Hundreds of students across the Avondhu region collected their Leaving Certificate results on Wednesday of this week, the culmination of years of study and effort as they now embark on a new chapter in their studies or future careers.
Various organisations have offered their support to any students who may require information or advice about their results or their next steps going forward.
The Exam Helpline 2017, provided by the National Parents’ Council Post Primary and sponsored by eir, opened on Wednesday and will remain open for students and parents until Wednesday, August 23.
The helpline – 1800-265-165 – is open 10am to 7pm on Thursday and Friday; 8am to 7pm on Monday (CAO Day) and Tuesday; and from 8am to 1pm on Wednesday.
The helpline is open to take calls from students and parents seeking advice and up to date information on what choices are available to them. The Helpline receives thousands of calls every year, giving expert advice to students to enable them to make informed choices about their future career paths and further education.
All queries on 3rd level courses, leaving cert appeals and repeats, CAO procedures, no offers and financing your further education will be dealt with in a professional and confidential manner.
In recent years calls to the Helpline have increased, which shows the need for the personal touch at the end of a phone line at what can be a highly pressurised time for students and their parents.
“The Helpline provides students and parents with live interactive one to one advice and guidance from professional councillors. This is particularly valuable given the change in the points system this year”, Ross MacMahon, Communications Officer for the National Parents Council Post Primary said.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals Clive Byrne, congratulated Leaving Certificate students who received their results this week. He said the Class of 2017 are the first to have their exams marked with a new grading system with eight, rather than fourteen, score bands.
Whereas before, students were graded using a numbered ‘ABC’ system; going forward Leaving Cert exams will be graded on a 1-8 scale. A Higher-level exam that receives 90-100 percent, for example, will be graded ‘H1’, while an Ordinary-level exam that receives the same mark will be graded ‘O1’, and so on.
Mr Byrne issued his own guidance on the new grading system: “The new grading system removes some of the ambiguity and pressure of the previous one, and encourages students to take Higher-level subjects. However, because it is the first year of this system there may be some confusion about what it means for students and the CAO points system.
“I would encourage students and parents who have queries about it, to consult the State Examinations Commission website or call the National Parents Council dedicated exam helpline on 1800-265-165
