Leaving cert

LegacyUser

Hey, I am sitting the leaving cert this year and I am finding it hard to study during these final weeks.
I talked about how I feel to people but they dont believe how much stress Im under and that "its only another exam" but I never want to repeat if it goes bad.
My brother is going through this aswell so we can sort of relate but we are both finding it very difficult in this last term.
If anybody could give some advice on studying and maintaining consistency from now on I salute you!
Im so fricken freaked out at the moment:(

lizzyvera

Make a good study plan and force yourself to stick to it. Do lots of papers.

If you've been working really hard so far, it might feel like you're not getting anything done because you've done everything already and you know all your courses inside out.

The LC is actually okay. Everyone's in it together and you get half days almost every day and the weather is lovely. I didn't sleep properly or eat for days but once I got into it it was absolutely fine.

Good luck!

the_ronan_only

People say these things to make you relax. if you panic you won't be able to concentrate. of course it's an important exam but its also important that you don't freak out. just take it step by step, dont get frustrated by looking at a mountain of work ahead, just do one question at a time.

at the end of the day you know exactly what is needed from you. exams in college aren't so straight forward. so just do exactly what they tell you and you'll get along fine. theres no mystery to it, just put the time in.

the morning of the exam you'll probably be nervous, dont spend any time with your classmates, theyll just make you worse by babbling on. english was my first exam and the morning before the test i took out a few pages and let my thoughts flow onto the page, it helped me relax and got me in the mood for writing.

Drift

Also don't spend ALL day studying, take time off to relax. I know a lot of people don't like playing sports at this time because you could break your wrist or something but I played right up to the exams and it was a great way of relieving stress.

In college its different you may need to cram but you've been working for 2 years at the leaving cert so the few weeks now will help you but they're not the be-all and end-all they're more for refreshing stuff in your mind.

delta_bravo

Get off the internet and do exam papers. Simple as. Not much time left, if you dont start now it will be too late. NEVER do post mortems after the exam. I always hate them. They serve little purpose unless you feel you scored highly.

Selphie

Are you on the LC forum?? Lots of us to help you out over there.
Try not to freak out, when people say "its only another exam" just stick your fingers in your ears (I hate it when people say that to me. That or "the Leaving Certs fine, omg, you're totally over-reacting. I did no study and aced it." or the classic, "You'll sail through it. I don't know why you're worrying...") grrr. its so freaking annoying. Not what stressed out students need to hear, particularly if they want high points.

Do lots of papers, as everyone else has said. Try not to panic too much. You still have just under a month, which is plenty of time to get prepared. Hand up lots of stuff to be corrected, thats what I'm doing atm. Lots of essays and the like. Get loads of sleep, and take enough breaks. Don't burn yourself out.
All this is easier said than done, I know, but you can do it.
Try and work for as hard as you possibly can for the next three weeks. As far as consistency goes .... have a drink with you, and chocolate. Take breaks every little while. Set yourself one target at a time, and dont stop till its done (realistic target obviously.) Discipline is just soo important, and its horrible to try maintain any sort of consistency in the baking heat, when all u want to do is a) sleep for a year or b) throw your head down on the table and howl until someone else says they'll do it for you. *thats how i feel mostly anyways!* Its really tough but its worth it, and we'll have loads of time to relax soon (we'll need it lol!)
Work out what u need to work on the most, and where u need to improve etc. Above all, avoid wild panicking. It makes you tired, makes you more stressed, and above all it wastes your times. One friend of mine never stops going on about how she needs to study - but if she stopped talking about it, she might get a little more done.
I cant help doing post-mortems, nobody in my class can seemingly, but hey.
Best of luck.Hope it all works out for you (and me too lol) I do know what ur going through, and yep, tis hell on earth!

Kell

advice please wrote:

Im so fricken freaked out at the moment:(

I'll be shot for this BUT-

Dont be freaked out. It is JUST an exam and, *depending on what you want out of life, your future is NOT going to be moulded by it.

Put it this way- at the age where most of my mates were leaving college after their degree's, I was earning more than they would hope to achieve for another 3/4 years. The same still stands. Most of them would be lucky to earn what I do for another 3/4 years.

Again- decide what you want. Obviously if you want a career in astrophysics you will need a number of A1's, so get studying. If you want a career as a therapist, finish school and travel for about 2yrs and learn how other people and cultures think. Then go do some psychology courses, work and then become a therapist.

Horses for courses, but IF YOU DO NOT ABSOLUTELY NEED STRAIGHT A's FOR YOUR CHOSEN CAREER, relax. Besides, you may get straight A's, decide to be a marine biologist, then hate the course and decide you want to do occupational therapy.

Leaving cert is over rated and puts too many people under too much un-necessary stress. Do well enough that you have options, but dont kill yourself.

K-

*Just in case someone says "well that doesnt work for everything".

Yakult

Go to a enviorment where their are little distractions!

If your studying in your house you have, computer, tv and all sorts of rubbish!

try going to a Library, Maybe after school study or in the park! They are all places where their is little distraction!

And dont freak out man, its not the end of the world if you dont do well!

robnubis

Study isnt that important imo, i got 3 A's 2 years ago, didnt study until the final two weeks...as long as you feel you did work and payed attention during the year you'll be fine...