Irish Independent/Times Exam Diaries (Should be ashamed!)

Syferus

*Thread have been merged - TimAy*

Anyone else have a glance at the year's exam diaries?

Personally, The Times' choice of someone - Laura Brady - on their third attempt at the Leaving Cert, having scored 545 the last time out, instantly means they've gotten someone very few can relate to or get a real feel of the pressures and nuances of the Leaving Cert from even if the person in question is a decent person.

The Independent's choice, Mark Roche, seems more down to earth and, shock of shocks, an exam diarist who is doing Ordinary level Maths. He seems to have a good grasp of the madness of this period and it's so far been a good read.

ZorbaTehZ

Syferus wrote: »

The Times' choice of someone - Laura Brady - on their third attempt at the Leaving Cert, having scored 545 the last time out

Those kinds of shenanigans really makes one wonder...

Syferus

According to her introductory entry, it's because she didn't get enough points for Medicine either times. I can't comprehend repeating the Leaving Cert for any reason, least of all the 'reward' of a 6 year toture course.

Syferus

And she is also a ''repeat'' student at the glorified grind school that is the 'Insitute' of Education. Which is doubly odd seeing as it was the Independent who partnered with the 'Insitute' for it's exam preperation booklets.

Oh, and I do know far too much about this.
I was bored.

Honest.

peachesxcream

Anyone watch the certified vlogger on youtube?

bitterstudent

I'm running a blog on three leaving cert students over at http://www.leaving-cert.net and yes we are just average students, but we all have own views on the each paper and the system itself. We write daily on our experiences, we have been featured in the Irish times a few times, you might enjoy.

I've read both the exam diaries from the Irish Times and the Independent. I like reading about how others are getting on, even if it is Laura Bradys 3rd time.

______________
http://www.leaving-cert.net

iFight

Was reading her entry in today's paper earlier, she says something about carrying over Maths and Chemistry from last year. Thought you had to take all six subjects from the same year for the CAO points? Anybody know what the rule is regarding?

claire h

For points but not for subject requirements (which would include honours in maths and chemistry for medicine).

Cokehead Mother

iFight wrote: »

Was reading her entry in today's paper earlier, she says something about carrying over Maths and Chemistry from last year. Thought you had to take all six subjects from the same year for the CAO points? Anybody know what the rule is regarding?

So this girl is on her third attempt at the LC and doesn't think she can get an A in chemistry but she wants to study medicine? That's... interesting. All the best to her.

Syferus

Haha! I was just reading your blog last night!
It's a good read, by the way.

On Laura Brady's entry yesterday - she managed to drop the fact she got an 'A in Biology last year' for seeming no reason but to quailify her talking about her broken toe.

She also apparently did not study and went to see 'Sex and the City' the night before English paper 1.
She says it's was far better for her than toiling at home studying.
Oh dear.

She also has a pet iguana named Romeo.
In all seriousness, her entries so far have presented her as someone who is self-absorbed and clearly not in touch with the 50,000 or so students who are doing the Leaving for the first and (mostly) last time.
Weather that's the case in reality is another thing, but it's certainly not what I'd like from an 'exam' diary.

I do like The Irish Times' 'Blog Watch' section, which has been taking extracts from this board and bitterstudent's blog, though.

Caoimhe89

Syferus wrote: »

On Laura Brady's entry yesterday - she managed to drop the fact she got an 'A in Biology last year' for seeming no reason but to quailify her talking about her broken toe.

She also apparently did not study and went to see 'Sex and the City' the night before English paper 1.
She says it's was far better for her than toiling at home studying.
Oh dear.

She also has a pet iguana named Romeo.
In all seriousness, her entries so far have presented her as someone who is self-absorbed and clearly not in touch with the 50,000 or so students who are doing the Leaving for the first and (mostly) last time.
Weather that's the case in reality is another thing, but it's certainly not what I'd like from an 'exam' diary.

I do like The Irish Times' 'Blog Watch' section, which has been taking extracts from this board and bitterstudent's blog, though.

