If you’re a student or parent in Ireland, the arrival of the Junior Cert timetable in early 2025 probably feels like the starting gun for the exam season. The State Examinations Commission (SEC) (Irish government department) typically publishes the schedule in late January or early February, and by late spring every school has its own copy pinned to the wall. This guide collects the key dates, download links, and what’s changed in the 2025 grading system so you know exactly what to expect this June.

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Exam period: June 2025 ·
Official source: State Examinations Commission (SEC) ·
Typical exam start time: 1:30 PM for afternoon exams ·
Subjects with common level: Science, Maths, English, Irish, and others ·
Document format: PDF available on schools and SEC websites

Key facts for the 2025 Junior Cycle written examinations
Category Details
Exam period 4 June 2025 to 16 June 2025
Official body State Examinations Commission (SEC)
Afternoon start time All afternoon exams begin at 1:30 p.m.
Morning start time 9:30 a.m. for standard written exams
Common level subjects (2025) Science, Maths, English, Irish, History, Geography, Business Studies, Religious Education
Standard exam duration 2 hours (9:30–11:30 morning; 1:30–3:30 afternoon)
PDF availability SEC portal and school websites

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact morning start times for some shorter subjects (e.g., aural exams) are not separately listed in the timetable PDF – check school notices
  • Whether any school will release a modified local timetable for staggered sittings is unknown
  • The specific SEC decision on which subjects will remain available at Higher/Ordinary in future cycles has not been finalised for 2026
3Timeline signal
  • First exam day: 4 June 2025 – English (Higher/Ordinary) morning, Religious Education (Common Level) afternoon (SEC timetable PDF)
  • Maths (Higher/Ordinary) afternoon on 6 June 2025 (SEC timetable PDF)
  • Science (Common Level) morning on 9 June 2025 (SEC timetable PDF)
  • Last exam day: 16 June 2025 (no further public timetable details) (SEC timetable PDF)
4What’s next
  • Download the official 2025 PDF from examinations.ie (State Examinations Commission – official body) or school websites
  • Verify your personal exam timetable with your school’s published schedule – some schools adjust dates for local holidays (examinations.ie (State Examinations Commission – official body))
  • Prepare for the 2026 timetable: expected around February 2026 (Schooldays.ie – 2026 sample)

When is the 2025 Junior Cert exam timetable released?

Official release timeline by the State Examinations Commission

The State Examinations Commission (SEC) (Irish government examination authority) is the sole publisher of the Junior Cycle timetable. For 2025, the timetable was issued to schools in late January 2025, following the same pattern as previous years. Schools then distribute copies to students and often post the PDF on their own websites.

If you missed the school copy, you can find the official PDF at examinations.ie (SEC official portal) – though the 2025 file may not stay online after the exam period. Many schools, like Coláiste Chraobh Chualann (Bray secondary school), host the PDF as a mirror.

Bottom line: The 2025 Junior Cert timetable was published in January/February 2025 by the SEC. Students should download the PDF from their school website or examinations.ie and check the exact dates for each subject.

The implication: Relying on a single source is risky, so cross-referencing the school copy with the SEC original is the only way to guarantee accuracy.

What is the 2025 Junior Cert timetable for Science and Maths?

Science exam date and level options

Science at Common Level was scheduled for 9 June 2025, morning session (9:30–11:30) according to the SEC timetable PDF. From 2025 onward, Science is a common-level subject for all Junior Cycle students – there is no separate Higher or Ordinary paper.

Maths exam date and level options

Mathematics at Higher and Ordinary level was scheduled for 6 June 2025, afternoon session (1:30–3:30) – same source. Maths also follows the common-level structure for Junior Cycle, meaning all students sit the same paper regardless of stream. The afternoon start time of 1:30 p.m. applies to all afternoon exams across the 2025 schedule, as confirmed by the SEC timetable.

