Over 2,000 Offaly students to sit exams tomorrow

More than 2,000 students in Offaly are preparing to sit their Leaving and Junior Cert exams tomorrow.

According to the State Examinations Commission, there are 1,010 Leaving Cert students in the county, almost evenly split with 506 male and 504 female. There are a further 95 Leaving Cert Applied students. Of the 1,050 Junior Cert students in Offaly, 500 are female and 550 are male.

Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland(ASTI) President Máire G Ní Chiarba urged all exam students to look after themselves over the coming weeks.

She said “I would like to wish all of the Junior Cert and Leaving Cert students beginning their exams tomorrow the very best. Remember you are not alone as you have the full support of your teachers, schools and families. The most important thing now is to stay calm and focused during the exam period.”

Ms Ní Chiarba assured students that “it’s normal to feel some level of anxiety. Try to keep things in perspective. You are sitting exams; that is all they are. Exams are very much part of going through life but they do not represent your value as a human being. Also keep very much in mind that the state examinations are conducted in an independent, fair and completely transparent manner. Nobody expects any more of you than your best effort. Look after yourself. Eat well, exercise and get plenty of rest. All of this will help you maintain your energy and wellbeing over the coming weeks.”

More than 120,000 students across Ireland will begin their Leaving and Junior Cert exams in 5,000 exam centres around the country on Wednesday(tomorrow) morning.