Leaving Certificate Physics
Liam - Higher Level 
Questions that I did; 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 & 12(a) & (c)Physics, physics, physics. Not gonna lie , it had some tricky questions but this is one of those subjects where you just don't know!The experiments were grand, I loved the equilibrium question! And after that I needed to do the other 2 but I didn't like the look of them, so I skipped them and decided I would come back to it.The short questions were alright too, I always find there's the odd 1 or 2 that is just sickening. I said I'd chance my arm at the particle physics question, did I get it right ? Probably not. Am I bothered ? Not at all!I HATE fridges! Well those that don't have food in them anyway. But when I saw the heat question I said I'd go for it because I don't mind them really!Good ol' Marie made an appearance in question 9 and it's a good thing she did. I love me some nuclear physics!I tried the 'comprehension' yoke in question 11, but didn't read it … was I supposed to ?? The questions were grand, 'Richard of York gave battle in vain", came in handy, thanks Junior Cert!And well 12 wasn't the worst. In saying that I could've made a complete mess of it and it could give the SEC a reason to make foundation physics a thing but sure it's all water under the bridge!!After all that I finished experiment questions 2 and 3, after a handy rummage through the log tables to pick out useful formulae.At least it's over now , that's all I'll say. Chemistry, have a heart!!Please note: blog posts reflect the opinion of the author and not necessarily the opinion of the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union. Blogs are updated daily by 6.30 pm on scheduled examination dates.Zeminar is an event for Generation Z, particularly those aged between 15 and 19, and their parents, teachers, mentors and coaches. It will take place from 11th - 13th of October 2016. For more information see www.zeminar.ie
Junior Certificate Technical Graphics
Luke - Higher Level 
I have been studying for Technical Graphics all year long, doing a little bit here and there. I used to be quite slow at doing the actual drawing (I'm a perfectionist) so I have had to speed up. I have a drawing board in my room so I have been able to practice. If you choose Tech Graph to take as an exam subject, you definitely need a good quality drawing board at home.The best thing you can do to study is complete practice exam questions. There are also videos on YouTube which explain some of the different construction techniques used. I would recommend these two methods to revise leading up to the exam.Yesterday I revised Solids and Contact, because I was pretty confident with everything else.I wasn't that nervous this morning because I knew I had everything covered. Being prepared is a good feeling, although I was still a little bit jittery just because I wanted to do well.After looking through the exam paper, I was relieved to find that it was no more difficult than any other year. Solids and Contact came up!There were 15 short questions, you had to answer 10, and 6 long questions, and answer 4. You literally only have time to answer this amount of questions, if you get time to answer more than that, you're not taking enough time!Overall it was fine, I reckon I got an A or B!
Kate - Higher Level 
Tech graph is possibly my favourite subject so I had high hopes for this exam. I want into the exam well prepared and had enough materials for the whole exam centre. I started the exam and did the short questions first. These were great, I can confidently say I did well in these and scored a high mark. Next I moved on to the long questions. My tape did not work. My page would not stick to the desk. This was a disaster. I continued on, stressed but had to keep working or I would run out of time. I answered the orthographic question, the development question, the isometric scale question and the transformation geometry question.I felt like this exam was a lot easier than exams in previous years and I am optimistic about it! One more exam to go!
Philip - Higher Level 
I'm going to start by saying this: I'm finally done, hell is over. I cannot wait until TY, its going to be great. Anyway, Technical Graphics. I started with the short questions. I didn't think these were too hard compared to other years and I'm pretty confident I got at least ten. Then I started the long questions. First I did question 1, when I first looked at this question I thought it looked pretty hard but as I did it I think it wasn't too hard and I think I got most of the marks. Then I moved onto question 2, the rotations. Usually I don't find these questions too hard but I thought this question was particularly difficult. Drawing out the plan went fine, it was the rotation part that was the problem. I did the left side of the gate easily enough, the side with the star. My problem was with the other side. Any time I tried to bring it over it went to the same place as the left gate.Anyway, before I had time to do anything else (I probably would have brought it up to the other side) the time for that question was over so I had to move on. I moved to question 3. I'm usually pretty good at these questions and I think I got most of the marks from it. I got this done in more or less the half hour. Finally I did question 4, solids in contact. I'm pretty sure this went well and I got it done with time to spare. After this I went back to question two but I didn't have time to do anything,really.So that was Technical Graphics, my last exam. good luck to everyone still doing exams!!
