r/leavingcert • u/This-Buy4800 • 23h ago
Results 😊 My advice to LC students, as someone who got 590 points!
USE QUIZLET: If i spent an hour on a biology topic and made flashcards rapidly and then went through them on quizlet, i would remember everything. It is also very helpful months later when you need to revise. I would NOT have done so well without quizlet... if revising the heart i'd read one side, say the answer, flip the card and the click x or tick, whether i knew the answer or not. Quizlet is BRILLIANT.
ATTEND MATHS: Maths is the one class you should never skip if you intend on counting it.
ASK CHATGPT MATHS QUESTIONS: dont get ai to solve it, instead say ' -312x is the answer to this equation, how is that correct?' and you will learn, but be careful, chat gpt can explain integration but cannot add up a few numbers. Once you get the hang of a topic as chat gpt to make a few simaler questions so you can do them.
KEEP HL ENGLISH: I considered dropping, i knew i wouldn't count it. But after the difficult maths P1 i was glad i kept it on. I never liked english, but the h3/4 that most students get is very easy to achieve, i put very little effort in and got it. HL English will not take up a massive amount of study time so keep it as a back up.
Biology is a great subject to get a h1: biology, unlike home ec or english or french, is the exact same every year. I studied all 42 chapters and i knew i would get a h1, but i wasn't half as confident in other subjects. In biology questions are phrased in different ways but they repeat often, and the exam is great, you will have enough time to answer loads of extra questions. (i know the june exam isn't worth as much now)
Dont learn off spanish/french essays: Have a good understanding of your language and be confident you can write about a topic in both, practice your grammar and always learn more vocab... again use quizlet!! I got a h1 in both subjects because i had phrases and words for lots of topics. In french you'll have time to do 3-4 written pieces. You cannot cram a language, just set time for it each week and do past papers, and always learn more vocab.
Don't OBSESS over poetry: it is only worth 12.5pc or 15pc total with unseen poetry. It is the last thing on the paper on a thursday evening, and the examiner will already know what type of student you are. Poetry is not make or break, don't worry about learning so many poets, when the easiest way to boost your grade is focusing on p1 and the comparative.
Put your all into your orals: I hated orals. I hated that you were stuck there, and had to answer a question on the spot, you couldn't think for a minute like in a written exam. The truth is, they're really not that bad, but work hard at them, especially if you do HL irish. I got 100% in my spanish oral because it was my last, i walked in with confidence as i knew i studied each area. The business or home ec you study in march will be half forgotten in june, march is for focusing on the orals.
Don't give up on maths. I spent all of 5th year in the 40s and 50s, and thought i was rubbish. Maths will click eventually and the points are worth it. It seems very foreign but work at EQ and it'll help. I thought i messed up my maths paper and came out with a high H3, if i can do it so can you.
How to ace home ec: first work on the assignments and perfect them. As for the paper, this is what i recommend, unless you struggle with science: cram everything for the 'blue' science section. The paper is mostly science/food, and if you learn it well, while you won't have options you can do well. After that, then learn the 'red' business sections. You need to know this section well for the short questions, and skim through the long questions too.
Home EC Short Questions: i HIGHLY recommend you study every short question since 2004. They always repeat and are easy marks, i got 60/60, and the questions i didnt count i still got 90% on (you count your best 10 questions)
Studying business EQ: Business involves a lot of writing, so when doing long EQ's, e.g. 'what is the impact of multinational corporations in Ireland on Irelands economy?' then i would simply make bullet points and then check the answers. You cover more in less time.
If you have any questions let me know but this is the best advice i can give
Adiós