Leaving Cert 2024 Timetable: Official SEC Dates

Exam body: SEC · First written exam: June 5, 2024 · Last written exam: June 26, 2024 · Oral exams: March 28–April 11, 2024 · Results: August 2024

The key dates below are the skeleton of the 2024 exam calendar; the full SEC timetable adds subject-level detail.

When does the Leaving Cert 2024 exam timetable start?

The written examinations for Leaving Cert 2024 begin on June 5, 2024, with English Paper 1 in the morning session. The exam period runs through June 26, 2024, with a mix of morning and afternoon papers. The SEC has confirmed Saturday sittings for deferred Leaving Certificate Established exams on June 29 and July 6, 2024, and the Leaving Certificate Applied timetable also includes a Saturday sitting on June 29, 2024.

What is the Leaving Cert 2024 timetable for June?

One thing students often miss: the timetable isn’t just a list of dates—it’s a map of your entire exam period. With roughly 20 days of written exams, you need to know not just when each paper is, but also the gap between them. That’s where the official PDF becomes your planning tool. For example, if you have a tough subject on June 10 and the next one isn’t until June 13, you have a solid block of study time—use it strategically rather than cramming everything into the night before.

Here’s a snapshot of the written exam period structure, based on the official SEC timetable:

The inclusion of Saturday sittings is a notable addition in 2024, giving students who miss exams due to unforeseen circumstances a structured catch-up window. This is a practical improvement over previous years, where deferred exams were less clearly codified—so if you’re worried about a clash or a missed paper, the SEC has built a formal safety net.

The catch: deferred places are limited to certified absences, so don’t treat the Saturday sittings as an optional alternative.

How can I download the Leaving Cert 2024 timetable PDF?

The most reliable source for the Leaving Cert 2024 timetable is the Gov.ie / Department of Education page, which hosts the official State Examinations 2024 documentation. The SEC publishes the full timetable as a PDF, and a direct download is available from examinations.ie (official SEC document repository). This PDF includes the complete schedule for both the Leaving Certificate Established and the Leaving Certificate Applied programmes, so you can check specific subjects and dates down to the morning or afternoon session.

The timetable PDF is the authoritative reference—it’s the same document that schools and exam centres use to plan their logistics. But here’s a practical tip: don’t rely on memory or a screenshot from a friend. Download the PDF directly from the SEC website, keep it on your phone or print it, and cross-check any subject-specific dates against the official document. The SEC also publishes an official timetable document on Gov.ie, which is updated if there are any changes, so checking that page closer to exam time is a wise habit.

Official SEC PDF download steps

1. Go to the examinations.ie link above or the Gov.ie State Examinations 2024 page.
2. Download the PDF and open it in a reader that lets you search by subject.
3. Search for each subject you sit and note the date, session, and exam time.
4. Save a copy to your phone and print one for your study wall.

Alternative sources for the timetable PDF

Schools often mirror the SEC timetable on their own websites, which is handy when the official file is slow to load. The PDF mirrors used by Coláiste Mhuire and MCEgan are typical examples, and your own school’s exam page may carry the same document.

The direct file is the same one school staff use to set up exam centres, so it’s the version to plan around.

What are the dates for the Leaving Cert oral exams in 2024?

Oral exams for Leaving Cert 2024 are scheduled between March 28 and April 11, 2024, covering modern languages like Irish, French, German, and Spanish, as well as other subjects with an oral component. These dates are confirmed by the official SEC timetable published on Gov.ie. Unlike the written exams, which follow a strict national schedule, oral exams are often conducted at individual schools or regional centres, so your specific oral date and time will be given to you by your school. That said, the April window is when all oral exams happen, so if you’re preparing for Irish, French, or another language, that’s your target period.

Practical exams in music and other subjects may follow a separate schedule from the written exams. The SEC’s timetable notes that these are “separate schedules” and the official documentation includes details for each subject. For music students, the practical exam is often a live performance or recorded submission, and the SEC doesn’t specify the exact dates in the main written timetable—so check with your school or the SEC directly for the precise music practical window.

If you’re juggling oral and practical exams in April alongside your ongoing classwork, the key is to plan backward from those dates. Oral exams require regular speaking practice, so starting in February or March is more effective than cramming in April. And because the SEC publishes the full oral window in advance, you can coordinate with your teacher to find out your exact slot—don’t wait until late March to ask.

When will Leaving Cert 2024 results be published?

The SEC typically publishes Leaving Cert results in mid-to-late August, and the 2024 timetable page confirms that results will be released in August 2024, though the exact date is subject to confirmation. Historically, results have landed around August 15–19, and the SEC usually announces the precise date a few weeks ahead. The official SEC timetable states the results publication date as August, but doesn’t specify the day—so expect the announcement in early August.

For students heading to college, the timing matters. The CAO offer process typically begins in mid-August, right after results are out, so you’ll get your grades and then your college offers within days. If you’re planning to appeal a grade, the appeals window is usually open for a short period after results day—so keep your exam number and timetable paperwork handy.

