Leaving Certificate 2021
The time has finally arrived and the state examinations are just around the corner. The Board of Management and the staff are anxious to have everything in place to ensure that you can perform to your best. The hand out you can find here will detail the various elements of the planning that require your co-operation and attention so as to guarantee the smooth running of the exam period.. We wish all of our students the very best of luck!
State Examinations Commission 2020- Candidate Self-Service Portal - Phase 2
The State Examinations Commission (SEC) has announced the reopening of the Candidate Self Service Portal between 12 noon on Tuesday 27th April 2021 and 6pm on Friday 30th April 2021 for candidates to review and finalise their level selection and their choices of examinations, Accredited Grades or both for the 2021 Leaving Certificate for each subject in which they are entered.
A comprehensive guide to this phase of the portal is attached and it has been published and is available on www.gov.ie/leavingcertificate and www.examinations.ie Candidates have received a text message alerting them to the availability of the guide, with a follow-up e-mail issuing over the weekend. The Candidate Self Service Portal helpline will be available throughout Phase 2 on 1800-111135 or 1800-111136.
The Guide can also be accessed by clicking the button below
A comprehensive guide to this phase of the portal is attached and it has been published and is available on www.gov.ie/leavingcertificate and www.examinations.ie Candidates have received a text message alerting them to the availability of the guide, with a follow-up e-mail issuing over the weekend. The Candidate Self Service Portal helpline will be available throughout Phase 2 on 1800-111135 or 1800-111136.
The Guide can also be accessed by clicking the button below
Further adjustments to the written examinations, Leaving Certificate, 2021 document
Please see details of the Further adjustments to the written examinations, Leaving Certificate, 2021 document. which can be accessed by clicking on the button below This will also be published on the State Examinations Commission website at www.examinations.ie and on gov.ie/leavingcertificate2021.
Out of School Subjects and Out of School Learners
There are two broad categories of out-of-school candidates for whom some special arrangements need to be provided.
Every effort will be made to provide Accredited Grades to as many students as possible, provided that there is evidence, on which an estimated percentage mark can be based. However, in the absence of such evidence, it may not be possible to provide an accredited grade. If you have any concerns that you might fall into this category, then you are strongly urged to sit the June examinations as there is no guarantee that it will be possible to provide Accredited Grades to you.
The Department have produced Guide to Accredited Grades for Leaving Certificate 2021 for
(a) Out of School Subjects and (b) Out of School Learners which can be downloaded by clicking on the button below
Please notify the school as soon as possible if you fall into either of these categories
- Out-of-School Subjects refers to students who are enrolled in, and studying in, a school on a full time basis but are also studying an extra subject, or subjects, entirely outside of school. Students who are studying a subject in school but getting some extra tuition outside of school are not included in this category: they can only get an estimated mark from their fulltime teacher.
- Out-of-School Learners refers to students who are entered for the examinations as external candidates and who are not attending for fulltime tuition at any school, or private college, recognised by the State Examinations Commission. This category includes students who are being home schooled.
Every effort will be made to provide Accredited Grades to as many students as possible, provided that there is evidence, on which an estimated percentage mark can be based. However, in the absence of such evidence, it may not be possible to provide an accredited grade. If you have any concerns that you might fall into this category, then you are strongly urged to sit the June examinations as there is no guarantee that it will be possible to provide Accredited Grades to you.
The Department have produced Guide to Accredited Grades for Leaving Certificate 2021 for
(a) Out of School Subjects and (b) Out of School Learners which can be downloaded by clicking on the button below
Please notify the school as soon as possible if you fall into either of these categories
Oral Examinations
Leaving Candidate Self Service Portal 2021
The State Examinations Commission (SEC) has introduced a facility to allow Leaving Certificate candidates to confirm their subject and level entry details online through the Candidate Self Service Portal, and to indicate whether they want to take the examinations, or to receive SEC Accredited Grades, or both.
The Candidate Self Service Portal (CSSP) is a service provided by the State Examinations Commission (SEC) and the Department of Education for 6th year candidates entered for the 2021 Leaving Certificate.
The Candidate portal will open at 12 Noon on Wednesday 10 March and close at 6 pm on Tuesday 16 March.
