Leaving Certificate students taking English, Irish, history or geography this year will be allowed an extra 20 minutes to complete their papers in a pilot project announced yesterday by the Minister for Education and Science, Mr Martin.
He was responding to a recommendation of the Advisory Group on the Certificate Examinations.
The group said the current two- or three-hour periods allowed for examinations in the four subjects could militate against students showing their true ability, and an extension should be considered.