I second this entire post. The Blog Watch section is good, but Laura Brady's article makes me want to rip out the page.

bitterstudent

Perhaps she's simply too old. Although only 19, she has experienced this twice before. Time she moved on I guess. We're fresh to the whole experience of a leaving cert, so our reaction to it would be a little different to hers. I agree that it is rather hard to relate to. Her laid back approach and medicine aspirations is a humorous imbalance though!

teckoda

Repeating the leaving cert three times... Ehh having gone through 3 different years of people. Must be weird being older than a bunch of annoying people =/

I need sleep =.=

ciaranajl

Syferus wrote: »

Anyone else have a glance at the year's exam diaries?

Personally, The Times' choice of someone - Laura Brady - on their third attempt at the Leaving Cert, having scored 545 the last time out, instantly means they've gotten someone very few can relate to or get a real feel of the pressures and nuances of the Leaving Cert from even if the person in question is a decent person.

The Independent's choice, Mark Roche, seems more down to earth and, shock of shocks, an exam diarist who is doing Ordinary level Maths. He seems to have a good grasp of the madness of this period and it's so far been a good read.

Well, I haven't read the Times' diary, but the Independent one is rubbish. The writer is obviously trying to sound intelligent with convoluted and silly phrasing. And most of all... he said this:

'Unfortunately, Iago didn't turn up, but I was not disheartened as it proved quite easy to write on "the weakness of human judgement".'

http://www.independent.ie/education/features/exam-diary-no-tragic-end-to-drama-section-but-i-fear-my-numbers-up-today-1399530.html

Um, yeah Iago did "turn up". If he knew the marking scheme - and he should seeing as the Independent must have scouted him particularly for the job - then he'd know that the Othello statement (Iago's cleverness, etc.) could have been disagreed with.

LizT

Syferus wrote: »

Anyone else have a glance at the year's exam diaries?

Personally, The Times' choice of someone - Laura Brady - on their third attempt at the Leaving Cert, having scored 545 the last time out, instantly means they've gotten someone very few can relate to or get a real feel of the pressures and nuances of the Leaving Cert from even if the person in question is a decent person.

Have to agree with you there. Read her one yesterday and wasn't too impressed. hard to relate to as i'm struggling to get over the 500 mark.

LizT

Dear God....

In her article today Laura Brady she manages to mention her hope to study medicine 3 times... not only that but she believes the examinations commission to
be conspiring against her. i quote " I'm sure I've been robbed of medicine in Trinity on a number of occasions (two) because the examiner didn't like the cut of my nib"

Yes dear. That's the only reason.

Syferus

ciaranajl wrote: »

Well, I haven't read the Times' diary, but the Independent one is rubbish. The writer is obviously trying to sound intelligent with convoluted and silly phrasing. And most of all... he said this:

'Unfortunately, Iago didn't turn up, but I was not disheartened as it proved quite easy to write on "the weakness of human judgement".'

http://www.independent.ie/education/features/exam-diary-no-tragic-end-to-drama-section-but-i-fear-my-numbers-up-today-1399530.html

Um, yeah Iago did "turn up". If he knew the marking scheme - and he should seeing as the Independent must have scouted him particularly for the job - then he'd know that the Othello statement (Iago's cleverness, etc.) could have been disagreed with.

Not to be a Mark Roche apologist (ho ho ho..) but from his previous 'entry' I got the feeling he was hoping for a question entirely centred on Iago and not an Iago/Othello question.

For me, his diary seems to benefit from it's more compact size - there's less time for the sort of waffling that's inherrant in Laura Brady's one.

Syferus

lizt wrote: »

Dear God....

In her article today Laura Brady she manages to mention her hope to study medicine 3 times... not only that but she believes the examinations commission to
be conspiring against her. i quote " I'm sure I've been robbed of medicine in Trinity on a number of occasions (two) because the examiner didn't like the cut of my nib"

Yes dear. That's the only reason.

Ha ha.. first impressions seem to be holding true in this case.

D.Q

you know what worries me?

the fact that, in later years, my health could be in the hands of someone who took THREE attempts(possibly more) to get into medicine......

the-big-d

lizt wrote: »

Dear God....

In her article today Laura Brady she manages to mention her hope to study medicine 3 times... not only that but she believes the examinations commission to
be conspiring against her. i quote " I'm sure I've been robbed of medicine in Trinity on a number of occasions (two) because the examiner didn't like the cut of my nib"

Yes dear. That's the only reason.

personally i enjoy her piece, and i think she was trying to use a bit of sarcasm right there, which is difficult to convey in writing, as we can see from hundreds of posts on this site.

leave the poor girl alone.

