On 17 February Government announced that the written Leaving Certificate 2021 examinations will be held in June with related components also proceeding as far as possible subject to public health advice. A corresponding process of grades accredited by the State Examinations Commission (SEC) will also be available to students who opt to receive them. The Government also announced that the Junior Cycle examinations will not be run in 2021. Read the announcement.
The key points to note from this announcement for Leaving Certificate students are:
- Students will have the option of whether to sit the examinations, receive SEC Accredited Grades, or both, on a subject by subject basis. This means that students can sit examinations in any number of subjects they want, while also receiving SEC Accredited Grades in any number of subjects they want.
- Students who opt for both will have their better grades in each subject reflected in their results.
- Students will be required to register on the student portal; confirm their subject and level entry details; opt for the examinations and/or to receive SEC Accredited Grades. The SEC’s Candidate Portal is expected to open in the week of 8 March 2021 to allow students to make their choices. Further details will be issued in advance.
- There will be no fees payable for the 2021 examinations and no fees for SEC Accredited Grades.
- It is intended that the results of both the examinations and the SEC Accredited Grades processes will issue to students within the required timeframe for progression to higher and further education in Ireland.
This page will be updated as further information becomes available.
Information on the Junior Cycle 2021 can be found here .
Schools will reopen for final year Leaving Certificate students on 1 March.
In the video message below, Consultant in Public Health Medicine Dr Abigail Collins talks about how to ensure the safe return of Leaving Certificate students to in-person learning:
Timetables for the Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied are available on the State Examinations Commission website . The written examinations will begin on 9 June.
The Leaving Certificate 2021 examinations will proceed and students will also have the alternative option of applying for grades accredited by the State Examinations Commission (SEC), to be known as SEC-Accredited Grades. This decision brings greater certainty and clarity about what lies ahead. Some further detail has been provided and some issues have yet to be clarified. At the moment some things are out of your control. It’s important to remind yourself that focusing on those everyday things that are within your control can help with minding your wellbeing and staying well while these things are being finalised.
The link below will take you to specific information on minding your wellbeing during the current uncertainty and to a range of wellbeing resources and supports.
An Advisory Group of key stakeholders was convened to advise Government on all of the various issues arising in relation to the holding of the 2021 examinations, including public health considerations and appropriate contingency measures. The Advisory Group, which was initially constituted in April 2020 in respect of the 2020 state examinations, includes representatives of students, parents, teachers, school leadership and management bodies, the State Examinations Commission, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, the Higher Education Authority and the Department of Education, including the National Educational Psychological Service. See details on the membership of the group and the role of the group.
In January and early February 2021 a subgroup of the Advisory Group met on a number of occasions to consider in greater depth issues relating to planning towards the 2021 examinations. Read the statements published following these meetings.
Engagement between the Department of Education and Public Health is ongoing in relation to planning for the 2021 state examinations.
Results of the written examinations are available on the State Examinations Commission (SEC) Candidate Self-Service Portal