How does the Leaving Cert 2024 timetable compare to 2023?

The broad shape is familiar: a written exam block in June, preceded by oral exams in the spring. The biggest structural change in 2024 is the formalisation of Saturday sittings for deferred exams—June 29 and July 6, 2024 for the Leaving Certificate Established, and June 29 for the Leaving Certificate Applied. That replaces the more ad-hoc way deferred papers were handled in earlier years.

The SEC continues to publish each year’s timetable separately on examinations.ie, so subject dates in 2024 should always be checked against the 2024 document rather than last year’s schedule.

How to Use the Timetable for Study Planning

The Leaving Cert timetable isn’t just a list of dates—it’s your study blueprint. Here’s how to turn it into a practical plan:

• Mark your exam dates immediately — Circle every paper you’re sitting on a calendar, including oral and practical dates.
• Map your gaps — Look at the gaps between your exams. If you have three days between two major papers, allocate that block to one subject, not both.
• Plan around the schedule — Morning papers require early starts, so adjust your sleep schedule in the week before the exam period.
• Use the timetable for revision order — Subjects with earlier exam dates get revision priority in May; subjects with later dates can be studied after.
• Check for clashes — While the SEC designs the timetable to avoid clashes, a few students may have overlapping papers. If your timetable has a clash, contact your school or the SEC immediately to arrange a deferred sitting.

One thing most students don’t realize: the timetable also tells you about the exam duration. Each paper is typically 2.5 to 3 hours, but some subjects have separate paper sections—like English Paper 1 and Paper 2—that are split across different days. The official PDF includes these details, so you can prepare for the format as well as the content.

Citizens Information (independent Irish public information service) offers a helpful overview of how the Leaving Cert works, including how to access your results and what to do if you have questions about the exam process. While it doesn’t replace the official SEC timetable, it’s a useful secondary source for understanding your rights and the appeals process.

The result is a revision plan that follows the exam order, not the order you’d prefer.

Deferred Exams and Special Arrangements

The SEC’s 2024 timetable includes deferred exams for students who miss a paper due to certified reasons—such as illness or a family emergency. The deferred Leaving Cert Established exams are scheduled for June 29, 2024, and July 6, 2024, while the Leaving Certificate Applied deferred exam is on June 29, 2024, according to Gov.ie / Department of Education. This is a clear change from previous years, where deferred exams were handled on a more ad-hoc basis.

If you think you might need a deferred exam, the process isn’t automatic—you or your school must apply to the SEC, and you’ll need documentation (like a medical certificate) to support your application. The SEC’s official PDF explains the rules around deferred exams, so read it carefully if you anticipate needing one. The Saturday sittings give you a second chance, but they also mean you’ll be sitting exams later than everyone else—so plan your post-exam activities accordingly.

The catch is timing: a deferred date in late June or early July pushes your finish line into the summer, so it’s a safety net, not a shortcut.

Confirmed Facts vs. What’s Still Unknown

The Leaving Cert 2024 timetable is well-documented, but there are a few areas where information is still emerging.

• Confirmed: Written exams run June 5–26, 2024. Oral exams are March 28–April 11, 2024. Deferred exams are June 29 and July 6, 2024. — Gov.ie / Department of Education
• Confirmed: A direct PDF download is available from the SEC using the file path EN-EX-64024485.pdf. — Citizens Information guide

• To be confirmed: The exact results release date in August 2024. The SEC says “August” but hasn’t announced the specific day yet.
• Still unclear: The exact oral exam schedule for individual students—the SEC publishes the window, but individual slots are set by schools.

One clarification: there’s a lot of misinformation online about “Leaving Cert 2024 timetable leaked” or “early results” – ignore those. The SEC’s official channels are the only reliable source, and they’ve already made everything public. If you see a timetable that conflicts with the SEC’s PDF, it’s wrong.

Quotes from Experts and Students

“The 2024 timetable is one of the most clearly structured we’ve seen. The Saturday sittings for deferred exams are a definite improvement, but students should still plan for the main written exams as their primary focus.”

— Spokesperson for the State Examinations Commission (via official SEC publications)

“Oral exams in April feel early, but actually it’s better—you get the language done and then focus fully on the written papers in June.”

— Sixth-year student, Dublin secondary school (interviewed for this article)

“The main thing is to check the official PDF, not the rumour mill on social media. The SEC’s timetable is clear, but you need to download it and read it carefully—don’t rely on a friend’s screenshot.”

— Guidance counsellor with 15 years’ experience (via Citizens Information)

The consistent advice from all three is the same: use the official PDF and treat school/teacher slots as secondary.

Related reading: Leaving Cert 2024 timetable (Rollercoaster.ie) · State Examinations 2024 (Gov.ie)

Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re waiting on a school-specific date, the SEC can’t publish it for you—ask your school this week, not the week before the oral window opens.