PrivateEye

I was munching away on the Frosties this morning with the Times on front of me.

HOW do the lads and lassies at the Irish Times think we (the eh...vast majority of young people?) can relate to somebody doing the Leaving Cert for the THIRD time, at the expense of mommy and daddy?

She tells us she went to Sex and the City a few nights back....well wow, if I get to do the Leaving TWO MORE TIMES I would hope I'd be pretty laid back going into it too!

Some of us are, and lets be honest here, crapping bricks at the minute. This kind of lame stuff from the Times doesn't really help. Still, the paper that brought you Kevin Myers isn't going to have a reputation for picking the best ambasadors of the people.

They should go back to trying to sell EU treaties to people...they seemed to be enjoying that.

And I'm not an Independent reader, I swear.

Wonder what Laura will do next year, before sitting her 4th LC :rolleyes: Probably not need to study at all.

muffinman

I wonder if she reads these posts, seeing as boards.ie is cited in the Blogwatch

Alan Smith

Anybody read that alan smith fella in the evening echo? :-p an awful idiot

PrivateEye

Dont think we'll be seeing any of this in tomorrows Times :pac:

As for her reading the posts, nah...she's probably off at Iron Man or Indiana Jones now, living it up you know. Ordinary student that she is.


Those of us sitting the Leaving Cert in dingey sportshalls- bitter? Lets hope none of us ever have to go back and do it again (or again. or eh...again)

Still, I would like to write An Irishmans Diary ONCE in my lifetime, it's the best thing that ever happened to broadsheets in Ireland. Frank McNally + The Letters makes that a good page. Yis can print that, if you want.

Syferus

the-big-d wrote: »

personally i enjoy her piece, and i think she was trying to use a bit of sarcasm right there, which is difficult to convey in writing, as we can see from hundreds of posts on this site.

leave the poor girl alone.

While we can take it as granted sarcasm played some part, her general atttude is pretty aloof and her exam diary is far more centred on her previous attempts/scores/unrelated events in her life.

If you present something as an exam diary that is not what you'd want, let alone from what is supposedly the best quaility newspaper in our country.
It's also hard to overstate the trite nature of choosing a repeat student of the 'Insitute' of Education - this is at least the second time she has tried to brute force her way to medicine through a full-time paid grind school.
To my meagre knowledge many of these exam diaries have been made by students of the same establishment, for whatever reason.

I'm trying not to attack her person because that's not my purpose.
She simply is not the sort of person who should have been choosen for an exam diary because her situation is far to unique to be conductive of a general temperature of this year's Leaving Cert, which is clearly what an exam diary in a national newspaper should be aiming for.

PrivateEye

She simply is not the sort of person who should have been choosen for an exam diary because her situation is far to unique to be conductive of a general temperature of this year's Leaving Cert, which is clearly what an exam diary in a national newspaper should be aiming for.

Amen.

Going into your leaving cert, with the aspirations most of us carry (i.e to land a decent amount of points, to do something we're passionate about- or even settle for an option 2!) it's quite off putting to read about somebody whos done three paid terms in a well to do school in the hope of eventually getting into medicine. I'd rather pick up the Times tomorrow morning and find out what Joe Bloggs from AnyTown in Co. WhoGivesABalls thought about the papers to date, than read about somebody who at this rate is probably paying rent in the Institute.

third time lucky, maybe Joe Bloggs gets a say next year.

Also, the 'IRISH TIMES LUVS INSTITUTE' thing is undeniable, and they are taking the p!ss.It's a national newspaper, but sometimes you have to wonder how much of the nation can relate to it....we still buy it every morning, so don't mind me....typical Irish bloke, moaning while the hands in the pocket.

The leavingcert.net (i think i got that right?) blog is far far better, and good reading. cheers.

LizT

PrivateEye wrote: »

Dont think we'll be seeing any of this in tomorrows Times :pac:

As for her reading the posts, nah...she's probably off at Iron Man or Indiana Jones now, living it up you know. Ordinary student that she is.