The Leaving Certificate Candidate Self Service Portal (CSSP) can be accessed at www.examinations.ie or www.gov.ie/LeavingCertificate. Click on ‘Leaving Certificate Candidate Self Service Portal (CSSP) 2021’.
To assist Candidates the SEC has prepared a step by step ‘Before You Start Guide’ which can be viewed by clicking the button below
The ‘Before you Start Guide’ updates the information provided in Circular 7/21 regarding candidates confirming that they want to sit examinations after the 16 March. Note please that it will be possible for candidates to update their choices at the end of April/early May to include indicating that they want to take an examination in a subject which they had opted out of taking. However, there are limitations on this choice as by the time the portal reopens candidates will have lost the opportunity to take any of the related assessment components in multi-component subjects.
Please see below, Leaving Certificate Short Information For Students, Parents and Guardians.
The Candidate Self Service Portal (CSSP) is a service provided by the State Examinations Commission (SEC) and the Department of Education for 6th year candidates entered for the 2021 Leaving Certificate.
The Candidate portal will open at 12 Noon on Wednesday 10 March and close at 6 pm on Tuesday 16 March.
The Leaving Certificate Candidate Self Service Portal (CSSP) can be accessed at www.examinations.ie or www.gov.ie/LeavingCertificate. Click on ‘Leaving Certificate Candidate Self Service Portal (CSSP) 2021’.
To assist Candidates the SEC has prepared a step by step ‘Before You Start Guide’ which can be viewed by clicking the button below
The ‘Before you Start Guide’ updates the information provided in Circular 7/21 regarding candidates confirming that they want to sit examinations after the 16 March. Note please that it will be possible for candidates to update their choices at the end of April/early May to include indicating that they want to take an examination in a subject which they had opted out of taking. However, there are limitations on this choice as by the time the portal reopens candidates will have lost the opportunity to take any of the related assessment components in multi-component subjects.
Please see below, Leaving Certificate Short Information For Students, Parents and Guardians.
Leaving Certificate and SEC Accredited Grades 2021
On 17 February Government announced that the written Leaving Certificate 2021 examinations will be held in June with related components also proceeding as far as possible subject to public health advice. A corresponding process of grades accredited by the State Examinations Commission (SEC) will also be available to students who opt to receive them. The Government also announced that the Junior Cycle examinations will not be run in 2021
The key points to note from this announcement for Leaving Certificate students are:
- Students will have the option of whether to sit the examinations, receive SEC Accredited Grades, or both, on a subject by subject basis. This means that students can sit examinations in any number of subjects they want, while also receiving SEC Accredited Grades in any number of subjects they want.
- Students who opt for both will have their better grades in each subject reflected in their results.
- Students will be required to register on the student portal; confirm their subject and level entry details; opt for the examinations and/or to receive SEC Accredited Grades. The SEC’s Candidate Portal is expected to open in the week of 8 March 2021 to allow students to make their choices. Further details will be issued in advance.
- There will be no fees payable for the 2021 examinations and no fees for SEC Accredited Grades.
- It is intended that the results of both the examinations and the SEC Accredited Grades processes will issue to students within the required timeframe for progression to higher and further education in Ireland.
The Department of Education have an information page which can be accessed by clicking on the button below
Timetables for Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied 2021
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On Thursday 4th March the State Examinations Commission issued Circular S07/21 to provide an update in relation to the arrangements for the delivery of the Leaving Certificate examinations following the announcement by the government on Wednesday 17th February 2021. the key pieces of information are highlighted below
Candidate Entries 2021 and Candidate Self Service Portal
.For 2021, the SEC has, as part of its digital strategy, introduced a facility to allow school-based Leaving Certificate candidates to confirm their subject and level entry details replacing individual candidate entry forms.
The Candidate Self Service Portal (CSSP) will open for this purpose on Wednesday 10 March at 12 noon and will remain open until 6 pm on Tuesday 16 March.
We will provide a link to this portal when it has been issued to us
For candidates attending recognised schools, the portal will be pre-populated with the data entered by schools through the PPOD October returns process. This means that only those subjects which candidates have been studying in schools will be displayed on the portal. In line with the normal process, candidates will be able to add any subjects that they are studying outside of school or withdraw from subjects.
Candidates will also be able to indicate whether they want to take the examinations, or to receive SEC Accredited Grades, or both.
