How were the exams/what are good subjects to do

LiNgWiStIkZ · 18-06-2009 2:23pm #1

How did you all get on in general? Was it as nerve-wracking as it was cut out to be?

I've got it all ahead of me, 2010:(

phasers · 18-06-2009 2:29pm

Basically it's like the Summer Exams, not a big deal at all. (Unless you let it be, so relax!)

The only advice I have is:

1: don't drink 2 litres of cheapo cola an hour before your English exam
2: Don't rely on predictions

timmywex · 18-06-2009 2:34pm

Start tipping away early enough and you'll be grand.

By that i mean just start learning everything you need to learn!! No need to revise stuff too much, just learn definitions/methods and the likes, makes revision so much easier whenever you decide to start it!

Liam O · 18-06-2009 2:42pm

yeah the only bad thing was going into History, realising I'd done basically none of what came up and just trying to waffle my way to some marks. Everything else was grand considering I'd done little or no study going into them.

Swizz · 18-06-2009 2:58pm

I relied on predictions for the Institute and it worked out

Register1 · 18-06-2009 3:11pm

Hi there,

Just wondering what subjects you found most managable content and exam wise or what subjects are easier to get a good mark in.

Thanks

Reg.

Isaac702 · 18-06-2009 3:15pm

I would advise that you do a reasonable amount of continuous study and then increase the amount of effort you are putting in as you approach the exams.

No matter what your teachers say you do not need to be studying as long as they say you do. It is simply a tactic to get you to do your best.

Try to avoid putting pressure on your self and if possible try to avoid pressure being put on you by others. It is counter intuitive as the time you spend worrying about the exams could be used in a constructive manner.

The Leaving Certificate is not everything it is made out to be. As long as you know the information you will be fine.

Isaac702 · 18-06-2009 3:20pm

There are no easy subjects. No matter what the result you get will be dependent on the work you put in.

As for manageable subjects however Geography is ok as long as you have an interest and can remember factual information.
Business would also work well however you need to know how to answer the questions in the correct format to get the marks.

eVeNtInE · 18-06-2009 3:23pm

This post has been deleted.

timmywex · 18-06-2009 3:24pm

Depends on you tbh, i prefer mathsy and problem solving, others prefer to rote learn off things.

Theres no easy subject tbh, i find some easier but then others would find the same one impossible (Applied maths being a prime example)

Ask your guidance councillor. teachers, parents and friends. If your school was anything like mine theres no bothers changing for the first 2 months or so

phasers · 18-06-2009 3:27pm

History
Classics
Chemistry

LOL only joking

ironictoaster · 18-06-2009 3:32pm

Over hyped indeed. Do not rely on predictions for history, waste of time. Predictions on English and Irish do work.

Study early as possible.

Homicidal_jesus · 18-06-2009 3:39pm

Eh its not nearly as bad as your teachers make it out to be as long as your doing homework through all of 6th year you can start studying a month or so before hand depending on how much you have done for your subjects!

Dont rely 100% on predictions but know them well because chances are some of them will come up and if they do you will be sorted!worked for me!

And best of luck a year in advance ha hope nothing happens to your english paper 2 ha

-JackRedmond- · 18-06-2009 4:01pm

English - honours- was grand, a bit of a week before job, you can predict the poets and can study 2 outta the 3 comparitive types and get away with it. My advice is not to do the short stories because its really hard to get marks on.

Maths - i did pass, and it seems to come easy to me but my advice is to take your notes in class if the teacher is not telling you too.

Irish - i did pass again, you can predict what poems will come up and stories seem to come up every year so you can manipulate them. i left out bimse buan and lig sinn and got away with it. THANK GOD

French - honours - bit of a night before job but if your a good worker all year it will come naturally to you. my teacher told us not to write above the recommended (i.e 75/90 words) but on COUNTDOWN TO 306 and the woman (corrina i think) said you gotta write above that for an A, so i duno? i got a B1 in the mocks though!

History - honours- oh where do i start, the exam was a complete waste of 2 years worth of history classes, i did the document grand, the irish topic one with parnell essay grand except i left out Amnesty association for Butt. Irish topic 2 was a nightmare, wrote a page! A PAGE! im down 90 marks or so at least... and then european was grand my suggestion? learn learn learn learn...paragraphs with the headings "Curragh Mutiny" or "Plan of Campaign" or "Shipbuilding in Jarrow before the March" keep doing them and you'll be grand. History was a total nightmare im expecting a low C.

