We are into marathon levels of endurance with Leaving Cert 2025 at this stage. The sun has returned too, so for anyone with more exams on the horizon take the chance to get some fresh air.
In today's Leaving Cert Diary, with thanks to our friends at the Irish Second-Level Students' Union (ISSU), Michaela was loving Agricultural Science, and first up, Thomas tells us how Spanish went.
Thomas' Spanish blog is here...
This morning I sat the Higher Level Spanish paper and in my opinion it was more challenging than previous years with many aspects that were there to distinguish the H1 student from the H2 student.
In Section A, the majority of students would have opted for the journalistic text , which explored the distinct Spanish culture and lifestyle which would be familiar to those students who have had the chance to visit Spain. There was nothing out of the ordinary in the corresponding questions and it was a nice opening to the exam.
The text in section B was titled 'The Influencers of Artificial Intelligence'. The opinion piece titles that stemmed from this text would have been a welcome sight to most students as AI was highly tipped to appear in 2025. I answered on (c): ‘The traditional jobs are the most important’.
Across sections A and B students were asked a total of 13 synonyms, this would have challenged many students as I feel in these questions the examiner was trying to distinguish the H1 student from the H2 student: ‘aún se escucha’, ‘causa asombro’ and ‘considerando’ would have required a deep understanding of the texts.
Section C offered students lots of choice and will reward students who practiced past exam papers. The dialogue asked you to fill in your side of the conversation with Jorge who plans to study abroad next year – a very traditional topic often seen in section C. In the latter part of section C, I chose the note over the diary entry, which was again traditional in its layout and rewarding for students.
Regarding the listening comprehension test, I thought it was a very fair part of the exam. Each question touched on a different topic, and most were straightforward until students reached question 7 which was the most challenging, it discussed a Spanish Maori clan.
Overall, this was a good paper with plenty of opportunity for students to get their marks.
Michaela loved Ag Science...
I absolutely loved the Agricultural Science paper this year. It felt like the perfect way to round off two years of hard work and revision. Walking out of the exam hall, I had a real sense of pride - not just because I answered the questions well, but because I genuinely enjoyed every minute of it.
From the moment I opened the paper, I felt a wave of relief and confidence. The topics that came up were ones I had studied in-depth and found interesting. It didn't feel like a struggle; it felt like a chance to show what I’d learned.
The experiments and genetics questions were highlights for me. I’ve always found the practical side of ag science really engaging, especially when it links to real-life applications. Whether it’s testing soil pH, compacted and uncompacted soil, or understanding plant genetics, I love how everything ties back to the farm and the environment around us. Those kinds of questions made the paper feel less like an exam and more like a celebration of the subject.
I also felt really well-prepared thanks to how the course is laid out - blending theory with investigation work, and mixing up topics like animal science, soils, and sustainability. It made revision so much easier and kept things interesting. It’s a subject that doesn’t just stay in the classroom; you see it in the fields, in the weather, in the food we eat. That’s what I love most about it.
Overall, I couldn’t have asked for a better paper. I’m proud of what I wrote, and even more proud to have studied a subject that’s so connected to the world around us.
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The ISSU
Founded in 2008, the ISSU is the national representative body for school students in the Republic of Ireland. The ISSU is led by students, for students.