Shane - Higher Level 
It actually pains me to write this (sob).So. I was dreading this exam. However, to my surprise, it went worse than I possibly thought it could of. I started out on a high note. The short questions were fantastic and I did 12 (I think it was 12, but I am not sure). Then I did Q1 on orthographic projections. This was a nice question and I flew through it, finishing just on time. However, things took a bad turn for question 2. I spent so much time trying to draw the pentagon, and when I did, I moved on to rotating it. This was a nightmare. I had never seen a question like this before and I could not make it work. When I saw points going onto the wrong side of the gate, and starting the rotation after about 40 minutes, I jumped ship and said I would go back if I had time. Sadly, I didn’t.Moving straight to Q5, I had my hopes lifted when I saw that this question was one that I could manage just fine and surprisingly finish on time (I always go over time on this). Then I got to the ellipse. I had thought Q2 was bad for me. If that was bad, this was apocalyptic. Sadly for me, we had not done the method to finding the major axis when given the minor auxiliary circle (we did do how to find the minor when given the major auxiliary circle and a point) so I was scratching my head in dismay. Then I just gave up hope and guessed my way through it in the hope of getting random marks.Honestly, I could be overreacting but I think this could have gone A LOT better. I am hoping for a B, like what I got in the mocks but I can’t tell if that is feasible. Anywho, I am delighted to be finished the exam and subject I personally found was created by Satan himself to make people (by people I mean me) cry. I have one exam left and I wish anyone and everyone the best tomorrow in Spanish and Metalwork!
Joe - Higher Level
I knew timing would be my biggest opponent for the exam as in the mocks I had struggled with the time restrictions. Despite this, I enjoy the subject and have a fairly good knowledge of it.I started on question six aka the pig, it was an interesting question on circles, parabolas and ellipses. I was pleased with how it turned out. I then moved onto question five, it was a transformation question. I had scored well on similar questions in the past and thought I did well.Then I did question four, where you had to draw the plan and elevation of a strimmer guard then draw two surface developments. I was unsure how well I answered it.Then I moved onto question three on axonometric projection. I used the axonometric scale method and it was going well until I noticed I was running out of time and still had the shirt questions left. I got most the question done and then had to move on.I rushed through the short question and got 10 done just before the exam finished!
Please note: blog posts reflect the opinion of the author and not necessarily the opinion of the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union. Blogs are updated daily by 6.30 pm on scheduled examination dates.Zeminar is an event for Generation Z, particularly those aged between 15 and 19, and their parents, teachers, mentors and coaches. It will take place from 11th - 13th of October 2016. For more information see www.zeminar.ie
Junior Certificate German
Kate - Higher Level
German is a subject that I thoroughly enjoy. Going into the exam I was incredibly stressed. This was my third last exam and I'm so exhausted I did not put the proper study time into it. I was most stressed about letter topics and possibly listening comprehensions. The exam started and everything was fine until I got to the final listening comprehension. This focused on some sort of class election and I used my knowledge of class elections to fill in some space that I missed. I moved onto reading which I found easier than some of the past years. The reading was quite easy but had some strange tenses. Finally I moved onto the letter. I wrote 4 pages for my letter. The letter focused on pets, summer plans, internet shopping, school trip and school uniform. I found this somewhat tricky as the topics were so specific that you could hardly vary (ie. When pocketmoney comes up you can write about jobs, housework, etc. But you can't write too much about a new pet cat). Finally I wrote my postcard. This was a lovely postcard about a school exchange. I found this easier than previous postcards and was overjoyed that it wasn't a note. Overall I'm pretty happy with how that went and am going into my final two exams on a positive note!
Please note: blog posts reflect the opinion of the author and not necessarily the opinion of the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union. Blogs are updated daily by 6.30 pm on scheduled examination dates.Zeminar is an event for Generation Z, particularly those aged between 15 and 19, and their parents, teachers, mentors and coaches. It will take place from 11th - 13th of October 2016. For more information see www.zeminar.ie
Leaving Certificate German
Emma- Higher Level
German, for a subject I have little stamina for it went surprisingly well! The first comprehension was a toughie but the rest of the paper was a dream with the grammar being a lot simpler than other years. The second comprehension was lovely, and I managed to squeeze everything in the letter!! The listening was fairly handy and overall I was pleased with the paper!! Hopefully this grade will make up for the awful bio paper!
