More than 140,000 Leaving and Junior Cycle students begin their English exams at 9:30am, marking the start of the 2026 exam season which runs until June 23rd. A record 66,911 students are set to start the Leaving Certificate, beginning with English Paper One and followed by Home Economics. The Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied exams are also underway. Students share their feelings in video diaries as nerves and excitement build.
More than 140,000 Leaving and Junior Cycle students will turn the page on their English exam at 9.30am today, kicking off the 2026 exam season that finishes on Tuesday, June 23rd with applied mathematics at Leaving Cert level.
Nerves, excitement, pressure - how are your peers feeling these last couple days? You can watch their video diaries here:Today a record-breaking 66,911 students are due to begin their Leaving Certificate exams. It begins with English Paper One at 9.30am this morning, followed by Home Economics from 2pm. The Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied exams take place alongside this.
Much work and preparation has gone into these exams, and its understandable if nerves are frayed in some quarters. Whatever your approach, your background, or your ambitions, we would love to hear from you as the days go on.
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