On the challenges presented by the Junior Cert, Trish McGrath, principal of Hewitt College in Cork city, says: “Because it’s the first major state examination it’s extremely daunting for students. They could be doing 10 to 13 subjects and it’s a huge load. “Compared with when I did my Inter Cert, a lot of subjects are longer. Business was one paper, but it’s two now – there’s an accounting paper and a business paper. And religion wasn’t an exam subject, it used to be pastoral.”
On the challenges presented by the Junior Cert, Trish McGrath, principal of Hewitt College in Cork city, says: “Because it’s the first major state examination it’s extremely daunting for students. They could be doing 10 to 13 subjects and it’s a huge load.
“Compared with when I did my Inter Cert, a lot of subjects are longer. Business was one paper, but it’s two now – there’s an accounting paper and a business paper. And religion wasn’t an exam subject, it used to be pastoral.”
“Students out there who would like some extra help ahead of the exams may be interested in doing an Easter revision course in Hewitt College.
“We place a lot of emphasis on exam technique, layout of the paper and the questions that are obligatory and the questions that are optional” says Trish.
“There can be a lot of focus on textbooks, but there can be a difference between how something is covered in the textbook and how it’s examined. We might provide a definitions bible so that definitions are all in one place.
“I’m a teacher myself,” continues Trish.
“The courses are designed by me wearing my teacher hat, not my principal hat. If a Junior Cert does five days of courses in a row, they’re absolutely wrecked. But unlike other colleges we do one subject per day, allowing them to take a day off in between.
“We spend a day each on maths Paper I and maths Paper II, and a day each on business Paper I and business Paper II.”
The revision courses are run over two weeks and are priced at €70 per day.
The Junior Cert is something Trish really feels strongly about: “Any changes they make will have to be measured. They will have to take time and discuss the implications before making decisions.
“The Junior Cert is the best guide for subject choice,” continues Trish. “You are maximising your career choice by being informed, balanced and having a well thought-out subject choice and the Junior Cert is the best starting ground for those decisions.”
Trish also says the Junior Cert is a great preparatory ground for the Leaving Cert.
“It shows how you react under pressure. Students learn about their writing speed, their time management and learn what they need to do differently.”
Trish is very concerned that while there are approximately 60,000 Leaving Cert candidates every year, 5,000 are doing foundation level maths and 5,000 more are failing pass maths.
“This means there are 10,000 students who can’t go to college and that’s when there is a State exam. If you don’t pass your maths, you’re not going anywhere. Around 1,116 courses require ordinary level maths and 966 courses do not accept foundation maths.”
Trish feels that taking away the Junior Cert will bring those numeracy levels down even further.
Trish also says that the Junior Cert is vital for students making UCAS applications (college applications to the UK) as it is the only proven academic track record that the students have.
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: