So.. Almost done! I know some people i.e. the majority of my friends are already finished, but these people don’t count to me. I’m massively jealous of them. But hey, a week to study Applied Maths.. I’m tempted to not turn up to the exam because y’know, who wants a big fat F on their results? But 6 days, 6 questions. This could work?

Biology: Ah sure what can I say? It was slightly weird, but still grand. Have to admit I expected long human reproduction & respiration questions, but it was do-able!

German: fml. Learned about ash cloud, alcohol abuse, division in Northern Ireland, Haiti, etc. What comes up? Part time jobs, Jedward & holidays. What a waste! Okay it was one of the easiest German papers ever but I barely got it done. Confident I got an A in the paper – BUT oral & aural will bring me down, so it’s a mystery.

Though I was speaking German like a native last night, clearly I should’ve done shots before my oral. I was so happy to get out – it’s been 32 days! (I counted). So now, I’m really looking forward to one thing.. Cleaning my room. It’s a state,  & I wanna see my floor! Anyone else afraid to throw out books in case they repeat? BTW, I think adding each other on Facebook is a good idea too, & since it’s quite hard figuring out who’s who, I’ll just link my page!  http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=851904209 So feel free to add me Good luck to anyone who still has exams!

Hi My internet has been down for the past few days so I couldn’t blog. In the aftermath of Maths Paper 1, I eventually calmed myself down enough to have another look at the paper. I think i may have been a bit hard on myself in the exam. I did a lot better than I thought in the exam, so I’ve just forgotten about it now

So heres how the rest of the exams went

Maths Paper 2- I thought it was a lovely Paper. A few difficult c parts but nothing I shouldn’t have been able to do. That doesn’t mean it went perfectly, far from it. But I hope I managed a nice C grade

Irish I do pass so after 5 years of honours I found it a bit of a doddle. I was finished both papers after an hour so I’m not too worried about the outcome of them

French Je l’ai adoré Moi, j’adore francais donc je ne pense pas que cette examen est trop difficle. Maleheuresement je sais que ma production ecrit est faible. J’espére que j’ai gagné une b

History- Even typing this has me in tears. I cannot describe to you my disappointment in that exam. I had worked so hard all year. And not one of the essays I had prepared came up. I was just distraught. I started to panic and had to leave the exam hall. Anyone who does history knows how challenged we are for time but if I’d stayed I would have passed out. I managed to do two and a half pages on each question but it just wasn’t enough. I hopefully passed but I really cannot expect anything more than that. It was just heartbreaking. It was like Maths only 10 times worse. God, even thinking about it sends me into the depths of depression. So I’m not going to

Biology- What a weird paper? Like none of the usual things came up. In saying that, I thought it was pretty good There was alot of “from your knowledge of biology” type questions which is not how we’re trained to think. Couldn’t believe it when I seen plants in question 11 as well?

Just one more left; Physics on Monday. Overall the whole “Leaving Cert Experience” feels like its lasted forever. It seems like a year ago since we sat English paper two but we were actually in it this time last week! Crazy really. I’m just ready for it to be  over now and to start my summer I’ll blog again Monday after my LAST LC EXAM (I refuse to repeat )

Till then,

Niamh

Not in that way. That doesn’t really tie in with the Leaving.

So, I’ve promised not to obsess over papers after I do them, but I know how much you guys want to hear my opinion on papers.. Right? No? Kay then.

English Paper One (Higher) : I thought it was a dream of a paper. It’s always nice to get you going, because it’s more your opinion. I opted for the Question A from Text Two (Tight ropes), Question B from Text Three (Diary Entry) and Composition was the article on technology. From what I’ve gathered, a lot of people seemed to do the diary and tightrope questions? They kinda just jumped out at me, though my problem is always indecisiveness. Overall, I’m happy but I do need an examiner who appreciates my sense of humour – I just presumed the article could be light-hearted and continued with sarcasm and exaggeration thoughout it. Fingers crossed!

Home Ec (Higher): Mm. That describes my feelings. It was mixed, in my opinion – Short questions were lovely, much nicer than usual. Social Elective was also a perfect question, I did Part B on Social Change. Q1 was mixed.. Protein was grand, I expected that, & milk was alright, not my favourite. Was slightly panicky with part D on small businesses because I didn’t revise it. DAMN! Also, predictions were wrong. Sadly.. I expected an appliance, Irish Diet, and a bit of Consumer. Long questions were a mix, of parts I knew like the back of my hand, to parts I couldn’t even make up. Did Q2, 4, & 5 (I had time because I half answered two questions). Maybe a B?

So overall, I’m happy with today, mostly because I never have to do Home Ec again. I also learned don’t drink so much water, and eat more. Now, for Paper Two..

Its all fun and games until somebody goes and puts the mocks timetable up.  That’s when the panic starts. That chapter you studied a month ago? Yeah, now you can’t even manage the short questions on it. Hamlet seems like a distant memory.  Home Ec was meant to be general knowledge. What’s the name of the main guy in Il Postino again?!

Such is the debacle that I’ve been facing this past week or two.  I’m not panicking as of yet, but there’s still the continuous twinge of nerves that maybe, just maybe, I’m gonna disappoint myself. See the thing is, I’m well aware that the mocks are just a trial and error process… If you’re to make a mistake, make it now and then learn from it. They’re glorified Christmas exams – a timing practice!

I know the teachers aren’t going to mind too much if I don’t get that A I’m working towards, and my parents have already told me that they’ll be happy with whatever I get. But it’s not them I’m worried about pleasing – It’s me. I’m my own biggest critic, and I’m competing against my own self-inflicted standards. Stupid isn’t it?? Yup. My stress is entirely self-induced! But if I were to hazard a guess, I’d say many of you are in the same boat.

From looking at the site these past few days, it’s obvious a universal panic has set in – allhonours is buzzing with LCs and JCs and we’re all looking for the same thing – some sorta assurance that we’ll all be sorted for the mocks. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…. its not gonna happen guys. Might as well relax about it and let things play themselves out (The hypocrite that I am really needs to start taking her own advice). Well, if you’re all anything like me, then the following situation should sound a tad familiar and perhaps reassuring:

1. You emptied your locker on Friday, knowing you’d need all the books to study over the weekend.

2. These books have now become a mountainous bundle piled high on your desk.

3. Trekking through this bundle seems like an Everest challenge.

4. You decided the most rational thing to do is start making charts and drawing out memory keys.

5. They work out great. You stick them up on the wall and never look at them again.

6. Your business/ economics teacher asks you about current affairs. You havent a clue. It’s been so long since you had time for the news that you’re shocked to hear Egypt is a bad LC holiday destination.

7. You’re keenly listening to any reference the teachers make about the mocks. If they say “I haven’t seen the paper” Its clearly a cover. “This might be up” is a given that it’ll be the first question. “Revise this if you’ve time” means CODE RED – STUDY OR FAIL.

8. You hear from a classmate….”I’m screwed. I just revised chapter 1 -23 twice this week, and only managed to finish 10 long questions in 15mins. My essay on Hamlet is only 17 pages long. I’m totally gonna fail.” Dont listen to them, they’ll just get you down. Let them at it. See how much they get written in at the exam.. that’ll teach them.

9. Your newfound guide to brainfood: No I will not eat porridge for breakfast. Slow release of energy? Hah. My fool proof concoction of coffee, diet coke, berocca boost, lucozade and honey gives me all the energy I need… (Dont actually try this, its disgusting and will probably kill more braincells than one can afford to lose)

10.  Such is your persona: I’m not cranky after school, I’m a brave little soldier. I’m carrying on despite all the pressure and the weight of the world being on my back (literally). My life is an eternal pit of doom right now… but I’m struggling on. Have sympathy for poor me and pity my condition by giving me chocolate, comfy blankets and not giving out that I haven’t tidied my room since August………

So yeah. That’s my life right now in a nutshell. Stress is building. Study is mounting. Mocks are pending. The good news is, I’ve more chocolate than I can handle.  It’s all just a matter of perspective isn’t it?

Sorcha x

“There’s always time for a nice cup of tea. Sure, didn’t the Lord himself pause for a nice cup of tea before giving himself up for the world.”  - Mrs Doyle (Father Ted)

I strongly believe that the more stressed one becomes, the more tea one needs. Now I’ve always had a bit of an adoration for the beverage, but this week has been ridiculous. I find myself craving tea throughout the day. Half way through after school study all I can think of is going home to a nice cup of tea.  I’ll do 30 minutes of homework then its off I go to the kitchen for a tea break and a biscuit. Even tonight I craved tea the whole journey home. I came home to find an empty house and freddos on the kitchen table. Party over here. So I’m writing this eating a freddo and drinking even more tea. 4th cup of the day infact.
Random thought: Whatever happened to Taz bars? Hm…

I reckon all this tea drinking is related to the stress of my week.  This week was just tiring. We only had a four day week and I’m still wrecked. I also helped out for my last ever open night. Weird feeling in a way.
This week just dragged in. And left a weekend of assignments in its wake. I got most of my biology homework done on Thursday. But I still have so much homework due Monday and at least 2 tests every day til Thursday. I think… Really should check that out..

I spent a fair amount of Friday evening going through all the information I got at Higher Options last week. The future looks scary. Eeny meeny miny mo may not cut it for this decision in life… Too many variables.
Is anyone else a little terrified anytime they even look at their CAO booklet? Maybe thats just me…
And another question, Anyone going to the open day in NUI Galway at the weekend?  I’m wondering if I should…

And finally, a little story about something that made my week this week.  On Tuesday, We had our open night. I was a guide and was showing people around the school. We got to the language room. I was talking to my German teacher when I spotted a box of Harry Potter books behind her. I asked if they were the books in German.  She checked and said that they were in French which was a shame because she’d have loaned me the German ones. Next day in school, She was asking around for me. Found me at the end of the day and handed me the first Harry Potter book in German. She had gone home and looked for it to loan to me.  I just thought that was so thoughtful and kind. I’m really quite excited about it. I’ve been translating it using the English version for a few days. I now actually enjoy German :)

Today, I had a really good day with my favourite person , and I barely thought of all the assignments and study (and tea) that awaits me tomorrow. Thats what Sundays are for right?  Tea powered cramming?

Speaking of tea, I need another cup.
- Ash

Due to last years huge success with the team of AllHonours bloggers, we are delighted to announce an even more aggressive blogging plan.  We are looking for up to 20 bloggers, across all years so whether you are in 1st year or 6th, we want to hear from you.  Before I detail the requirements, I want to take this opportunity to thank all of the bloggers from last year and I wish them the best of luck in the forthcoming results.  I hope you will all agree, they provided much needed support and entertainment through the exams.  They hit many milestones ranging from an upward spiral of comments, followers, and site traffic to being featured in The Irish Times.  We hope to achieve the same and more this year so make sure you register your interest ASAP!  Places are limited.

Becoming a blogger has many benefits such as improving your communication and creative skills, making a difference to tens of thousands of students who read your posts, and having the chance of being featured in the national newspapers over the exam period.  It is also a perfect job experience to place on your CV as you will have full creative control over your content and it takes planning and impressive communication skills to connect with readers.

If you wish to become a blogger simply email info@allhonours.ie with your details – name, age, year, school, county.  Also include a sample introductory post to give me a sense of your writing style.

Looking forward to reading your posts!  Any further questions feel free to email me.

Best of luck,
Patrick.