How to prepare for the Leaving Cert mocks

A month-by-month plan for the Leaving Cert mocks — what to revise, how to use grinds before and after, and how to read mock results without panicking.

By the GetGrinds.ie team · Updated 31 October 2026

The Leaving Cert mocks are practice exams run by your school, usually between January and March of 6th year. They do not count towards your final results, but they are the clearest picture you will get of where you stand before June. Used well, they tell you what to fix, which level to sit, and where extra help would make the biggest difference.

What the mocks are, and are not

The mocks are organised by individual schools, not by the State Examinations Commission (SEC). Many schools use papers from commercial providers, while others set their own. Marking is done by teachers or by an external marking service, depending on the school.

Because of this, schedules and formats vary. Some schools run them in late January, others in February or early March. Some include orals and practicals, others do not. Check your school’s timetable rather than relying on what a friend in another school is doing.

Mock results are not sent to the CAO and have no effect on your Leaving Cert grades. Some mock papers are deliberately tough or include topics your class has not finished yet, so a disappointing result is not a prediction set in stone.

Why the mocks matter

They are the first time most students sit full papers back to back under exam timing.
They show which topics are weak while there is still time to fix them.
They inform the decision on whether to stay at Higher or move to Ordinary Level.
They expose timing problems, such as spending too long on early questions.
Teachers often use them when giving advice on levels and CAO choices.

A month-by-month plan

Exact timings depend on when your school sits the mocks, so adjust this to fit.

September to October: Get notes in order for 5th year topics. Identify the two or three subjects that feel weakest. This is a good time to start grinds if a subject has been a struggle for a while.
November: Start doing past exam questions topic by topic. Keep a list of anything you get wrong and revisit it.
December: Attempt at least one full timed paper in your main subjects. Use part of the Christmas break for revision, but take proper time off too.
January: Focus on your list of weak spots and exam technique. Practise planning answers within the time allowed.
Mock fortnight: Sleep, eat and keep revision light in the evenings. Treat it as a dress rehearsal for June.

Subject-specific tips

Maths. Past papers are the single best preparation. The SEC publishes past exam papers and marking schemes in the exam material archive. Work through questions by topic first, then full papers. Read the marking schemes to see how partial credit is awarded, because showing your work earns marks even when the final answer is wrong. If particular topics keep catching you out, Maths grinds can target them directly.

Languages. Irish and modern foreign languages have an oral as well as written papers, and the oral carries a large share of the marks. The SEC orals usually take place in spring, ahead of the written exams, and your school may or may not run a mock oral. Do not let the written mock crowd out oral practice. Our oral prep guide covers how to get ready.

Essay subjects. For English, History and similar subjects, practise planning essays in five minutes and writing to time. Many students know the material but lose marks by running out of time or not answering the exact question asked. Have a teacher or tutor mark a couple of practice essays against the marking scheme before the mocks.

After the mocks

The weeks after the mocks are often the most valuable of 6th year. When your papers come back:

Go through every paper and note exactly where marks were lost.
Sort mistakes into three groups: topics you did not know, technique errors, and timing.
Rank the gaps by how many marks they cost and how quickly they can be fixed.
Build a revision plan for March to June around that list.
Talk to your teachers about levels, especially in Maths and languages.

If a subject is borderline between Higher and Ordinary, read our guide to Higher vs Ordinary Level before deciding. It explains how the CAO points scale works and why a H7 can be worth the same as an O3. Full details on points are on the CAO website.

Using grinds around the mocks

Grinds can help at two points. Before the mocks, a tutor can tighten exam technique and cover topics that were rushed in class. After the mocks, a tutor can go through the marked paper with you, explain what went wrong and set out a realistic plan for June.

Post-mock grinds are often the better value, because the paper gives the tutor a clear starting point. A few focused sessions on specific weak areas tend to help more than weekly sessions that go over everything.

You can browse grinds by subject or search tutors on GetGrinds.ie. If budget is a factor, our guide on how much grinds cost in Ireland sets out what to expect.

A note on changes

Senior cycle is being redeveloped, and some subjects are moving to new specifications and assessment arrangements over the coming years. The NCCA publishes curriculum updates, and the SEC confirms exam arrangements each year. Mock timetables are set by each school, so check dates and formats with your school directly.