Art - honours- my adivce for the history side is to learn ther gallery question! its an easy 50 marks like. it comes up every year. my exam went brilliant ! my supertindent even told me i'd get an A on my drawing and poster alone.

Biology - honours- i studied all year and i mean all year and didnt go back on it. my mistake ! the night before i fell asleep going back over it in a hurry. im expecting a C. MY ADVICE is to study and go back over and STUDY and go back over.

errlloyd · 18-06-2009 4:04pm

phasers wrote: »

History
Classics

Actually I found them nice, in fairness though, classics was a bit easy, covered the Aneid and most of the architecture for JC

-JackRedmond- · 18-06-2009 4:06pm

history is a pain in the *ss

biology is a long course but worth it

Davidius · 18-06-2009 4:08pm

"Trying is the first step towards failure" :pac:

Saul-Good · 18-06-2009 5:03pm

And if your L.C. exams go badly just remember these words:

"If at first you don't succseed, fuck it have a bottle":pac:

ya-ba-da-ba-doo · 18-06-2009 5:06pm

The leavin itself isnt bad its just the lead up to it thats the pain in the bollox

tootyflutty · 18-06-2009 5:08pm

Who cares how it was, it's over!!!!

~me~ · 18-06-2009 5:10pm

really do learn everything as you go along and you'll be fine! they're grand! really!

Secoundrow · 18-06-2009 5:10pm

MY ONLY ADVICE DONT SAY;;

SURE ITS 8MONTHS AWAY ILL START WORK AFTER HALLOWEEN,,

AH ILL START STUDYIN AFTER X-MAS,

AH SURE EASTER IS SOON ENOUGH TOO START,

SURE THEIRS SIX WEEKS LEFT YET ILL GET LOADS DONE AFTER GRAD,

HMMM I COULD STUDY NOW BUT NAH IM GOING OUT ILL STUDY IN THE MORNING BEFORE THE EXAM! ILL BE GRAND,

^^^I DID THAT BUT CAUGHT MYSELF AT NUMBER 4
DIDNT DO TOO BAD CONSIDERIN

OxfordComma · 18-06-2009 5:11pm

Don't believe the hype. The LC is WAY easier than people say...

Some tips:
1. Don't only learn like 3 topics in History cos predicting doesn't work for it. I studied about 3/4 of the course (a lot more than most people, it would seem) and it REALLY paid off... I don't think anyone could have foreseen what would come up in that paper.

2. Start working for maths early... You can't cram for it. Same goes for subjects like Physics, Chemistry and Accounting...

3. DO leave stuff out in English. They say 5 poets will cover you but study more than around 3 and you're wasting a lot of valuable time.

4. If you do music, again I'd recommend focusing on things that haven't come up for a while in the Irish section. I picked out about 6 topics for the essay that hadn't come up in a while, and I was able to do ALL the questions on the day

5. Don't leave stuff out in Business either. It's one subject where almost every chapter comes up in some shape or form.

Best of luck... People say you shouldn't cram but it's very beneficial at times:D

Secoundrow · 18-06-2009 5:21pm

^^

I think you can cram for maths as long as you have like 2 free weeks and study notting else

I started math after grad after not doing a exam paper question in 8 weeks( got lazy):D and I did alright
but if your going to cram 3/4 of the course into 2 weeks you need to
not mess around:o

~me~ · 18-06-2009 5:25pm

oh and the 'less stress' books are brilliant! failed bio in the mocks, bought the book and got an A1 in the LC! same with maths, got a d in mocks, got a B2 in LC! as far as i remember they were the results! they're good as a chapter summary if you're doing your study that way!

aoibhebree · 18-06-2009 5:26pm

This may take a day or so but it's worth it - when you're bored some day over the summer, type up or write out all your past papers according to each topic/area. So for each topic within each subject, you have all of the past exam questions together.

