How useful are revision guides? We gave four students four study guides to review. Here are their verdicts.

Less Stress More Success for Leaving Certificate Higher Level English by Anne Gormley, Gill & Macmillan:

Megan Smith, Stratford College, Rathgar, Dublin

Although Less Stress . . . appears weightier then most revision books, it is well planned and easy to follow. The guide is separated into two halves. The first half focuses on Paper One. It includes sample answers, which are all followed by an examiner's mark and comment. There are also questions to be answered at the end of each chapter aimed at helping you improve your work.

The second section, on Paper Two, is more focused on giving notes on prescribed texts, films, poetry and plays. However, they are standard notes and are nothing a student with a decent teacher won't already have.

This is very comprehensive and aims to give you everything you could need for the exam. But it's less a guide and more a condensed textbook.

I recommend this guide to anyone who wants to be prepared for every eventuality in the Leaving Cert as it covers them all. I would also advise anyone who is struggling with writing technique to get a copy because most of the chapters offer practical advice and tips on how to write good essays.

Less Stress . . . could definitely replace a grind. If you studied each chapter for the same amount of time spent attending a grind, it would probably get you the same improvement in your marks.

My only real criticism is that it's a huge book with lots of notes. I know that may appeal to a lot of people, but approaching the Leaving Cert I personally do not have time to deal with a revision book as long and comprehensive this one. I would rather have something snappy and to the point that I could easily pick up and put down while studying and which wouldn't take me hours to read.

MARKS: 6 out of 10

Rapid Revision French by George Dunbar, Folens

Niall Sherry, Stratford College, Rathgar, Dublin

Rapid Revision French is different to most study aid texts available today. Rather than compressing the entire course into bullet points and leaving the student alone to wade through the incomprehensible mess, it offers a 10-week study programme that covers just about everything you need to know for the written exam in June (as well as some pointers for the oral and aural sections). The weekly lessons focus mainly on grammar and vocabulary, but there are also sections with specific advice on the paper itself, including sample answers.

There is a downside, of course. Gone are the days when students could while away the hours writing, revising and colour-coding study timetables, as RRF sets out (to the minute) exactly how much time you should be spending on each exercise each week, with a "Test Yourself" section at the end of each chapter.

The layout of the book is very user-friendly - the text is clear and the lessons laid out simply, which makes it extremely accessible.

RRF's weak point comes in the areas of the aural and oral examinations. This problem affects every language revision aid or textbook - no matter how many pronunciation keys you include, reading a foreign language to yourself can never replace a conversation with a fluent speaker. Many modern textbooks include CDs, and this would have vastly improved RRF. But it isn't essential - there are other book-and-tape combinations available devoted to speaking and comprehending French, and using one of these alongside RRF could easily replace a language grind (and at a fraction of the cost).

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking to improve their French before the Leaving Certificate. While it won't single-handedly guarantee a good grade, it is a valuable resource for helping you organise your study and revision for the exam.

MARKS: 8 out of 10

Shortcuts to Success - English Essay Writing (Leaving Certificate Higher Level) by Martin Kieran and Frances Rocks, Gill & Macmillan

Hannah Doyle Stratford College, Rathgar, Dublin

In Shortcuts to Success, the authors have compiled a textbook dealing exclusively with essay writing, a skill required for 80 per cent of the exam paper, and one with which many students struggle.

From argumentative essays to short stories, all aspects of writing and language are discussed and illustrated using sample essays and comments from examiners, that provide invaluable insight into the minds of the correctors - indispensable information for any Leaving Cert student.

The practical theory is outlined using simple, clear language, making it easily accessible for students of all levels. Included in each chapter is a task designed to sharpen the reader's skills and techniques and essay plans to help students structure a well-thought-out essay. Many of the sample essays make for vaguely interesting and relevant reading material, ranging from football to summer travel.

Compared to many other English textbooks currently on the market, Shortcuts to Success is remarkably accessible, and leaves no question unanswered. If only for its informal and relaxed approach, it could prove to be an essential handbook for teachers and students alike.

Although at times slightly confusing, the content is accentuated by its simplistic design, which remains pleasingly consistent from beginning to end. Each chapter deals with a specific type of writing, and a clear, no-fuss colour scheme is adopted so as not to distract the reader's attention.

As the grinds industry seems currently to be at it's peak, the question of whether a single textbook can compete with one-on-one tutoring remains to be seen. I feel that as well as being an inexpensive alternative, Shortcuts to Success is essentially "The Idiot's Guide to Essay Writing", and could prove to be an invaluable asset to every student's locker.

MARKS: 8.5 out of 10

Kilroy's College Home Study Leaving Cert English course

Denis Leen, repeat Leaving Cert student

I started the Kilroy's College study programme in December and have received a module every two weeks since. I need to complete 12 modules to cover the whole English course for my repeats in June. I spend about three hours working through each module, then I read the texts and do the assignments set at the end of each module. I send these off to my tutor with any questions I might have about the module.

Working with the modules as they arrive is giving structure to my study. I can see my progress through the English course as the assignments arrive back with grades and feedback. All the assignments are based on past exam questions, so I'm getting some practise for the real thing. I have assignment deadlines to meet so I have to stay on top of the material. It's quite like a grind in that way.

There are some aspects of the programme I'd like to change. It can take a week or more to get assignments back and I could do with a faster turnaround because I started this relatively late. There's a six-week course you can take as well, but I've already started this so I'll have to get through it. Overall, however, I think this approach to study would have been very helpful the first time around.