Exam Fee Information 2026
Junior Cycle and Leaving Cert Fee Information - please note that St. Wolstan's does not collect these Fees
Dear 3rd Year/6th Year Parent/Guardian,
You daughter received a very important letter today in school detailing how to pay for her State Exams (Junior Cycle or Leaving Cert Exams and corrections).
📌 Important: Schools do not collect the fees—payment or exemption requests must be completed through the SEC online system. Please scroll to the bottom of this info note for an email address/phone number to contact the SEC regarding fees.
Students and parents/guardians should check the information letter carefully and complete the process within the required timeframe once the online system opens.
Summary for Students & Parents/Guardians – 2026 State Examination Fees (Circular S27/26)
The State Examinations Commission has confirmed that entry fees for State examinations will apply again in 2026.
Key points:
These fees are the same as the last time they were charged in 2019 and have not increased since 2012.
Fee Exemptions
Students do not have to pay the fee if they:
How to Pay or Apply for an Exemption
Excerpt from the Circular S27/26:
3. Exemption of Examination Fees for Medical Card Holders
Candidates who hold a full medical card or who are covered for all services on a parent or guardian’s full medical card are not liable for examination fees. Medical cards will be accepted only if valid on or between 1 January 2026 and 30 April 2026.
N.B. Holders or dependents of holders, of G.P. Visit Cards are not eligible for exemption from examination fees.
4. Inability to use the Online Fee Service
Instructions on how to use the online fee service are set out in the User Guide
https://fees.examinations.ie/. Those who might have a difficulty using the online facility to make a payment or to apply for an exemption should contact Fees Section by e-mail at
fees@examinations.ie for assistance.
5. Consequences for Candidates of Non-Payment of Examination Fees
All candidates, unless they have an exemption from payment of fees, must pay their examination fees to the SEC. It is SEC policy to ensure all fees are paid in full. Failure to pay examination fees may have serious consequences for candidates up to and including the withholding of the final Examination Certificate.
Examination fees are not refundable other than in very exceptional circumstances.
Any questions on the Fees:
If you have any questions or require further assistance, please contact the
Finance and Fees Section by emailing
fees@examinations.ie or by telephoning
090 644 2845. Lines open 9.15am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday excluding public holidays.
LEAVING CERT 2025/2026 - COURSEWORK DEADLINES, PRACTICAL EXAM DATES AND JUNE 2026 EXAM TIMETABLE
JUNIOR CYCLE 2025/2026 - COURSEWORK DEADLINES, PRACTICAL EXAM DATES AND JUNE 2026 EXAM TIMETABLE
In-house exam rules and guidelines 2025/2026
- Get a good night's sleep before and eat a healthy, filling breakfast on the morning of each exam.
- Please check the time and location of all exams carefully.
- Arrive at the exam centre at least 5 minutes before each exam/study session begins for registration.
- A student arriving late must wait silently outside the exam centre - once the Supervisor has distributed all of the exam papers, she will be permitted entry. No additional time will be given to anyone arriving late.
- Mobile phones and smart watches are not permitted in the exam centre. This is in line with the State Exams Commission’s rule for State Examinations. Any breach of this rule will result in cancellation of the student’s exam and the school’s disciplinary process will be applied.
- Students must be in full school uniform for the duration of the exams.
- Study – there are study periods built into your exam timetable. Bring all materials needed to study – you will not have permission to go to lockers at this time. You may bring your own device for study purposes only – no borrowing of school laptops from lab cabs for this examination period.
- Go to the toilet before the exam. Only in exceptional circumstances should a student ask to leave the exam centre – a toilet break must be recorded on student script with time of exit and return plus teacher initial.
- Bags must be left outside exam centres during exam sessions – they may be used during study periods for accessing study materials. Leave valuables locked in your locker.
- No eating is permitted during exams.* All exam centres must be clean and suitable for exams to continue.
- Answer booklets, graph paper and log tables are provided. Each student must equip herself with the following: pencils, pens, erasers, ruler and mathematical instruments. No borrowing of items during exams is permitted.
- Spend the first few minutes of the exam reading through the paper carefully.
- Listen to all the instructions and corrections given at the beginning of each exam. Subsequent questions disturb other students.
- It is absolutely forbidden to talk to or communicate with another student during the exam. A student’s exam paper may be cancelled if this rule is breached.
- If a student is found with evidence of cheating, her exam paper will be cancelled and the school’s disciplinary process will be applied.
- Each student must put her full name, class and subject teacher’s name on each answer booklet and on any extra sheets of paper used.
- Watch the clock and allow enough time for each question to be answered.
- In the final 10 minutes of each exam:
- Re-check the total number of sections/questions to be answered
- Re-check the compulsory questions
- Re-read each question and check your answer – Best of luck!
*Medical condition exempt.
All students must have a note on VSware or in their journal if they are leaving school early. They must sign out at reception as usual for child protection and health & safety reasons. Please note students should not sign out early and then return to the school, unless they have a very necessary scheduled medical appointment - it is only in June each year when the State Examination Commission are conducting State Exams for 3rd and 6th Year students only, that leaving the school premises early and returning is allowed. Students are always advised to remain until the end of an exam session and review their exam answers - the rationale for this is based on evidence and practice. Please contact the school for further details if required.