Then, as you're covering each area in school, just make sure you understand it. Personally I don't think there's much point in learning things off as you go along - it just doesn't work for me, my long-term memory isn't great - but just make sure you understand it. It might take you two hours to get your head round a particular concept in Maths or one of the Science subjects, but it's better to spend that two hours early on in the year when you have time than right before the exams!

Keep up to date with your homework all along. Then, from about Easter onwards, start studying properly. Do out a detailed, realistic study timetable for each subject. Stick to it as much as you can, but allow a couple of "miscellaneous" hours per week to catch up on any study you missed. This is when you'll be glad of organising the past paper questions in plenty of time, as you can use them as you're revising each topic!

And finally, easier said than done, but just don't stress too much. Eat properly and keep up some form of a social life! Good luck

Secoundrow · 18-06-2009 5:30pm

if this is the one useful peice of advice I ever give anyone let it be it

Agricultural science

The easyest subject known to man and I know what your sayin
heres a farmer but im not:D
I did this subject outside school this year because engineering
wasnt going well for me ie. I did 9 exams,

but we covered the whole course in a class of thirty in a community center by march and we started 3ed week of september and
did 2hours a week
did the exam to day I easyly got a A1
your ment to write 3-4 lines for aquestion
and seriously I was writing a page it was so easy

if you are going into 5th year and have 2years to cover this course
youll be a genius....and NB.
theres massive common areas between this geography and
biology

if your school does the subject do it!

any hu any one no whats with dublin people and there classics never heard of it????

sock puppet · 18-06-2009 5:46pm

phasers wrote: »

History
Classics
Chemistry

LOL only joking

I actually thought history was very easy and manageable. OP do what you like. What you find easy will depend on your interests. For example the physics course seems to be much smaller than the biology or chemistry ones but most people wouldn't go near it.

sock puppet · 18-06-2009 5:49pm

Secoundrow wrote: »

any hu any one no whats with dublin people and there classics never heard of it????

They don't allow boggers to take it. It's exclusive to cultured Dubs.

Saul-Good · 18-06-2009 5:51pm

For the love of God man don't do History! I had and still have a great interest in History but not in the History you have to learn for L.C., it nearly killed it for me. The vast majority of people that do History end up loathing the coarse by the end, sounds like a generalisation but it's actually true.

Seriously man, no matter how well you do in Junior Cert. History it's in no way a reflection on Leaving Cert. History. I got a B in J.C History, it would require a MAJOR correcting fumble for me to get that now!

AMixedBag · 18-06-2009 5:56pm

Geography!

<= Best subject ever

:D

SugoiHito · 18-06-2009 5:59pm

Listen in class,do homework,understand everything,study for class tests and mocks and finally cram the night before exam and youll be graaaaand!

Saul-Good · 18-06-2009 6:12pm

Ya Geography is the best choice, it's one of the few subjects(if not the only) where you can use drawings, short essays and graphs to answer the questions. Not to mention the fact that every geography teacher is a total badass. Highly recommended!!

18-06-2009 6:16pm

If I could offer you one single bit of advice it would be to stay away from geography. It's undoubtedly the most boring, life-draining subject that the Leaving Cert. offers. It's terrible, horrible, horrendous - there actually aren't enough negative adjectives to describe the subject. I'd rather chop off my own foot than do it again.

But yah, it's easy. It's not worth it, though.

AMixedBag · 18-06-2009 6:22pm

-JammyDodger- wrote: »

If I could offer you one single bit of advice it would be to stay away from geography. It's undoubtedly the most boring, life-draining subject that the Leaving Cert. offers. It's terrible, horrible, horrendous - there actually aren't enough negative adjectives to describe the subject. I'd rather chop off my own foot than do it again.

But yah, it's easy. It's not worth it, though.

What school did you go to? Because my geography class was brilliant:D

18-06-2009 6:26pm

AMixedBag wrote: »

What school did you go to? Because my geography class was brilliant:D

Well yah, the class might be fun sometimes. But, that doesn't make the subject anyway fun. It's just far too boring!

AMixedBag · 18-06-2009 6:30pm

-JammyDodger- wrote: »

Well yah, the class might be fun sometimes. But, that doesn't make the subject anyway fun. It's just far too boring!

I guess it just depends on your interests so as I liked Geo.:o

Nihilist21 · 18-06-2009 6:39pm

Chemistry: Easy if you like it, I did little study for it, but due in part to me enjoying the subject I should get an A easily.

