Update Leaving Certificate and Junior Cycle Exams

On the 17th February 2021, Minister Foley confirmed that the Leaving Certificate 2021 written, coursework, oral and practical performance examinations will be held and a corresponding process of grades accredited by State Examinations Commission will be available to students. See further details below.

The Minister also confirmed that the Junior Cycle 2021 examinations will not be run in 2021. Schools will be provided with guidance on continuing to engage third year students in online learning and assessment during the period of school closure and through in-person learning when schools re-open.

Full details of her statement are available here

Leaving Certificate Examinations

• The timetable for the Leaving Certificate is available here 
• The timetable for the Leaving Certificate Applied is available here

Schools will be provided with guidance on safe running of the examinations, which will be informed by public health advice in due course.

In August last year, a series of changes were made to assessment arrangements for Leaving Certificate 2021 examinations. These arrangements, which were updated in December, are designed to take account of the disrupted learning experienced by students. This guidance is available here.

SEC-Accredited Process

• Students will have the opportunity to opt in to the SEC-Accredited Grade process in addition to, or instead of, sitting the Leaving Certificate examination.

Under the SEC-Accredited Grades process, students will have the opportunity to opt to receive an SEC-Accredited Grade. They can also opt to sit the Leaving Certificate Examination. Students will opt into these processes on a subject by subject basis.