Further details concerning arrangements for students attending recognised schools but studying subjects out of school and students studying entirely outside of schools will be available shortly. It should be noted that in both cases, for reasons of equity and fairness these students will need to be able to provide substantial evidence of their learning to be eligible for consideration for Accredited Grades.
Selection of Levels
It is extremely important at this stage that schools engage with candidates regarding their selection of their level in each subject. We know from the data that we have received from the October returns process that the numbers of candidates at Higher Level in most subjects exceeds what we would typically expect to see at this time. In Mathematics and Irish, the numbers entered for Foundation Level are significantly lower than would be expected.
Candidates should be advised by their teachers to select the level at which they are currently studying each subject. SEC will use this information for planning purposes. They will also provide this information to schools through a turnaround document for review.
Candidates will have a further opportunity at the end of April/early May to confirm their levels in each subject. At that time, candidates can also withdraw their intention to take the written examination but they will not be able to indicate their intention to sit examinations after the 16 March 2021.
The level selected by candidates at the end of April/early May will be an absolutely final decision when it comes to the level – Higher, Ordinary or Foundation – in which they will receive their accredited grade in each subject. As teachers will then be in the estimation process, candidates (or schools) will not be permitted to change levels for the purpose of the accredited grades process after that time.
Candidates opting to sit the examinations will be permitted to change their levels in respect of the written examinations on the day of the examination, as they are in a normal year.
Before using the Candidate Portal for the first time, candidates will be asked to create their own account and will need their examination number for this process.
To access the portal candidates will need their Personal Identification Number as part of the verification process. For most candidates this will be the first four digits of their PPSN.
The Candidate Self Service Portal (CSSP) will open for this purpose on Wednesday 10 March at 12 noon and will remain open until 6 pm on Tuesday 16 March.
We will provide a link to this portal when it has been issued to us
For candidates attending recognised schools, the portal will be pre-populated with the data entered by schools through the PPOD October returns process. This means that only those subjects which candidates have been studying in schools will be displayed on the portal. In line with the normal process, candidates will be able to add any subjects that they are studying outside of school or withdraw from subjects.
Candidates will also be able to indicate whether they want to take the examinations, or to receive SEC Accredited Grades, or both.
Further details concerning arrangements for students attending recognised schools but studying subjects out of school and students studying entirely outside of schools will be available shortly. It should be noted that in both cases, for reasons of equity and fairness these students will need to be able to provide substantial evidence of their learning to be eligible for consideration for Accredited Grades.
Selection of Levels
It is extremely important at this stage that schools engage with candidates regarding their selection of their level in each subject. We know from the data that we have received from the October returns process that the numbers of candidates at Higher Level in most subjects exceeds what we would typically expect to see at this time. In Mathematics and Irish, the numbers entered for Foundation Level are significantly lower than would be expected.
Candidates should be advised by their teachers to select the level at which they are currently studying each subject. SEC will use this information for planning purposes. They will also provide this information to schools through a turnaround document for review.
Candidates will have a further opportunity at the end of April/early May to confirm their levels in each subject. At that time, candidates can also withdraw their intention to take the written examination but they will not be able to indicate their intention to sit examinations after the 16 March 2021.
The level selected by candidates at the end of April/early May will be an absolutely final decision when it comes to the level – Higher, Ordinary or Foundation – in which they will receive their accredited grade in each subject. As teachers will then be in the estimation process, candidates (or schools) will not be permitted to change levels for the purpose of the accredited grades process after that time.
Candidates opting to sit the examinations will be permitted to change their levels in respect of the written examinations on the day of the examination, as they are in a normal year.
Before using the Candidate Portal for the first time, candidates will be asked to create their own account and will need their examination number for this process.
To access the portal candidates will need their Personal Identification Number as part of the verification process. For most candidates this will be the first four digits of their PPSN.
Oral Examinations
Oral examinations in Gaeilge and the Modern Foreign Languages will be arranged by schools during the Easter period and shortly after, outside of tuition time and subject to public health advice.
The tests will be conducted by a locally appointed teacher, recorded and returned to the SEC for marking
To facilitate the orderly conduct of the marking, the tests must be held between 26 March and 15 April.