She's probably one of those people who claims that they're so relaxed about the exams yet goes home and stays up all night studying. If it takes her three attempts to get into medicine you kind of have to question if she's able for the course.

looly

I read yer wan's diary every day, not much bad to say against her, she seems to be a grand girl except the first entry where she mentioned getting 545 as a "decent" LC......erm that's practically As in everything! im killing myself to get 545 for psychology and i feel really patronised that other people seem to think an average student could get that. How do all the students who are aiming for 300 or 400 feel now, if 545 is only deemed "decent"?

i know im ranting lol n its prob not that big a deal to most ppl but it really p!ssed me off

Caoimhe89

What gets me is that if she had just done Science in UCD or somewhere the first time 'round, she'd be in first year medicine by now. And we wouldn't have to read about her nights out, her pet iguana and her As in biology and English last year....

Also, seeing as she's doing neither Maths nor Chemistry this year, it's not like she's actually sitting the entire Leaving Cert... so definitely not your 'typical' LC student's exam diary...

LizT

I don't think the times have done themselves any favours using her as a columnist. I noticed that they didn't really have many reviews from student for Chemistry. of course the teachers thought it was an easy paper. that's why they teach the bloody subject!

Alan Smith

I'm doing one for the Evening Echo (Cork) (Yeah the fella with the ugly head) . Anyway if any of the posters on here are from the south munster area be sure to pick it up and let me know what you think. I promise there is nothing about nights-out etc. Just pure opinion on a leaving cert debutante.

Anyway, I agree with the majority on here. While it's quite unique to have someone doing it several times, it just doesn't seem authentic enough (her leaving cert experience). There is no exploraton involved in here writing as she's already experienced it, a few times. Should stick to people who are expereincing it for the first time to pen the diaries as it's much better.


G'luck coz I've to write up a piece on today's exams:o

Syferus

Alan Smith wrote: »

I'm doing one for the Evening Echo (Cork) (Yeah the fella with the ugly head) . Anyway if any of the posters on here are from the south munster area be sure to pick it up and let me know what you think. I promise there is nothing about nights-out etc. Just pure opinion on a leaving cert debutante.

Anyway, I agree with the majority on here. While it's quite unique to have someone doing it several times, it just doesn't seem authentic enough (her leaving cert experience). There is no exploraton involved in here writing as she's already experienced it, a few times. Should stick to people who are expereincing it for the first time to pen the diaries as it's much better.


G'luck coz I've to write up a piece on today's exams:o

Hey Alan, just for curiosity's sake, what was the process that lead to them choosing you?
Oh, and did they give you a brief as to what they wanted or where you given free reign?

Alan Smith

Syferus wrote: »

Hey Alan, just for curiosity's sake, what was the process that lead to them choosing you?
Oh, and did they give you a brief as to what they wanted or where you given free reign?

Pm there fella.

So what is the indo diarist like? I haven't read him at all? An improvement on "miss i'm going to be a surgeon"?

Syferus

Well he has less space so he's more to the point and seems to be more down to earth, but compared with Laura Brady that's not such a stunning achievement.

Defintely the better of the two, though.

You can check his stuff out on the Indo's website since they publish pretty much their entire newspaper for free online now:
http://www.independent.ie/education/features/exam-diary-hoping-for-trusty-iagos-support-after-an-enjoyable-english-paper-1398552.html

boobookitty

Why don't people write their own diaries and post them here on boards.ie?

Alan, nice read but I disagree. Iago did come up. You could have just agreed and disagreed with the statement.

Syferus

boobookitty wrote: »

Why don't people write their own diaries and post them here on boards.ie?

Alan, nice read but I disagree. Iago did come up. You could have just agreed and disagreed with the statement.

Well I suppose the paper disection threads that appear,invariably before the actual exam is over (argh! I've barely finshed any state exam efore the last 10 minutes outside of CSPE), serve the same purpose but maybe a 'how'd your day go thread' could gather more personal takes on the day.

Alan Smith

boobookitty wrote: »

Alan, nice read but I disagree. Iago did come up. You could have just agreed and disagreed with the statement.

Eh where did I say that? :eek:

Syferus

Alan Smith wrote: »

Eh where did I say that? :eek:

Not to speak for her, but maybe Kit meant Mark Roche of the Independent because he made a comment to the effect of Iago not coming up in yesterday's entry.

Alan Smith

Syferus wrote: »

Not to speak for her, but maybe Kit meant Mark Roche of the Independent because he made a comment to the effect of Iago not coming up in yesterday's entry.

