NEARLY 58,000 LEAVING Certificate students are finding out how they did in their exams this year with the results out today.

Results obtained in most subjects this year have followed broadly similar patterns to those of previous years according to the State Examinations Commission (SEC).

The Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn has sent his congratulations to students, parents, teachers and the SEC this morning whilst urging parents and students to carefully consider their options with the rush to attain college, further education, or training places now underway.

Quinn said: “There are a host of opportunities for our young people at university, Institutes of Technology, colleges, post leaving certificate courses and further education and training.

No one needs reminding that the economic conditions are difficult, so it is more important than ever that our school leavers equip themselves with the skills needed for the 21^st century.

In total, 57,532 students sat the exams which is slighty down on last year. Of that 3,616 were external candidates and 2,947 were repeat candidates.

Two-thirds (66 per cent) of those who took exams sat the Established Leaving Cert Programme with 28.5 per cent opting for the Leaving Cert Vocational Programme. The remaining 5.5 per cent took the Leaving Cert Applied Programme.

There was a significant increase in the number of students taking Biology – 3.7 per cent.  Whilst the number of those who took higher level Irish and achieved an honours grade rose to 84 per cent.

Meanwhile, Quinn noted that the numbers of those taking the higher level Project Maths, which is in its second year of being trialled as an exam subject in 24 participating schools, rose slightly.

From next year, 25 bonus points will be introduced for students sitting Project Maths.

For those who haven’t done as well as they had hoped, Quinn urged them to consider repeating their exams and concluded:

You are not a failure if you decide to give it a go again and it certainly is not a wasted year.  If this one year gives you the opportunity to attack the exams afresh and achieve the third level course you have your heart set on, then it is certainly worth it