46229 672 134

English Higher 44333 859 297

Science Higher 42658 192 41

History Higher 39788 392 141

Mathematics Higher 32535 368 51

Irish Higher 29100 318 57

French Higher 24866 205 30

Business Studies Higher 25728 469 78

Religious Education Higher 22808 63 5

Home Economics Higher 17839 83 14

Art, Craft & Design Higher 15559 306 74

Small numbers of appeals were also processed in the following subjects:

Higher Level: Italian, Classical Studies, German, Latin, Material

Technology (wood), Metalwork, Music, Spanish, Technical Graphics and Technology.

Ordinary Level: Art , Cr af t & Des i gn , English, Geography, Home Economics,

H is to r y , Ir i s h an d M at h emat i cs .

34

APPENDIX A – TIMETABLES AND SCHEDULES

• The timetable for the Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied written

examinations in June 2016

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

Certificate, Leaving Certificate Applied and Leaving Certificate Vocational

Programme

• The timetable for the Junior Certificate written examinations in June 2016

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

Certificate

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