Junior Cycle Timetable

The Junior Cycle exams are the first real taste we get of State Examinations. It can be quite daunting, especially if you’re the oldest child in the family, taking the plunge into uncharted waters before everyone else!

Over 73,000 students sit the Junior Cycle Exam. You can’t ‘fail’ the exam really. It’s just a little test before the Leaving Cert exams 2 or 3 years later.

It’s a good idea to download the timetable and print it out. You can download the timetable here.

Here’s the exam timetable for 2025👇

This year’s Junior Cycle will begin on Wednesday, June 4th and runs until Monday, June 16th. The exams will begin with English and end with Applied Technology.

There are some changes to the Junior Cycle syllabus and the scheduling of the examinations this year. It’s important to note that the start time for Junior Cycle afternoon examinations is 1.30 pm. 

It’s also important to be aware that, according to the State Examinations Commission, candidates (that’s you) must be in attendance at least half an hour before the examination begins in the subject in which they first present themselves (i.e. English, for most people). We would also recommend arriving to your each of your exams well before they begin to give yourself time to settle and gather yourself!

The grading system changed a few years ago.

You’ll now see ‘grade descriptors’ rather than just the traditional percentages. It’s a lot of waffle.

But, let me simplify it for you👇

Getting a Distinction in any Junior Cert paper can be quite tough, especially Project Maths! That’s why here at Breakthrough Maths, we have created an unmissable Exam Crash Course to give you our best tips on how to smash the exams!

It’s also not too late to sign up for a trial of our weekly grinds! Students who take our maths grinds see an average grade increase of 16%. Now, we can’t guarantee you’ll see this big of a jump this close to the exams, but at the very least, we can boost your confidence – 97% of our students have reported increased confidence after taking our grinds!

We not only offer weekly maths grinds in small groups with top-talent tutors, but also 24/7 support after class and access to notes and recordings of the lessons so you never fall behind!

And the best part is, the first class is completely free to trial, so why not book in now and see what the hype is all about?

No matter what happens in the exam hall, it’s important to remember that exams aren’t the end of the world. Even if you fail an exam at Junior Cycle Level, you will still be allowed move on to TY or 5th year, and you certainly won’t have a black mark against you for all eternity.

It’s far more important that you mind yourself and your mental health. Doing well in exams is great, but it’s not worth much to you if you’ve run yourself into the ground trying to achieve top marks. 

Continue studying and doing your homework, but also remember to look after yourself! We have posted some really helpful blogs to help you minimise stress and maximise results.

We also recommend having a look at the Junior Cert grading system, as it is a little different to how the old Junior Cert was marked, and different again to the marking of the Leaving Cert. It should give you an idea of where you lie grade wise.

In saying that, grades aren’t everything. The most you should aim for is your own personal best. That is the most that can be asked of anyone!

Believe in yourself, it will all be grand in the end. Before you head in, take a deep breath and remind yourself that YOU GOT THIS!

Wishing you the best of luck in the exams!

T.J – CEO of Breakthrough Maths

Need help in Maths? Contact the Breakthrough Maths team here.