Disappointed with some of your exam results?

If so, you’ll be happy to learn that in 2014 an average of 18% of rechecks resulted in student’s grades going up, with only 2% of grades going down. A total of 9,267 applications were made to recheck Leaving Cert exam scripts last year.

Step One

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The first important thing to note is that the relevant form required to view scripts is included in the same envelope as the Leaving Cert results. Students should first view exam scripts in the school where they sat their exams. This gives them the opportunity to see how their script was marked. Students are allowed to be accompanied by one person when viewing scripts – teachers of the subject in question would be ideal if they’re available. Once viewed, students can then make the decision if it is worthwhile in going ahead with the rechecking process.

Step two

Applications for rechecks will close this year on 2 September. Applications must be returned to your school, which means your school will have to post your application on Tuesday 1 September at the very latest. Therefore, to ensure your application is received on time, aim to have all applications returned to your school on Monday 31 August.

What happens if your points go up?

If the recheck brings to light that you should have actually received more points, your position on the order of merit list will be altered to reflect your new points tally. The bad news is that, even if you are entitled to a place on a course based on your new result, if all of the places for that course have been allocated, then you may not receive an offer of a place this year and will have to wait until next year instead. The decision to offer a place to a recheck applicant is made by the third-level college in question and not the CAO.

Offers from the re-checks will be out in mid-October. The CAO advises that students consider whether previous offers (if received) outweigh the benefit of waiting for a year to take up a place on your higher-preference course.

Failing Maths?

With over 4.5% of those taking the higher level maths paper failing, and 8.7% of those who took the ordinary level maths paper failing in 2014, trying to figure out what is your best option after this is a question asked in many family homes throughout the country every August.

If you find yourself in this situation, avoid jumping to the worst conclusion – remember, you are one of many.

The first step you should take is to view your script in your school. If possible, get your maths teacher to join you. Following this process, you may decide to appeal your maths grade. However, if there is no improvement in your grade after the recheck, you still have options.

For the most part, if you have applied for a degree programme in arts, social science or law in an NUI college, and have secured the required number of points, you will be offered a place, as maths is not an entry requirement. However, you will need to double-check this with the programme office for the course in question.

If you have applied for a Level 8 engineering programme, NUI Maynooth offers prospective engineering students the opportunity to sit a maths exam to gain the HC3 grade to gain entry into this programme. This two-hour exam will take place on 21 August. NUI Galway and Cork Institute of Technology offer similar repeat maths examinations to students seeking a second chance at passing the maths requirement.

Students can also consider repeating maths as a single subject in next year’s Leaving Certificate or taking a Post-Leaving Cert course that includes maths. Be sure to double-check that the maths element of your chosen FETAC course will meet the matriculation requirements for your desired course at third level.