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.
Key reads
- Leaving Cert: 10 tips for parents supporting an exam student this month
- Classroom to College newsletter: your essential Leaving Cert guide
- Eoin Murphy from Co Mayo explains why he’s annoyed about having to wear his school uniform in the exam hall
- And Danny Goff from Co Wexford on preparing for the exams and having Type 1 diabetes
What happens if I’m late or sick for an exam?
Candidates are required to be seated in the test centre 30 minutes before the exam is due to start - so that’s 9am today.
However, if you are late, you will still be admitted into the hall up to 30 minutes into the exam.
If you are sick, you might be able to defer your exam - but a simple headcold won’t do it.
It must be a “life-threatening medical emergency”, according to the State examinations Commission, and you need supporting evidence from a medical consultant - not a GP.
Candidates who suffer bereavement of a close family member between May 29th and 23 June 23rd may also be eligible to defer.
The deferred exams take place between Wednesday, June 24th and Saturday, July 11th.
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 is the highest ever level of students, breaking the previous record set in 1995 of 66,304.
It begins with English Paper One at 9.30am this morning, followed by Home Economics from 2pm.
The exams last 15 days, closing out on June 23rd with Applied Maths.
The Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied exams take place alongside this.
Much work and preparation has gone into these exams, and it’s understandable if nerves are frayed in some quarters.
For other students today may just be like any other day, no big deal, they have bigger fish to fry.
Whatever your approach, your background, or your ambitions, we would love to hear from you as the days go on.
I will be here running our live coverage every day, and you can email me at niamh.towey@irishtimes.com.
