is leaving really that bad?

kev9100 · 26-07-2009 11:06pm #1

i`m doing it next year and am just wondering if its really that bad? i have heard some horror stories so am a wee bit nervous

DublinWriter · 26-07-2009 11:11pm

I'm 39 and I still get nightmares about having to do my pass LC Irish exam the next day...usually in just my underwear...can anyone recommend a good psychologist?!?

I've undertaken BSc and MSc degrees in Trinity and they were a cakewalk compared to the leaving.

The LC is just a gigantic memory test.

Stev_o · 26-07-2009 11:13pm

Do the work and you'll be fine, LC rewards those who studied and punishes those who didn't.

ironclaw · 26-07-2009 11:14pm

kev9100 wrote: »

i`m doing it next year and am just wondering if its really that bad? i have heard some horror stories so am a wee bit nervous

Its over hyped. Put the head down, study to the best of your ability and on the day do you best. I actually enjoyed it

phasers · 26-07-2009 11:18pm

Ah no, you're grand once you do the work.

jamesie_boy · 26-07-2009 11:21pm

done the leaving this year.well it's not the same as some ppl make it out to be.
i would reccomend you do some sort of evening study for 2 hours after school, preferably in the school itself to prevent any distractions at home.

however i would't go mad with that sort of study until after christmas at the very least!!;)

i done latin,and its a great help if your doing subjects that not many ppl take as you have a greater chance of a high grade.only somethin like 120 done it in the whole country lol:eek:

FunnyFarm · 26-07-2009 11:27pm

In a way yes it is, but there is a lot to be said for just reading over each days work, did an honours degree in humanities and was easier than the leaving. Mant reasons why, more mature so can pick out revelant material. leaving is more intense and gets more attention thus more pressure.

jamesie_boy · 26-07-2009 11:36pm

btw what subjects are you doing kev?

B0X · 26-07-2009 11:39pm

No, the LC is the most overhyped piece of crap ever. Thats not to say don't study, but the people who feel that they had to do 5+ hours a day need therapy to be perfectly honest.

kev9100 · 27-07-2009 12:24am

I`m doing english, irish and maths obviously and french, history, biology and acoounting all honours excep maths and irish.

I`m pretty good at french. history and english but a very strong feeling that biology is going to go terrible:eek:

JSK 252 · 27-07-2009 12:44am

kev9100 wrote: »

I`m doing english, irish and maths obviously and french, history, biology and acoounting all honours excep maths and irish.

I`m pretty good at french. history and english but a very strong feeling that biology is going to go terrible:eek:

Yah I was a small bit dissillusioned at the start of 6th year about the biology course but if you get down to the study it aint that bad. You might have heard this already but if you cover Unit 1, Unit 2 and all 23 experiments you could answer at least 75% of the paper, and if you were to add on reproduction to the list you would be in a very good position to compete for the B1 OR A2. Going from this years paper you could answer 20+20+20+20+30+30+60+60+60=320 marks/400 marks on the unit 1, unit 2 and the experiments alone and if you added on reproduction as another 60 marker then you are in the A grade territory.

I came across this book in april this year and I must admit it is the bible in terms of saving time and effort and I would not buy this book unless you understand the material first hand. Revision books are useless in this respect. I used it mostly to cover the huge chunk which is unit 3 so I cant really comment on its use for unit 1, 2 and the experiments but at a glance they seem to be well done aswell.:

Leaving Certificate - Biology - Higher Level - Essential Exam Revision - Sarah Dilleen - Folens - Exam focused to achieve higher grades.

This book put me in a great position to be confident of getting an A1 in biology so we will soon see in 16 days time!

Saul-Good · 27-07-2009 12:55am

Oh ya the L.C is terrible, these guys are lying to you. Chances are you'll die as a result of it.

It's fine, very over hyped. Just listen and do enough work to get by at the start of the year, then when it gets closer to the end of the year start to study. I got by on it and I think I did pretty well.

dermo1990 · 27-07-2009 12:56am

The leaving isn't that bad...as long as you work and begin studying early in the year. Assuming you have the work done, there shouldn't be any problems.

RealJohn · 27-07-2009 1:29am

Ignore anyone who says it's awful. Just get your head down and get your work done. Do your best at all of your homework every night (and do it on the day you get it) and you're already well on your way.

I would also recommend that you cut down on socialising (not cut it out entirely but don't take the "I have a life you know" attitude either), especially with regards to drinking. Drinking is not something that someone of leaving cert age should be doing every week or even every two weeks. Have a few nights out over the course of the year at most. You might think a heavy session at the weekend doesn't have a tole on the following week but it does.

Most of all, don't stress out too much over it. It's not the end of the world if you do badly and if you do the work, that won't happen anyway.

Best of luck.

