Leaving Cert 2026: Students Speak Out on Maths and Geography

The first week of the Leaving Cert 2026 examinations has drawn to a close, with students across the country facing down Geography and Maths Paper 1 on Friday. For thousands of young people, this week marks a defining moment in their educational journey, one shaped not only by their own hard work but by the structures and standards set by the State Examinations Commission.

The voices of students matter. Through the Leaving Cert Diary series, organised in partnership with the Irish Second-Level Students' Union (ISSU), young people are given space to share their experiences in their own words. It is right that they be heard, for the fairness and accessibility of our exam system is a question that concerns us all.

Jason's Account: A Maths Paper That Fell Short

Jason, a Higher Level Maths student, did not hold back in his assessment of Paper 1.

Wow, what a paper. I tried to differentiate the exam afterwards to find where I went wrong, but all I found was a decreasing trend in my confidence.

He described feeling