The 2025 Leaving Cert exams have commenced with a record 140,457 students participating, reflecting population growth and increased participation, including an 11% rise in students choosing the Leaving Certificate Applied program. The exams started with English Paper One, which received varied reactions from students. The exam comprised two sections: reading comprehension with texts including a speech by Margaret Atwood and excerpts from Samantha Harvey’s novel 'Orbital', and a creative writing component offering seven different prompts such as feature articles, stories, and essays. The results will be artificially inflated via post-marking adjustments, a practice introduced during the pandemic to offset missed opportunities, but this year’s adjustment will be reduced to approximate pre-pandemic outcomes. Leaving Cert results are scheduled for release on August 22. Education Minister Helen McEntee and other officials extended good luck to students, emphasizing effort and future opportunities. Meanwhile, the exam period has seen widespread coverage of student reactions, logistical efforts, and ongoing debates about potential reforms to the traditional Leaving Cert system. Additionally, the Junior Cert exams have also begun, with over 74,000 candidates sitting their papers. The article also highlights other education-related news, including school funding, university divestments, and policy discussions, alongside various national and international news updates.