That's what I thought

IHATECHEMISTRY

Thats very true, must say though! To give her dues, her diaries are hilarious! Reallllly good grasp of english, but speaking of chemistry!
O JESUS! apparentley word on the street is, that it was the easiest exam ever
:( i cried my way through the whole thing, anyone else feel the same???

The Walsho

looly wrote: »

I read yer wan's diary every day, not much bad to say against her, she seems to be a grand girl except the first entry where she mentioned getting 545 as a "decent" LC......erm that's practically As in everything! im killing myself to get 545 for psychology and i feel really patronised that other people seem to think an average student could get that. How do all the students who are aiming for 300 or 400 feel now, if 545 is only deemed "decent"?

i know im ranting lol n its prob not that big a deal to most ppl but it really p!ssed me off

In fairness, if she was going on about how great she did, it'd be more annoying. Success is relative I guess. I was in contention for the Times job (along with some other folk on here) and was told the main reason I didn't get it was because of the girl's story. I admit I think it was quite a strange decision to pick someone that basically nobody can relate to. That said, she's a great writer. But come on, institute, THIRD time sitting the LC, utterly comfortable with the whole process, out watching films the day before the exam, it's well and good for her but who wants to read that?
While some people are saying the guy doing it for the Indo isn't the best writer, I'd prefer to read about a real person who's worried and panicking and staying up late drinking cups of coffee like the rest of us.
Guess I'll just stick to the blogging!

jennyq

I'm still trying to work out is she a real person...surely nobody could actually be like that. I think she's been stitched up in getting to write the column...I mean I'm sure she's happy to have the opportunity but I doubt she'll be the most popular person in the world afterwards from the way she's come across. Today's one is particularly irritating. Her sense of complete entitlement to a course that she hasn't earned yet is pretty unbelievable. She actually claims in today's paper that last night after the two exams she's done she felt she has "200 points tucked under her pillow". Big talk but if she continues with statements like that she's going to look like a complete fool in August if she doesn't get the points. I'd personally find it hard to feel sorry for her as a student doing the LC first time out with 7 honours subjects without the luxury of dropping my worst subjects. I have an issue anyway with people being able to carry over subjects from a previous year & get higher points in an easier way. I guess that isn't her fault & she's working the system however unfair it is. She's still really, really irritating though.

Also it is a bit annoying that she spends barely any time actually talking about the exams themselves. I'm not really that interested in what she wore to her exam but I wouldn't mind a reaction on the actual paper thanks.

LizT

The Walsho wrote: »

In fairness, if she was going on about how great she did, it'd be more annoying.

You obviously didn't read today editon when she said she'd be surprised if she didn't already have 200 points.

PrivateEye

After reading todays pile of rubbish, I can say something I never thought I would...

...I hope we see much more from her..

NEXT YEAR

Her attitude to it all is incredibly annoying, and saying you think you've "200 points under your pillow", when other people are worried about passing X,Y or Z is unwarranted, and a waste of space in a normally fine newspaper. If you did make a haims of your chemistry, english, maths or godknowswhatelse exam don't worry- I'm sure the 2011 Leaving Cert will be a little nicer :pac:

Knowing somebody at the Irish Times (*hi!*) is probably reading this now, let's not be too mean. I'm sure she's eh....a nice person and all. Actually, to hell with that: OUT OUT OUT :rolleyes:

LizT

I don't even know the girl but I'd actually love if she didn't get Medicine this year. She'd probably just tell everyone that she realised it wasn't the career for her, rather than admit she didn't her 600 points like she thought she did.

Just thinking that we have to see her face on the front of the Irish times when she gets her results is enough to make you want to emmigrate.

Syferus

The Walsho wrote: »

In fairness, if she was going on about how great she did, it'd be more annoying. Success is relative I guess. I was in contention for the Times job (along with some other folk on here) and was told the main reason I didn't get it was because of the girl's story. I admit I think it was quite a strange decision to pick someone that basically nobody can relate to. That said, she's a great writer. But come on, institute, THIRD time sitting the LC, utterly comfortable with the whole process, out watching films the day before the exam, it's well and good for her but who wants to read that?
While some people are saying the guy doing it for the Indo isn't the best writer, I'd prefer to read about a real person who's worried and panicking and staying up late drinking cups of coffee like the rest of us.
Guess I'll just stick to the blogging!

