Leaving Certificate facts for kids

The Leaving Certificate is the most important final exam for students in Ireland. It's usually taken when you are around 17 or 18 years old. This exam helps you move on to college or university after secondary school.

The Leaving Certificate: Your Big Final Exam

This exam is a big step. It shows what you have learned over your last two years of secondary school. Before you can take the Leaving Certificate, you must complete the Junior Certificate. Think of the Junior Certificate as a practice run for this bigger exam!

What Subjects Do You Take?

You need to take exams in at least six subjects. Some subjects are compulsory, meaning you have to take them. These include Maths and English. If you studied Irish for your Junior Certificate, you will also take it for the Leaving Certificate.

Different Levels for Subjects

For most subjects, you can choose to take them at different levels:

• High Level: This is the most challenging level. It covers more topics and goes into greater detail.
• Ordinary Level: This level is a bit less difficult than High Level. It focuses on the main parts of the subject.
• Foundation Level: For Maths and Irish, there's also a Foundation Level. This level is for students who find these subjects very difficult. It covers the most basic parts of the subject.

What Happens After the Exams?

The results for the Leaving Certificate are usually given out in the middle of August. Your results are very important. They help decide if you can get into the college or university courses you want. Most colleges in Ireland require you to have a Leaving Certificate to apply.