For many teenagers in exam years, January isn’t just a new term — it’s when the reality of mock exams comes into sharp focus. However, as a parent of a Junior Certificate pupil this year, I have realised the stress of the upcoming mock exams can also be substantial. This may be an especially nerve-wracking time for Junior Cert students, as the mock exams are their first experience of a ‘serious exam’. Mock exams serve a purpose and do precisely what their name implies: they imitate the real thing to prepare students for what lies ahead in June. The ability to arrive at each mock exam with calm focus?

Source: Irish Examiner January 20, 2026 18:30 UTC