Group Cert

if832uspx4eogt

My father calls the Junior Cert the "Group Cert" is that another name for the Old Intercert or just a different exam? What was the differene between them? I presume he took the exam in around 1980 ish so would he have taken the "Group Cert" ??

Chucken

The Junior Cert was called The Intermediate Cert/Group Cert.

Where I went to school classes were divided into A, B and C.
Where you ended up depended on an entrance exam.

Those in The "A" class usually did Honours subjects.
"B" did Pass
"C" class usually concentrated more on practical subjects like woodwork, metalwork etc. Obviously the sat exams in the other subjects too.

Personally I think it was a better system as you were in a class that suited your needs.

sipstrassi

The Group was done at the end of second year, with the Inter at the end of third year (replaced by the Junior Cert).

if832uspx4eogt

Interesting. I like the idea of being divided into different classes, I love the sound of class C doing woodwork and technology all day!

spurious

The Group was also known as the Day Vocational Examination and was a different exam from the Intermediate Certificate.

Some schools did the Group after 2 or 3 years and many students left after it, as you could get an apprenticeship from it. Some schools also had the Inter., but if you wanted an apprenticeship that was a bit of a waste year.
The Group was generally taken in Vocational Schools - hence the name.

I have a couple of old Group Cert. papers somewhere - compared to today's Junior Cert. they were very difficult.

Chucken

Emerson Gigantic Schoolmaster wrote: »

Interesting. I like the idea of being divided into different classes, I love the sound of class C doing woodwork and technology all day!

They didnt really They just did a lot more of it bacause the idea was you'd leave after the group cert and learn a trade.

A lot could be learnt from this today I think.

Bazinga_N

The Group Cert/Intercert sounds much better, in terms of structure. I believe subject choices and class's would be better.

Chucken

I think it was a better system. I was put in the "A" class for the first few weeks and I was'nt able for it. The mammy stepped in and got them to move me to "B".
I got on great in there but I still ran out of the place the second the last exam was over :pac:

I never regreted leaving so young as I walked straight into a job.
Having said that though,
I went back to school when I was 30 and did my leaving cert

spurious

Well, back then, standards of what was and what was not acceptable behaviour in school were very different. Parents were almost always on the side of the teacher and the students knew it. This cut out a lot of nonsense.

orriray59

What if you wanted to do some honors and some pass? Like me, I'm well able for Honors English but I also do Ordinary Irish and Maths.

spurious

There was HL and OL English, Irish and Maths in the Inter.. The Group IIRC was a common level paper. If I can find that paper I will scan it and put it up.

Bazinga_N

spurious wrote: »

There was HL and OL English, Irish and Maths in the Inter.. The Group IIRC was a common level paper. If I can find that paper I will scan it and put it up.

If you wouldn't mind I'd love to have a look at a paper. Was the Group Cert just one exam? Or is it like the JC now I few different exams in different subjects?

orriray59

Was it more difficult than the current exams?

spurious

Yes it was more difficult that the current exams (but ask anyone over 30 what the exams were like back then) and you could do it in different subjects.