An unnamed Carlow Leaving Certificate student has made headlines this week by posting her observations of cheating during Leaving Certificate exams in a Carlow school.  The post was made on Boards.ie and can be read in full, here.  The post received over 700 replies.  More significanly, the post has prompted a state investigation into these allegations.  The 700 replies to the post are a mix of helpful advice, anger directed at “the snitch”, anger directed at the cheaters and anger directed to the examiners.

While the story has deservedly caused a stir, cheating in the Leaving Certificate is not a new, recession inspired tactic.  I cheated in my Leaving Certificate all of eleven years ago.  What was my weapon of choice?  While on a toilet break, I simply picked up a textbook outside the door of the exam hall and searched for the required text.

The Leaving Certificate remains too pressurised for students.  The Leaving Certificate remains a memory test.  The type of cheating outlined above and by the Boards.ie post only holds value in an exam where repeating text from a book scores you marks.  A focus on the understanding of a topic rather than being able to rattle off its definition would not only make cheating more difficult but would also produce a better graduate and ultimately a better workforce.  This is my opinion, please feel free to add your comments below.

So to try gauge the extent of cheating (past and present) in the Leaving Certificate in Carlow, I have added a poll below.  Have your say.

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