GrindSpot Blog
Study tips, exam advice, and resources to help you succeed.
Your CAO application: what to do between now and February
The CAO opens in November and most students apply in January. A simple plan for choosing courses calmly, without leaving it to the last week.
Christmas tests: a six-week plan that actually works
Six weeks is enough time to go into the Christmas tests prepared, if you start now. A simple week-by-week plan for students.
Getting ready for the mocks: why November is the right time to start
The mocks arrive soon after Christmas. Starting now, gently, means you can treat them as a useful practice run instead of a scramble.
How to use past papers and marking schemes properly
Past papers are free and they are the best revision tool there is, but only if you use them the right way. Here is how.
Leaving Cert language orals: why you should start preparing now
The orals happen in spring, but the confidence to speak takes months to build. How to start preparing for Irish, French, German or Spanish now.
A winter routine for exam students: sleep, phones and short days
Dark evenings and busy weeks make winter hard for students. Small changes to sleep, phone use and daily routine make study easier.
How Leaving Cert points work: a simple guide for students and parents
H1 to H8, O1 to O8, the six best subjects and the Maths bonus: how CAO points are counted, explained simply.
A study plan for the Leaving Cert year, month by month
From September to June: what to focus on in each part of 6th year, so the work is spread out and the exams hold no surprises.
How to use your mock results to plan the last months before the Leaving Cert
Mock results feel final, but they are the most useful study tool you will get all year. Here is how to read them.