History: Similar to Chemistry, I like the subject and so found this okay. I did little study for it, but if your interested in social attitudes and customs of era's and places you'll like it.

Business: I really didn't like this, however might get an A due to the fact that if one uses common sense on the exam you can automatically get a good grade.

That's just a few tips I would give, in essence just go for what you enjoy

leesmom · 18-06-2009 6:50pm

biology:may be a long course but its intersting
geography: total pain in the ass, i feel i got an A in it but the amount of work i put into it i dont know if its worth it, its just boring and too much learning about cities that have no relevance to me,some people may find it interesting but i just wanted to sleep in my geography classes
german: i suppose youve already got a language from the junior cert but if your doing french and german id reccomend german, found the pronunciation and the written part a lot easier than french
business: did it in fifth year and absolutely hated it, i loved it for the junior cert but thats very different to the leaving cert course, just a lot of learning things off, quite boring really

OxfordComma · 18-06-2009 6:52pm

Nihilist21 wrote: »

Chemistry: Easy if you like it, I did little study for it, but due in part to me enjoying the subject I should get an A easily.

History: Similar to Chemistry, I like the subject and so found this okay. I did little study for it, but if your interested in social attitudes and customs of era's and places you'll like it.

Business: I really didn't like this, however might get an A due to the fact that if one uses common sense on the exam you can automatically get a good grade.

That's just a few tips I would give, in essence just go for what you enjoy

I did all those...and music...

Chemistry is very doable if you've got mathematical/scientific aptitude. Same goes for physics (which I REALLY regret not doing...)

I thought Business was the easiest optional subject I did. A lot of it's common sense, and the course isn't difficult at all. Just boring. Exam technique is vital though...

I found History really difficult, actually. I tried to study the course in too much depth, I think... The exam's kind of hit and miss - you can get very unlucky.

Music is one subject that you're either good at or you're not. It doesn't really reward hard work, and you can only study for a small part of the paper. I got an A in it in the JC so I decided to do it outside school... It's the kind of subject that lends itself to that...

Lots of people are recommending Geography it seems... I completely avoided doing it cos I HATED it for the JC. Life's too short to pick a subject you really don't like, even if it is easy:)

jumpguy · 18-06-2009 6:56pm

I have the choice of geography and physics. I found Junior Cert geography to be on and off with interest levels. Urban geography and resources was interesting, but stuff like geology and soil were fairly dull. Junior cert physics wasn't too bad, lots of trivial stuff...like law of the lever, which wasn't boring but wasn't exactly exciting, but energy and stuff was interesting.

Anyone have any experience on leaving cert physics?

sock puppet · 18-06-2009 6:59pm

1fahy4 wrote: »

I did all those...and music...

Music is one subject that you're either good at or you're not. It doesn't really reward hard work, and you can only study for a small part of the paper. I got an A in it in the JC so I decided to do it outside school... It's the kind of subject that lends itself to that...

I wouldn't say that. It think it's more to do with how long you've been playing/studying music for. Unless you've already got a good voice, for most people 18 months is nowhere near enough time to learn an instrument.

OxfordComma · 18-06-2009 6:59pm

jumpguy wrote: »

I have the choice of geography and physics. I found Junior Cert geography to be on and off with interest levels. Urban geography and resources was interesting, but stuff like geology and soil were fairly dull. Junior cert physics wasn't too bad, lots of trivial stuff...like law of the lever, which wasn't boring but wasn't exactly exciting, but energy and stuff was interesting.

Anyone have any experience on leaving cert physics?

I didn't actually do physics, but I've heard from friends that it's nothing like JC physics... There's a lot of maths involved apparently.

OxfordComma · 18-06-2009 7:01pm

sock puppet wrote: »

I wouldn't say that. It think it's more to do with how long you've been playing/studying music for. Unless you've already got a good voice, for most people 18 months is nowhere near enough time to learn an instrument.

Yeah... Being able to play the piano for example gives you a huge advantage for music!

sock puppet · 18-06-2009 7:05pm

jumpguy wrote: »

I have the choice of geography and physics. I found Junior Cert geography to be on and off with interest levels. Urban geography and resources was interesting, but stuff like geology and soil were fairly dull. Junior cert physics wasn't too bad, lots of trivial stuff...like law of the lever, which wasn't boring but wasn't exactly exciting, but energy and stuff was interesting.

