Approximately 73,000 students are expected to collect their Junior Cycle results, coming a week earlier compared to the previous year. Data presents a trend where the number of students attaining the highest possible mark, “distinction”, has reduced in most subject areas. The State Examinations Commission (SEC) justified the slim proportion of top grades previously by stating that they are only achievable by “exceptional students”.
The analysis of this year’s results disclosed that the percentage of students attaining a distinction grade – equivalent to a 90-100 per cent exam score – ranged from 2.6 (English A) to 7.9 (Italian). However, a mean of around 4 per cent was observed across 25 separate exam papers, comparable to last year’s rate between 2 and 4 per cent.
An approximate 72,828 students are expecting their results this Wednesday, which is a 3 per cent increase from the prior year when the total number of candidates first crossed the 70,000 mark.
The timely release of Junior Cycle results has been attributed to the increased count of teachers grading the exams and the adoption of online marking for nearly all subjects, explained the State Exams Commission (SEC). They added that the issue date of the 9th of October arrives a whole week earlier than the previous year.
The results that will be issued this Wednesday reveal that 94 per cent of them were marked either wholly or partially via the SEC’s online marking system. Schools have the provision to obtain the results in a digital format through the SEC’s Schools Portal on Wednesday morning and can organise for the issuance of printed statements.
Donal Cremin, the president of the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI), views the Junior Cycle results as a significant event for young students, helping guide their selection of subjects at a senior level.
He also draws attention to the most recent Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) PISA report revealing that 15-year-old students in Ireland lead the ranks for reading literacy among 37 nations. Ireland also has a commendable ranking of seventh in maths and eighth in science.
Nevertheless, the Association concurrently highlighted that Ireland still ranks low in terms of investment. As students gear up to celebrate their achievements, Mr Cremin urges students to do so safely and encourages parents and guardians to be involved in their children’s celebratory plans.