Unsure as to what to expect on each day of exams?

The Junior Cert timetable is one of the worst things a student will see all year. The timetable will be monitored closely by every student completing the Junior Cert. It may look as daunting as anything you have ever seen before, but trust us here at JC-Learn when we say it is not as difficult as it may seem.

English is tough to start. The key to this exam is to be constantly writing. If you do not have a sore hand coming out of this exam, you probably have not written enough. However, we must also remember that quality always comes before quantity. The timing for this exam is extremely tight – you have to be constantly be checking the time or else you will not finish the exam, it is as simple as that. Irish is next and this exam involves high concentration throughout. Time may be a very challenging aspect of this subject too, especially paper two, so take that into consideration.

The next subjects in the 2016 junior cert timetable include geography and maths. Geography is often regarded as one of the easier subjects, but really everyone is strong at different subjects, and there is no real ‘easy’ exam in the junior cert, so do not be fooled. Maths, on the other hand, can be seen as the most difficult subject. You must prepare for the unexpected as you may not understand a lot of the questions at the first glance, but remember there is always a way – you just have to think hard enough.

CSPE is a very straightforward exam, but you must use common sense and treat it with as much respect as any other exam – do not leave the exam early. The business studies exams are on the Tuesday of the junior cert timetable and this exam can be quite tiring. It is long and requires a lot of writing. Stay focused, especially in relation to the accounts, and ensure every answer is ticking all the examiners boxes.

French is an exam which is there for anyone to do well in. Write down exactly what you hear in the aural, leave no blanks in the comprehensions and recite all your phrases in your letters. History will be one of the most difficult exams, especially in regards to time, so get through your short questions quick and get as many significant relevant points in your longer questions as you can – this is where the marks are won.

Science should not be tough time wise so really read every question fully. There will always be some you are unsure of but use your head and be logical with your answers. Religion is a subject which many students do not bother study for in the junior cert. It actually requires a lot of studying if you really want to do well. The key to it is understanding how the answers are marked. You have to write a lot in this exam, and if it means you need extra paper (especially for the last essay question at the end) then get it. Like CSPE, students tend to leave early, but please do not be one of them. If you think about it this way, an A is an A, whether it is in maths or CSPE. Just think about that when you look at your results in September.

We could go on all day about describing the subjects but we will leave it there for that, and move on to what every student should actually do on the day of the junior cert exam.

What To Do On Day Of Exam

The day of any junior cert exam is a stressful one. You should wake up early so you give yourself enough time to be in the exam hall for a half an hour before the exam starts. You should get a big healthy breakfast into you and drink plenty of water. Many students will cram as much information you as possible on whatever subject the exam is in, but this is not what you should do. Our minds are like our bodies. When we run too much we get tired, just like when we consume too much information too quickly our minds get tired. You need to be going into every exam when your mind is at its peak ability – this is the only way you will achieve your maximum potential.

So, the solution is to have sets of really shortened notes on the content of the subject so that you can scan through it before the exam to refresh your mind. Realistically there is only so much you can learn in the hour before an exam. All the work should have already been put in, and this hour before should merely be a time where you quickly remind your brain of the information and relax before an intense few hours.

At the end of the day, we can give tips on what you should do right before the exam, but it could mean nothing for you unless you have been putting in the work in the months before the exam. That is where it is all won and lost. It is just like a football match. A team wins a game due to all the work they have been putting in on the training ground, just like a student achieves great grades due to the tireless study they have been doing in preparation for the exam.

So, if you do not feel prepared for the junior cert and if the junior cert timetable scares you just too much, JC-Learn is your solution. We are an online study website with revision notes, exam answers, study advice and a live ‘ask an expert’ service, all across a wide range of junior cert subjects. Click HERE now and sign up for our free 14-day trial or pay just €20 for access to everything on our site!