PICTURE SLIDESHOW: exams start in Limerick schools

SOME 5,447 pupils began their Leaving and Junior Certificate - and Leaving Cert Applied - examinations in schools around Limerick this week.

Students were faced with the distraction of stunning weather, typically associated with the start of exams.

A total of 2,427 - 1,178 female and 1,249 male - students will sit the Leaving Cert in Limerick, plus 191 at Leaving Cert Applied level - 103 female and 88 male - and 2,829 Junior Certs, or 1,336 female and 1,493 male students.

Tom Prendergast, principal of CBS Sexton Street, offered some key advice for students sitting the exams over the next month.

“The weather makes it difficult, but it has been conducive to study all year, we have had the longest winter in memory,” he said.

“There is pressure every year and they all want to do well.

“One piece of advice is to not carry out post-mortems, regardless of how they feel after, they need to move on and prepare for Thursday and not spend time going back over mistakes.

“They have to think about their body clock too, there is no point in burning the midnight oil, they need rest and a good night’s sleep as well as eating well and keeping hydrated in the warm weather,” added the CBS principal, who has 166 students in total sitting Leaving and Junior Cert exams.

Our photographers were around the county to capture the start of exams - they can be ordered from the front office of the Limerick Leader on 061-214531.