Gavin "shels" · 27-07-2009 4:20am

It's shocking, but that because you're doing it, come this time next year and you'll be like wtf is all that crap, when you're actually doing the Leaving it is the mots horrible thing you've ever seen but once it's done it's feels grand.

phasers · 27-07-2009 9:41am

Uh-oh I just saw you're doing History. Disregard what I said. you're screwed

:pac:

Mancho · 27-07-2009 10:27am

Well after getting to sit the leaving twice

, I can say just don't leave it to late to start studying. If you just keep up with whats being done in class and maybe have a study plan that works, you will be grand

Lucet · 27-07-2009 5:49pm

It's not the leaving that is THAT bad, it's the waiting for the results and not knowing what you're going to do in two months.

mink_man · 27-07-2009 9:30pm

no its not bad at all imo

That_Guy · 28-07-2009 12:11am

kev9100 wrote: »

i`m doing it next year and am just wondering if its really that bad? i have heard some horror stories so am a wee bit nervous

It's an individual test at the end of the day so put the work in for yourself and do your best. It's all you can do. Never mind those around you saying that they haven't studied. These are generally the people that are studying the most so don't fall into that trap.

Everything will become so much easier for you when you're on top of things and you've studied. The year really does fly by very quickly so make sure you're on top of things and don't wait until the last couple of months to start revising. It won't work like that.

Best of luck in the coming year.

dory · 28-07-2009 9:43am

It's really not that bad.
I've since done a BA and MA and unlike what most people say, I found the leaving easier.
For the LC I only had to learn and repeat.
For college I had to read and write a lot, which I didn't like so much.

Have fun and enjoy it, if you screw up you can repeat.

nicola09 · 28-07-2009 1:15pm

Try to ignore the hype. Don't listen to people who say they did 5 hours study "every night". If you were a consistent worker in fifth year, all you need to do is keep going over the same material. Also, I'd recommend doing after school study if they offer it in your school. Its nice going home knowing you have at least half of your work done! Oh and if you do subjects like History, GUARD YOUR ESSAYS WITH YOUR LIFE!! On a more general note, it pays to keep organized! Only bring the books you need to school, leave valuable notes at home!

phic · 28-07-2009 4:33pm

It's not so bad really, the worst part is the study guilt! The last few months before the leaving I felt guilty even while studying!
As for history, do not learn all the essays off the week before, and definitly do not go in on the day with only 3 essays learned off. Very few people are that lucky! get the shortcuts to success leaving cert history exam guide, its a lifesaver, especially if you havn't done your topic yet!

Secoundrow · 28-07-2009 11:05pm

It actualy is a gigantic memory test you dont have to understand what your learning in alot of subjects (obviously it helps) but just learn it off

case point. The irish french orals you basically memorise reams of SH!TE and repeat it back in a long methodical fasion untill your interupted by the examiner who asks a obvious question and you continue to ryme off more sh!te:D

^ obviously ya have to understand maths and the like

username4321 · 28-07-2009 11:12pm

Not at all. Its a doddle. Once you've done the mocks you'll be grand for the Leaving.

Its listening to classmates and teachers all year panicking that's the worst part.

Just keep a cool head and keep up with your homework and you'll be grand.

Then again, ask me when I get my results

bigbrotherfan · 28-07-2009 11:33pm

Leaving Cert is not just about the month of June. By the time June comes - and certainly by the time your first paper is over, you have a huge amount of the stress and effort already behind you. Look at it as a year that you are getting through and not as just about the month of June that you are waiting for all year.

29-07-2009 12:13am

It becomes terrible in mid march when u have the orals cause they are pretty nerve racking... In April u seriously become sick of studyin especially when the days become sunnier and longer, u jus want to be outside.

May jus drags and drags and ur jus dyin for it to start. It's the waiting and studying that's terrible, not the actual exams. Ur releived when they start.

I actually enjoyed the LC and PARTS of the 2 weeks leadin up to it. But I NEVER want to do it again

fh041205 · 29-07-2009 12:21am

Secoundrow wrote: »

It actualy is a gigantic memory test you dont have to understand what your learning in alot of subjects (obviously it helps) but just learn it off

case point. The irish french orals you basically memorise reams of SH!TE and repeat it back in a long methodical fasion untill your interupted by the examiner who asks a obvious question and you continue to ryme off more sh!te:D

^ obviously ya have to understand maths and the like

I actually would throw maths in there as well. You don't need to have a clue what the hell you're doing as long as you know how to do it. How many LC students actually have a knowledge of what differentiation/integration is actually doing. Not many I would say. Just learn off methods of doing particular questions and thats it.

Secoundrow · 03-08-2009 12:38pm

fh041205 wrote: »

I actually would throw maths in there as well. You don't need to have a clue what the hell you're doing as long as you know how to do it. How many LC students actually have a knowledge of what differentiation/integration is actually doing. Not many I would say. Just learn off methods of doing particular questions and thats it.

ah but ill argue with ya on that!:D

You need to know all the formulas theorems excetera for maths obviously
but if you dont understand how they work and how to apply them

Those kind bast*rds who write the papers will screw you over;)

They constantly change the way you have to apply your knowledge and unless you understand your stuff youll get caught out

:pThank you and goodnight

Dante · 03-08-2009 12:42pm

Nah its actually grand once you get down to doing it....its the weeks leading up to it that are tough because everyone starts freaking out and stuff. Once you dont freak out and do a bit of study at least a week or two before it will be pish!

katzen · 03-08-2009 12:51pm

the leaving cert is fine if you work consistently for a few months. and throw in a bit of subjonctive in your french, they love that

is leaving really that bad?

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