Sixth-year students sitting the Leaving Cert in June 2027 face their first Additional Assessment Component deadline in early December, with a physics investigation due first, followed by biology in February, business in March and chemistry in April, according to the examinations.ie timetable cited in the Irish Times on 17 October. Each of those components carries a minimum of 40% of the subject's marks.

What the new project components are

The first tranche of redeveloped Leaving Cert subjects reached fifth years in September 2025, so the current sixth years are the first class to be examined on them in June 2027. The Irish Examiner names physics, biology, chemistry and business as the Tranche One subjects; the ASTI's March 2026 members' magazine lists live AAC briefs issued in January 2026 for eight subjects, with the AAC worth 40% in each except drama, film and theatre studies, where the project is worth 50%.

For the sciences, the Irish Examiner reports the research brief was issued in January and the 1,500-word report is submitted in December. Biology, chemistry and business follow in the spring, so the second half of sixth year now has a coursework deadline every month or so before the written papers.

English and maths reform pushed back to 2028

The new Leaving Cert English course, which includes an oral assessment, was due for fifth years in September 2026 and is now expected in September 2028, the Irish Examiner reported on 2 October. The new maths course, due in September 2027, is delayed until at least 2028 and will carry an AAC for the first time.

Two expert members of the NCCA maths redevelopment group, Professor Pauline Mellon and Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin, resigned in September. Mellon told the Irish Examiner the delay was "clearly unavoidable" and described the process to date as "a mess". The NCCA said the extra time supports "detailed planning for implementation and assessment arrangements".

For current fifth and sixth years, this changes nothing: they sit the existing English and maths courses. The grading trend matters more to them. Leaving Cert 2026 results fell by just over 1% on average as the post-marking adjustment was reduced, the Irish Times reported on 21 August, and a further reduction is planned for 2027, with no adjustment after that.

Strike days have already cost class time

The 14 October public sector strike closed almost all schools, colleges and universities, with about 100,000 teachers and lecturers from the INTO, ASTI, TUI and IFUT among more than 300,000 workers out, according to the Irish Times live coverage that day. A second day planned for 21 October was suspended for talks.

Those talks adjourned at the Workplace Relations Commission on 30 October at what unions called a significant impasse, and unions have announced a further 24-hour strike for Thursday 12 November, RTÉ reported on 4 November. A work-to-rule continues in the meantime, and unions say they will intensify it after 12 November.

Mocks, orals and the exam calendar

Mock exams were already over by 21 February this year, the Irish Times noted in its guide to the final months before the exams, and oral tests in Irish, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian and Japanese are held in schools during the Easter holidays. The 2026 written papers began on 3 June; the 2027 timetable is due from the State Examinations Commission.

Third-level colleges are holding open days for prospective 2027 entrants over the coming months, the Irish Times reported on 22 October. The 2027 CAO handbook is online at cao.ie, and the closing date for final course choices is 1 July 2027.

Driving lessons: new permit rules since 1 November

Rules on multiple learner permits took effect on 1 November 2026, according to the Road Safety Authority. A learner can still get a second permit without sitting a test, but a third or fourth permit is only issued to someone who has taken a driving test in the previous two years, and nobody can hold more than four permits without a medical restriction. A learner whose second or later permit expires after 1 November without a test must stop driving.

Anyone forced to restart must wait six months, pass the theory test and complete all 12 Essential Driver Training lessons again. The Irish Times reported in February that 68,787 learners were on a third or later permit. The national average test wait was 12.1 weeks in August against a 10-week target, with 31 of 57 centres over 10 weeks, the Irish Times reported on 13 August.

What it means for you

If you have a sixth year at home, get the AAC dates for each of their subjects from the school this week and book grinds for the subjects with the earliest deadlines first: physics in December, then biology, business and chemistry. Book February mock preparation now, as tutors fill their evening slots before Christmas, and use the 12 November strike day for home study or an extra session.

Learner drivers on a second permit should book a test before it expires rather than after, and count the lessons needed to be ready in time. For any tutor, music teacher, driving instructor or language teacher in your area, Locufy lists local providers by county.

Providers: quote per hour and per block of sessions, say which subjects and levels you cover, and state whether you have worked with the new 40% project briefs. Driving instructors should tell learners the RSA rule about third permits plainly and quote EDT packages of 12 lessons.

Key dates

• Early December 2026: Leaving Cert physics AAC investigation due
• 12 November 2026: 24-hour public sector strike, schools expected to close
• 1 November 2026: new RSA learner permit rules in force
• February 2027: mock exams and biology AAC
• March 2027: business AAC; language orals over Easter
• April 2027: chemistry AAC
• June 2027: Leaving Cert written papers
• 1 July 2027: closing date for final CAO course choices

Sources

• Irish Times — Breda O'Brien: Farcical Leaving Cert reform must stop now
• Irish Examiner — Changes to two Leaving Cert subjects delayed until at least 2028
• Irish Examiner — Seven deadlines and an AI dilemma: Is the new Leaving Cert fixing one problem by creating another?
• ASTI — ASTIR March 2026: Live AAC briefs issued for Senior Cycle
• Irish Times — 'Nobody can survive on the wages we're getting': public sector workers strike across the country
• RTÉ — Talks to continue over dispute on public sector pay deal
• Irish Times — Balancing act continues as Leaving Cert grades drop back by an average of just over 1%
• Irish Times — How to make the most of the months before the Leaving Cert
• Irish Times — Leaving Cert students: what you need to focus on at college open days
• RSA — Multiple learner permits
• Irish Times — More than 140,000 drivers still on learner permits in advance of sweeping rules change
• Irish Times — Driving test waiting time in Raheny hit 29 weeks before Road Safety Authority pulled plug

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