I’m gobsmacked… these papers were simply wonderful, almost… enjoyable (not in real life). The French paper this morning had comprehensible comprehensions, although the questions were sometimes challenging. The “production ecrite” used straight forward language, I can’t imagine it being too troublesome for many. I was happy enough, my vocab and grammar was only satisfactory, not A1 material and the aural that followed wasn’t the hardest of the past papers but I managed to leave behind a few blanks.

After the aural, I had the opportunity to study for 1 hour and 10 minutes and used this wisely I did! I crammed in any predictions I had heard of and the paper was nice to me. Many others were a bit disappointed not see home rule, Parnell or Butt coming up; Hitler and Mussolini’s church relations was missing from the european section- may have been a shock too, I know it was for me, but overall the paper was very manageable. My time management was poor and my last essay question was rushed but I left school today a very happy scholar!

Discuss French in the Forums! or How about History?

I had the most unusual night last night. I was meant to study but after the long day I laid down for what was to be a 20 minutes rest but actually turned into 4 hours sleep! I was slow to get up and little study was done. A 5am job was in order for once again another late night/early morning. The sleep deprivation is really getting to me, I had the same dream twice last night which I woke up after, it was so lucid… in fact scary and only 2am! I woke automatically at 5am this morning, my body clock seems to be actually adjusting!

Today I will be taking the French and History papers. Am I nervous, yeah I must admit little. The French comprehensions vary so much from year to year and are sometimes simple but other times complex. I hope my grammar, spelling and vocab will be up to scratch, to be honest I won’t know this until I am in the exam as I have not practiced since the mock!

History will start just 70 minutes after French, the syllabus for history is huge, I mean 4 books. I am anxious, I have only learned what I have predicted to come up rather than centuries of oldness. If I am unlucky…

I’ll let you know how I get on,

Colin.

Discuss French in the Forums! or How about History?

It has all begun and the end is near. This week signifies the start of the official Leaving Cert exams… scary. With my Irish oral behind me and my music practical yesterday, I say to the Leaving cert – “Bring it on!” You’d never expect that you wouldn’t be nervous during these exams but it’s a simple fact of – over preparation. Except for that one girl I know of who puked up before her exam. Looking back on my Irish oral I really could have contributed more:

“What would you do if you were Mary Hannifan”

“Oh, I really don’t know what I would do to be honest, she’s the one in the olympics, yeah?”

It seems that what she was trying to make an opener for the conditional tense, she only had to say!

Music went relatively well too, I am not the most musical of students. It went as well as expected, examiners make great liars “good lad that was very enjoyable” – oh yes, I was only playing something completely different from what I was looking at. Thank you Dan!

My study method is working out great, cramming of course. No professional endorses the idea but it really does work! What’s left? 8 weeks? I’ll give it seven weeks before I study to make sure it all sticks.

What’s next in life for Colin Lowry? Let us see… my very late history research study has to be handed in, French orals in one week and my practical art exam in a few weeks. I feel like getting sick…

As all of you are probably (should be) aware that the Leaving cert Oral exams begin soon. Very soon as a matter of fact. So the majority of us should be trying to only speak in these languages for the weekend.

Just a note of the dates

7th - Start date for Leaving Certificate Oral tests in:

• Irish
• French
• German
• Spanish
• Italian
• Russian
• Japanese

I’d like to wish all my fellow students the best of luck.