Klara- Higher Level
Overall this paper was quite easy although it had some weird questions thrown in. The first reading comprehension was quite difficult and so it took me quite a while to do. The second was much easier. The grammar question was lovely- prepositions and question words, very easy. I ended up doing both Außerung zum Thema, both of which were very different from anything I had prepared, one was about old-fashioned shops and the second about prejudices against people wearing hoodies and trends. With the phrases I did know it was easy to answer, however. The letter also had some very strange questions such as why Ireland is chosen as a filming site. Overall though the questions were very easy to understand. The listening was great as well, I found the questions easy to answer. The first section was a bit hard to understand, but after a while I started to make sense of what they were saying.Please note: blog posts reflect the opinion of the author and not necessarily the opinion of the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union. Blogs are updated daily by 6.30 pm on scheduled examination dates.Zeminar is an event for Generation Z, particularly those aged between 15 and 19, and their parents, teachers, mentors and coaches. It will take place from 11th - 13th of October 2016. For more information see www.zeminar.ie
Leaving Certificate Construction Studies
Lorraine - Higher Level 
I have to say, I was feeling a little nervous about this exam. Even though the material on the paper each year is predictable in my opinion, I was still anxious enough going in. To be honest the exam is a little bit of a blur already.So I got the paper and quickly scanned through it to see what questions I would answer. Question 1 is compulsory so I got stuck into that first. The question was based on a porch where you had to draw the roof, window and lintel detail. Not the easiest of questions to start off with in my opinion but after some thought I made a good stab at it and was glad to have it out of the way.I then done the question on low environmental impact. I was absolutely delighted to see this question come up as I knew this really well. We were asked to chose 3 design features that ensures the house has a low environmental impact. Easy enough and nothing too difficult about that.I then moved on to the passive house question which was question 10. You had a choice between either part A or B. I chose part A as I felt I could answer this the best. It was about heat loss and storage gain in passive houses. I found this question ok and got through it in no time.U-values is a guaranteed question on the paper every year so I had prepared this really well. After practicing so many u-value questions, I wasn't overly happy with this question. I didn't find it as straight forward as other years but I'm confident that I gave it a good attempt and got a lot of the marks.The last question I done was based on a storeroom that was being converted into a home office. Handy enough question to be fair. We were asked to give 2 advantages and 2 disadvantages of the storeroom being converted into a home office. Again nothing too difficult and I feel this was one of my better questions.I must say I was really hoping that wheelchair accessibility would come up on the paper as I knew this chapter inside out and I was quite disappointed that it didn't. Oh well!Overall the paper was pretty doable and gave up no surprises which I was delighted about.Now for the long wait till my the last exam, Ag Science.
Liam - Higher Level 
This was the day I was most looking forward to. I got up early, had some coco pops, poured myself a cup of coffee and did some quick revision before heading into my Construction studies exam later that evening.The construction exam is brilliant because you have so much choice! On the paper are ten questions, you only have to answer five which includes one compulsory drawing question. I was devastated to see that the flat roof came up as the drawing question, one of my least favorite chapters. I struggled my through it and onto the U-Value question. In my opinion U-Values are a straight 50 marks. They come up every year without fail and they’re almost always the same question.As I continued I was quite happy with the other choice questions. I did Q3, which was all about redesigning a house, it was a grand old question. I then swiftly moved onto Q4 a question which was about deciding where to put a house in a field, it was quite easy. Finally, I looked down at my watch to see that I had 36 minutes left, the perfect amount of time to answer my finale question, Q7, another drawing question but this time with a chimney and a slanted roof. I was delighted with this question and I finished it in no time at all.So all in all, I’m pretty happy with how that went. With only two exams left, I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.Please note: blog posts reflect the opinion of the author and not necessarily the opinion of the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union. Blogs are updated daily by 6.30 pm on scheduled examination dates.Zeminar is an event for Generation Z, particularly those aged between 15 and 19, and their parents, teachers, mentors and coaches. It will take place from 11th - 13th of October 2016. For more information see www.zeminar.ie
Junior Certificate Home Economics
Olivia - Higher Level
Please note: blog posts reflect the opinion of the author and not necessarily the opinion of the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union. Blogs are updated daily by 6.30 pm on scheduled examination dates.Zeminar is an event for Generation Z, particularly those aged between 15 and 19, and their parents, teachers, mentors and coaches. It will take place from 11th - 13th of October 2016. For more information see www.zeminar.ie