Leaving Cert Timetable 2026

The Leaving Certificate 2026 written examinations will take place in June 2026, following the official national timetable set by the State Examinations Commission (SEC).

If you are preparing for the Leaving Cert in 2026, this guide gives you the complete official calendar – including written exam dates, oral examinations, practical exams, coursework deadlines, and the Leaving Certificate Applied timetable.

All dates below are based on the official SEC publications for 2026.

Leaving Certificate Timetable 2026 PDF View

Download the official Leaving Cert 2026 timetable here.

Leaving Cert Timetable 2026 Overview

The Leaving Certificate written examinations in 2026 run from Wednesday 3 June to Tuesday 23 June 2026.

When Does Leaving Cert 2026 Start and End?

The Leaving Cert 2026 written exams begin on Wednesday 3 June 2026 with English Paper 1 and conclude on Tuesday 23 June 2026.

Exams are held nationally under a standardised timetable issued by the State Examinations Commission. All candidates across Ireland follow the same official schedule.

🕒 Daily Exam Session Structure

Most exam days include:

Morning session – 9:30am

Afternoon session – 2:00pm

Some subjects include alternative times:

Music Listening (Core) – 1:30pm

Music Composing – 3:15pm

Music Listening (Elective Higher Level) – 5:00pm

Full Leaving Certificate Written Timetable 2026

Below is the complete official Leaving Certificate written timetable for 2026.

All times are local Irish time.

Morning sessions begin at 9:30am unless stated otherwise.

Afternoon sessions begin at 2:00pm unless stated otherwise.

Computer Science Examination - May 2026

The Leaving Certificate Computer Science written examination takes place earlier than the main June timetable.

📝 Important

Computer Science is examined before the main June written timetable. Students must ensure they are prepared earlier than other subjects.

Leaving Cert Oral Examination Dates 2026

Leaving Certificate oral examinations are held during the Easter holiday period.

Orals apply to subjects such as:

• Irish
• French
• Spanish
• German
• Italian
• Russian
• Japanese
• Other approved languages

📝 Official Notice

Candidates must present themselves during the allocated period. Students who are ill or bereaved may be accommodated later in May, subject to appropriate evidence.

Music Practical Performance Tests 2026

Music practical exams take place separately from the written June timetable.

Students should confirm their individual performance time directly with their school.

Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) Written Timetable 2026

The Leaving Certificate Applied written examinations run for a shorter period than the main Leaving Certificate.

A separate detailed LCA timetable follows the official SEC publication.

📝 General Examination Rules (SEC 2026)

• Candidates must attend at least 30 minutes before their first examination.
• Examination fees apply in 2026 (€116 per Leaving Certificate entry).
• Students with a full medical card are exempt from examination fees.
• Examination and assessment adjustments introduced in recent years remain in place for the 2026 cohort.

How the Leaving Cert 2026 Timetable Is Structured

The Leaving Certificate 2026 follows a nationally standardised structure set by the State Examinations Commission.

The written examination period runs for just under three weeks in June.

📅 Written Exam Duration

• Start: Wednesday 3 June 2026
• Finish: Tuesday 23 June 2026
• Total duration: 21 calendar days

Most examination days include two sessions.

🕒 Daily Examination Sessions

Some subjects include alternative session times:

• Music Listening (Core) – 1:30pm
• Music Composing – 3:15pm
• Music Listening (Elective Higher Level) – 5:00pm

All times are local Irish time.

📚 Subjects with Multiple Papers

Some subjects are examined across multiple days.

Examples include:

• English – Paper 1 and Paper 2
• Mathematics – Paper 1 and Paper 2
• Irish – Paper 1 and Paper 2
• Modern Languages – Written + Aural components

Language subjects typically include:

• Written paper in the main session
• Aural examination immediately following (same day)

🎓 Higher, Ordinary and Foundation Levels Explained

The timetable identifies examination levels using:

• H – Higher Level
• O – Ordinary Level
• F – Foundation Level

Not all subjects are available at Foundation Level.

Most students sit a mixture of Higher and Ordinary Level subjects.

📌 How Long Are Leaving Cert Exams?

Exam duration varies by subject.

Examples from the 2026 timetable:

• English Paper 2 – 3 hours 20 minutes
• Biology – 3 hours
• Physics – 3 hours
• Mathematics – 2 hours 30 minutes
• Music Listening (Core) – 1 hour 30 minutes

Students should check individual subject durations carefully.

📝 Important Attendance Rules

Candidates must:

• Be present at least 30 minutes before their first examination
• Follow SEC regulations during the examination period
• Confirm their specific timetable with their school

Failure to attend at the correct time may result in disqualification from that session.