'Someone please shoot me' - Irish students express panic online as Leaving Cert looms

Thousands of students across Ireland are making final preparations for Leaving Certificate examinations due to begin tomorrow (Wednesday June 5). 

The exams - which over 60,000 students are expected to undertake - will run from June 5 to June 25 at schools around the country.

Although many students begin the exams anxious but prepared, some do not feel confident. 

Irish students on X (formerly Twitter) are expressing their nerves ahead of the exams, with one student commenting, "Is anyone else doing the Leaving Cert questioning their ability to do any subject right now? I feel like the more study I do the less prepared I feel even though I’m doing more work than I did for the mocks and I did well in those. I feel like I’m gonna fail every subject." 

Another student commented, "Can someone who’s done the Leaving Cert reassure me that I will survive because it’s not looking too good." 

Another student wrote, "I just had a panic attack because I just went blank at maths grids. I HATE THE LEAVING CERT SO MUCH." 

Others commented: 

"I do not feel ready at all but I just really want it to be over and done with, it’s stressing me out too much." 

"I don't think I'm going to survive the Leaving Cert." 

"The Leaving Cert starts on Wednesday, I think I am going to leave the planet instead." 

"Leaving Cert starts tomorrow, someone please shoot me." 

"I'm so cooked for this Leaving Cert." 

However, other social media users are attempting to reassure students of their success regardless of their marks.

One X user commented, "The Leaving Cert really is only part of the journey. One small step. It doesn’t define you. Do your best and your best is enough." 

Another commented, "For the Leaving Cert students, there's more to life than exam results." 

Another wrote, "Got 350 points in my LC and didn't get into Queen's University Belfast, just didn't work hard enough. Spent a few years working, then did an Access Diploma and worked bloody hard. Got into Queen's and graduated with a first. There's always another way when the time's right for you." 

RTÉ's Six One news presenter, David McCullagh, also revealed his own memories about exam time from 38 years ago, with many social media commenters praising his candor. 

In a video posted on X by RTÉ, McCullagh reflects on his disappointing mark in History and said, "The leaving cert, which seems so important at the time, so all consuming at the time, in the end it's only a step on a journey. And there's lots more ways to get to the destination you're aiming for." 

A social media user commented on the video, stating, "Well done and thank you, David, for making this report. It’s so important for both kids and their parents to be reminded that in the end these exams are not the only way to achieve the goals that have been set." 

Another commented, "Wise words, David. I did mine in 1981, and I still have the occasional nightmare about it." 

Another wrote, "David McCullagh is dead right... it is only the first step. The only advice I [can] give is do your best for you, and the leaving cert in my opinion is all about creating options for yourself. Better you do for you... then the more options you create. The Leaving Cert is not the be all and end all in life." 

Students will tackle English Paper One and Home Economics on the first day of the exams on June 5, followed by Engineering and English Paper 2 on June 6; Geography and Math Paper 1 on June 7; Math Paper 2 and Irish Paper 1 on June 10; Irish Paper 2 and Biology on June 11; French and History on June 12; Business and Art on June 13; German and Construction Studies on June 14; other languages (including Polish, Lithuanian, Portuguese, and Mandarin Chinese), Hebrew Studies, Ancient Greek and Agricultural Studies on June 17; Spanish and Chemistry on June 18; Physics, PhysChem and Accounting on June 19; Design and Communication Graphics, and Music on June 20; Economics and Physical Education on June 21; Italian, Russian, Classical Studies, Latin, and Technology on June 24; Japanese, Politics and Society, Arabic, Religious Education and Applied Mathematics on June 25.