Practical Performance Test in Music
The Practical Performance Test in Music is planned to take place in the second week of the Easter holiday. The tests will be conducted by examiners appointed by the SEC. Running the tests outside of the school term means that there will be fewer personnel and students in the school and more space will be available for ensuring physical distancing between the candidate and the examiner. Further details on the arrangements for the tests will be provided as soon as possible, based on the public health advice.
Components Not Proceeding on Public Health Grounds.
It will not be possible to proceed with the day-practical examinations in Construction Studies and Engineering given public health considerations. Candidates who sit the examinations in these subjects will be resulted on the written and practical coursework components with the marks for the practical skills tests reallocated to the practical coursework
Oral examinations in Gaeilge and the Modern Foreign Languages will be arranged by schools during the Easter period and shortly after, outside of tuition time and subject to public health advice.
The tests will be conducted by a locally appointed teacher, recorded and returned to the SEC for marking
To facilitate the orderly conduct of the marking, the tests must be held between 26 March and 15 April.
Practical Performance Test in Music
The Practical Performance Test in Music is planned to take place in the second week of the Easter holiday. The tests will be conducted by examiners appointed by the SEC. Running the tests outside of the school term means that there will be fewer personnel and students in the school and more space will be available for ensuring physical distancing between the candidate and the examiner. Further details on the arrangements for the tests will be provided as soon as possible, based on the public health advice.
Components Not Proceeding on Public Health Grounds.
It will not be possible to proceed with the day-practical examinations in Construction Studies and Engineering given public health considerations. Candidates who sit the examinations in these subjects will be resulted on the written and practical coursework components with the marks for the practical skills tests reallocated to the practical coursework
Candidates unable to take their examinations
Some students may be at very high-risk from COVID-19; some students may be required to self isolate and/or restrict their movements for all or part of the period of the examinations; or they may have a bereavement or other medically certified illness which prevents them from sitting the examinations. Unlike in 2019, when there was an alternative sitting of the examinations for candidates who were bereaved, there will be one sitting of the 2021 Leaving Certificate.
Any candidate unable to take their examinations as scheduled, for any of these reasons, will receive Accredited Grades (whether or not they have opted for Accredited Grades).
Coursework Completion Dates
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Coursework Leaving Certificate 2021 |
Category |
Completion Date |
Submission/Marking arrangements |
|
Home Economics |
1 |
Completed |
Already submitted and marked. |
|
LCVP Portfolio of Coursework |
1 |
March 12 |
To facilitate timely marking of this subject, return by post to SEC immediately following the completion date of March 12 |
|
Economics# |
1 |
March 15 |
Retained in school. Printed and returned to SEC together with the written script in June. |
|
Design and Communication Graphics |
2 |
March 19 |
Return by post to the SEC during week ending 26 March. |
|
Physical Education – Physical Activity Project |
2 |
March 22 |
Projects returned to SEC via School Portal during week beginning April 12. |
|
History |
1 |
April 23 |
Retained in school. Returned to SEC together with the written script in June |
|
Geography |
1 |
April 23 |
Retained in school. Returned to SEC together with the written script in June |
|
Religious Education |
1 |
April 23 |
Retained in school. Returned to SEC together with the written script in June |
|
Agricultural Science# |
1 |
April 23 |
Retained in school. Printed and returned to SEC together with the written script in June |
|
Engineering (project) |
2 |
May 7 |
Retained in schools for marking |
|
Politics and Society# |
1 |
May 7 |
Retained in school. Printed and returned to SEC together with the written script in June |
|
Art |
2 |
May 20 |
Retained in schools for marking |
|
Technology |
2 |
May 27 |
Retained in schools for marking |
|
Computer Science |
2 |
May 27 |
Projects returned to SEC via the School Portal immediately following the completion date of May 27 |
|
Construction Studies (project) |
2 |
May 28 |
Retained in schools for marking |
|
Home Economics (Textile Studies Elective) |
2 |
May 28 |
Retained in schools for marking |
*The SEC will issue further guidance to schools on the requirements for each subject prior to the closing date(s) for submission.
# Practical coursework in these subjects must be returned in hard copy together with the written script and not through the School Portal as previously notified.
# Practical coursework in these subjects must be returned in hard copy together with the written script and not through the School Portal as previously notified.