Advice from teachers and parents, while helpful, is sometimes not as well received as advice from those who have been through the Leaving Certificate a little more recently. With that in mind, we speak to three former Leaving Certificate students about how they achieved their goals, managed their time and what they wished somebody had shared with them.
Sean Ryan
Currently undertaking a BEng (honours) degree in automation engineering in South East Technological University, Waterford
“I’ve always learned best through doing rather than memorising. In secondary school, I chose subjects like technology, agricultural science, history and geography – subjects with project components – as the hands-on aspects kept me motivated.
“Sitting down to study theory or memorise material was something that developed over time for me and one thing that really helped was taking the initiative to just sit down and get started – once I made that first move to open the laptop or go to the library everything else followed.
“Diagrams and visuals really help me understand things and, in my opinion, practice papers are the best exam preparation tool. Group study helped a lot for subjects I’m weaker in; being around others in the same situation helped us push each other on, and together you can build strong, refined notes.
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“In secondary school I followed strict timetables, but in college that became harder with continuous assessment. Now, I keep my notes organised, separating class notes, practice questions and projects, so I always know where I stand in each subject.
“Success really comes from showing up every day, asking questions and staying consistent – even when things get busy. For students who are preparing for exams I’d say start early and get your projects or coursework finished as soon as possible. Take breaks to refuel, set goals and stay flexible – life will always find a way to shift your plans. The key is not to panic. There’s never just one way into a college or career you want, so focus on your own progress rather than comparing yourself to others. Everyone’s journey is different.”
Afua Adu
Graduated with a BEng in Electronic and Computer Engineering from Dublin City University; currently working as a software engineer in AI operations and telemetry at Dell Technologies
“While most students sit the Leaving Cert with the advantage of studying seven or eight subjects, my school offered only six, leaving me with a choice to accept the limitation or find a way to level the playing field. Determined not to let circumstance dictate my future, I decided to study a seventh subject – business – entirely on my own. No teacher, no tutor, just determination and a self-made study plan.
“To manage the extra workload, I focused on three key areas: strategy, time management and collaboration. I prepared a detailed plan outlining the key topics in the syllabus. I also incorporated an effective note-taking approach to retain information. By regularly reviewing notes, I found myself to be better equipped to remember the details.
“Considering my numerous extracurricular activities, time-management became essential. I prioritised my activities to ensure maximum productivity. I reorganised my study timetable to dedicate 12 hours a week to my extra subject, ensuring steady progress and minimal distractions. Because I aimed to study engineering, I also set aside 20 minutes each day to tackle a maths past-paper question, a small but consistent routine that kept my problem-solving skills sharp.
“I collaborated with past successful students to seek their advice and assistance, gleaning insights and strategies that I never could have found on my own and unlocking new levels of understanding. My biggest challenge was finding a way to test myself. I overcame this by joining study groups online. I discovered that seeking constructive feedback from like-minded individuals and teachers helped me stay motivated and accountable.”
Aaron Keane
Did his Leaving Certificate in 2020, achieving 7 H1s and the 99th percentile in Health Professions Admission Test. While studying medicine at the University of Galway he founded the Leaving Cert Plus app
“I’ve always been very driven and once I decide to do something I will work relentlessly to achieve my goals. The ability to want to do something for myself helped me take control for both Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate and that’s my top piece of advice to students – nobody is going to do it for you; you have to want to do it for yourself. You don’t need to know the course you want to do or where you want to go to college, you just have to want to achieve your max potential.
“While studying for the Leaving Cert I got the vision for the Leaving Cert Plus app which teaches subjects in bite-sized formats so that students can work to their strengths, learn in ways they want to learn and integrate study around what they feel like doing – all based on my own experiences.
“When I was studying for the Leaving Cert I was on the go – in the gym or at the track [Keane is an international athlete and part of the Irish athletics team] so I made audio resources to help me study, flashcards I could use in the car on the way to training and one-page summaries I could use in the gym. When I was struggling to find motivation, I’d start by doing something I enjoyed, like a maths question, to get a short-term dopamine high and then move on to something more difficult.
“Studying shouldn’t always be hard. By taking control and altering the process, I made it work for me and that’s what I would say to current students – work with yourself, not against yourself.”
