From Leaving CertiFiCate to Leaving SChooL a Longitudinal Study ...

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From Leaving Certificate to Leaving School
2.4.3 The ‘Mock’ Exams............................................................. 46
2.4.4 Private Tuition .................................................................. 49
2.4.5 Teaching and Learning in a High Stakes Environment .... 54
2.5 Student-Teacher Relations ......................................................... 59
2.6 Conclusions ................................................................................ 68
3. Academic Stress and the Leaving Certificate ............................... 71
3.1 Introduction ................................................................................ 71
3.2 Student Workload: Schoolwork, Homework and Studying ....... 71
3.3 Stress Among Sixth Year Students............................................. 77
3.3.1 Drivers of Stress................................................................ 82
3.4 Conclusions ................................................................................ 94
4. Leaving Certificate Exam Performance ......................................... 96
4.1 Introduction ................................................................................ 96
4.2 Examination Results in Context ................................................. 97
4.3 Leaving Certificate Performance: A Longitudinal Analysis .... 108
4.4 Factors Influencing Leaving Certificate Exam Performance ... 117
4.5 Conclusions .............................................................................. 129
5. Guidance and Decision-Making in Sixth Year............................ 132
5.1 Introduction .............................................................................. 132
5.2 Career Guidance in the School................................................. 133
5.2.1 Career Guidance Classes................................................ 134
Provision of Information.................................................... 134
Aptitude Testing................................................................. 138
Guests or Visiting Speakers ............................................... 139
Open Days.......................................................................... 141
5.2.2 One-to-one Guidance Counselling Sessions ................... 144
5.2.3 Limitations on Guidance Provision................................. 148
The Amount and Timing of Guidance ............................... 149
Views on the Content of Guidance Classes ....................... 151
Teacher Expectations and Guidance Provision.................. 154
Lack of Time...................................................................... 157
5.3 Other Influences on Decision-Making ..................................... 160
5.3.1 Family ............................................................................. 161
5.3.2 Favourite Subjects........................................................... 164