Well, today she's informed us she thinks she woke up yesterday morning in her ''barque princess bed'' thinking she has ''200 points tuck away''.

Oh, and she feels ''If I don't like medicine I can take my maxium points elsewhere''.

Well done for taking three years of grinds and so far having neither a medicine course or maxium points, then.

I don't find making fahsion name drops or retroactively using 'Sex and the City'' to tie disparate parts of an entry together as good writing.
An exam diary (in a general interest newspaper) is not meant to be a showcase of how many strange and useless words a person knows.

It meant to be fuctional.

I'm sorry, but it's hard to not find this an obnoxious and self-loving piece.
Perhaps she simply has took the 'diary' part too far to heart and ignored the 'exam' part, but someone aiming for 600 points shouldn't be needed to be told they need to tailor their articles to their audience.

Maybe on Monday we'll find out about her yacht in Bray and the stereotype will be complete.
We can move on then.

illiop

jennyq wrote: »

I'm still trying to work out is she a real person...surely nobody could actually be like that.

Oh yes, she is real and she is sitting right across from me in the exam hall.
She repeated the first time(5th and 6th year) in my school and is sitting her exams here this year. She's a nice enough girls, if a bit annoyingly happy.

Her colums are a good read(they should be, she's had 5 years of honours english classes) but they are not relavant to your average student.

I also hate the way theese "Elite" students come back to there old schools and make us "first timers" look bad, it's not fair.

Syferus

illiop wrote: »

Oh yes, she is real and she is sitting right across from me in the exam hall.
She repeated the first time(5th and 6th year) in my school and is sitting her exams here this year. She's a nice enough girls, if a bit annoyingly happy.

Her colums are a good read(they should be, she's had 5 years of honours english classes) but they are not relavant to your average student.

I also hate the way theese "Elite" students come back to there old schools and make us "first timers" look bad, it's not fair.

I don't see it as been 'elite', though. It's really just a case of brute force for her - anyone can repeat and repeat until they get the results they want, the system means it gets easier at each attempt.

It's the people who get 600 points in their first attempt at regular schools that I have admiration for.

I don't want to be burning this girl at the stake, but for her sake and her readers' sakes her take on her diary needs to be re-thought.

The Walsho

Yeah just read today's paper, jesus christ. She's not doing herself any favours by being so full of herself. I can't understand why she's choosing to write such things.

PrivateEye

lizt wrote: »

Just thinking that we have to see her face on the front of the Irish times when she gets her results is enough to make you want to emmigrate.

This is my reccomendation to the Irish Times for Mondays boards.ie quotes :pac:

----

The Irish Times is just generally annoying me lately on a couple of fronts, todays editorial calling the whole country 'mad', and this continued leaving cert fiasco. Next Monday we've decided as a house not to buy the rag, which will be the first time in 30something years.... it's gone down the sink, will check in on Laura from a Newsagents somewhere

Somebody posted the idea that some boards.ie heads should keep diaries of their day to day LCs. For some of the longer established heads on here, that'd be a good idea. Just sticky them and get a day to day account of the LC (or whats left of it) from eh...normal young people.

bitterstudent

The Walsho wrote: »

In fairness, if she was going on about how great she did, it'd be more annoying. Success is relative I guess. I was in contention for the Times job (along with some other folk on here) and was told the main reason I didn't get it was because of the girl's story. I admit I think it was quite a strange decision to pick someone that basically nobody can relate to. That said, she's a great writer. But come on, institute, THIRD time sitting the LC, utterly comfortable with the whole process, out watching films the day before the exam, it's well and good for her but who wants to read that?
While some people are saying the guy doing it for the Indo isn't the best writer, I'd prefer to read about a real person who's worried and panicking and staying up late drinking cups of coffee like the rest of us.
Guess I'll just stick to the blogging!

Yeah I tried for the exam diarist thing but unfortunately didn't get it... I'm not exceptionally great at English (unlike Walsho and Laura Brady) so I wasn't overly surprised. Its nice to be featured in the blog watch though with my blog.

Laura seems to be getting a bad response overall while the Irish Independent diarist is getting a better response. I was glancing through the Irish Examiner today and saw that they too have a diarist. I didn't get a chance to read but has anyone else?