Anyone have any experience on leaving cert physics?

Can't tell you about geography but yes physics for JC is incredibly boring and nothing like Leaving Cert. You'll do a lot on electricity and nuclear physics as well as light, heat, sound and mechanics. There's a fair bit of maths too but nothing any JC HL maths student couldn't do if given the formulae.

18-06-2009 7:10pm

jumpguy wrote: »

Anyone have any experience on leaving cert physics?

Yah, physics is a great subject. It's course is about two thirds the size of chemistry's and about half that of biology's. It's pretty interesting too, depending on what you're into; it covers a broad spectrum of physics: from Newtonian mechanics to modern high energy physics. It also fits in rather nicely with chemistry in certain areas. Also, if you do applied maths you'll have about one third of the physics course known perfectly.

Also, don't mind what people say: it's very low in maths. content. Some problems require a bit of lateral thinking, but they're certainly not very mathematical.

It's a brilliant subject, and if you have any slight interest in it it's certainly one of the easiest A1s. (Oh, and don't do geography: it's horrible).

not bakunin · 18-06-2009 7:48pm

its a laugh.........

once it starts youll be wondering why people talk about it so much. exploit it throughout the year though. precious leaving cert student.

advice?

yeah, if you do honours irish, do well enough in paper 1, listening and oral, but do not bother wasting your time with paper 2. complete time drain. actually, dont even go into the examhall for it. just go out town and enjoy a nice walnut whip.

Dante · 18-06-2009 8:14pm

Its great craic, having a bit of a buzz with everyone else talking about how you did etc.
Its also horribly overhyped, just don't let it overwhelm you and it'll be pish! Just make sure to cram like fúck and you'll achieve your dreams!

almostnever · 18-06-2009 8:29pm

-JammyDodger- wrote: »

Yah, physics is a great subject. It's course is about two thirds the size of chemistry's and about half that of biology's. It's pretty interesting too, depending on what you're into; it covers a broad spectrum of physics: from Newtonian mechanics to modern high energy physics. It also fits in rather nicely with chemistry in certain areas. Also, if you do applied maths you'll have about one third of the physics course known perfectly.

Also, don't mind what people say: it's very low in maths. content. Some problems require a bit of lateral thinking, but they're certainly not very mathematical.

It's a brilliant subject, and if you have any slight interest in it it's certainly one of the easiest A1s. (Oh, and don't do geography: it's horrible).

This. Physics is a brilliant subject and I almost find it amusing how much people talk about the maths side of it. It's generally of a lower standard than Junior Cert maths. It covers a wide range of topics so you'll find some that interest you (for me it was electricity and modern/particle physics,sound,light and heat,while I didn't like the mechanics side all that much).

I recommend it,fosho

Oh,and I didn't do Geography,but yeah. Don't.

jumpguy · 18-06-2009 8:34pm

Thanks alot! I think the choice is clear now, I'm grand with the HL JC maths anyway, so I'm not too worried about scary formulae and whatnot, and the positive feedback from ye is great. Looking at some physics exam papers, it all seems very interesting (even though I have no idea what to do with the long questions and most short ones).

Okay I know I'm being a pain in the hole now but I might as well milk the good advice while I have it, but although some of ye have said ye like chemistry, but what's it like? What do you cover? (I have the choice of business theory or chemistry)

AMixedBag · 18-06-2009 8:35pm

Its the most amazing time of my life.
I wish I could do it ten times over.
The stress is brilliant.
And the result of breaking out in spots from the stress is even more amazing.
And the itchy-ness i get from using clearasil to remove those spots is wonderful. (Now I look like those gay german children off those clearasil ads).
The late nighters from studying and the early-rising really makes my skin glow as well.. I hear "frown lines" are very good-looking nowadays, ya know!
I'm always in the best of moods as I hit my head off walls and cry as I go to sleep (if I do!) each night.
I'm so jealous that you will be able to go through all this next year like the way I did while I'm in college having the time of my life.

How were the exams/what are good subjects to do

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