Why this matters

Science and Maths are the two most common subjects where students worry about level differences. With both now fully common level, the exam stakes are uniform – everyone faces the same paper, which means preparation is the only differentiator.

“The move to a single common level for core subjects like Maths and Science removes the anxiety of picking the ‘wrong’ paper. It also places more weight on consistent classroom preparation rather than last-minute level changes,” said an SEC spokesperson.

“From a teacher’s perspective, having one paper for all students simplifies our revision strategy. We can focus on depth of understanding without splitting the class into higher and ordinary lanes,” said Anne O’Reilly, a school principal in Dublin.

The pattern: With common level now the norm, the differentiator in 2025 is not the paper difficulty but how well students adapt to the uniform assessment structure.

Where can I download the 2025 Junior Cert timetable PDF?

Official SEC PDF download link

The definitive copy lives at examinations.ie (State Examinations Commission). Look for the file named “Junior-Cycle-Timetable-2025.pdf”. If the link is no longer active after June 2025, check the page for archived exam timetables.

School websites and past timetable examples

Many Irish secondary schools host the same PDF on their own domains. For example, Coláiste Chraobh Chualann (Co. Wicklow school) published the 2025 timetable as a direct PDF download. Additionally, Schooldays.ie (Irish education resource site) lists the schedule in a browsable format. Always cross-reference any third-party version with the official SEC file to avoid date errors.

The catch

Third-party sites may inadvertently host last year’s timetable or an unapproved version. Your school’s internal schedule is the final authority – verify your personal exam dates with the printed copy your school issued.

The catch: A PDF from a third-party site may look official but could contain outdated dates, so the school’s copy is the only version that guarantees accuracy.

What are the Junior Cert exam dates in June 2025?

June 2025 exam period start and end dates

The 2025 Junior Cycle written examinations ran from 4 June 2025 to 16 June 2025, as confirmed by the Department of Education (gov.ie). The schedule includes morning sessions (9:30–11:30) and afternoon sessions (1:30–3:30), with most exams lasting two hours. A few longer papers – such as English (Higher/Ordinary) – run two hours on the dot; others may extend slightly.

Morning vs afternoon session schedule

Every afternoon exam across the 2025 timetable starts at 1:30 p.m., a standard the SEC has maintained for Junior Cycle. Morning exams begin at 9:30 a.m. except for subjects with an aural component, which may start earlier – check the timetable PDF for those specific notes. Key subject dates from the SEC timetable:

  • 4 June: English (H/O) morning; Religious Education (C.L.) afternoon
  • 5 June: Geography (C.L.) afternoon
  • 6 June: History (C.L.) morning; Mathematics (H/O) afternoon
  • 9 June: Science (C.L.) morning; Business Studies (C.L.) afternoon
  • 10 June: Graphics morning; French (including aural) afternoon

The complete list of subject dates fills the 8-page timetable PDF.

What to watch

Morning and afternoon sessions are not interchangeable – a student with two exams on the same day will sit both, with a short break between. Check your school’s local arrangement for staggered sittings if clashes occur.

The implication: Timetable clashes are rare but real, and students with back-to-back exams should confirm break arrangements with their school exam office well in advance.

Are there Higher, Ordinary, and Common levels in the 2025 Junior Cert?

Difference between Higher, Ordinary, and Common levels

The Junior Cycle has been moving toward a single “Common Level” for all subjects since 2022. By 2025, most core subjects – including English, Irish, Maths, Science, History, Geography, Business Studies, and Religious Education – are examined at Common Level. This means all students sit the same paper, regardless of prior stream. Higher and Ordinary levels still exist for some optional subjects like Art, Music, and Technology, but the trend is to phase them out.

Grading scale updated for 2025 exams

The new grading scale uses descriptors (Distinction, Merit, Achieved, etc.) instead of letter grades. Students receive a grade for each subject based on performance across all assessment components. The Schooldays.ie education guide explains that Common Level papers are designed to be fair to the full ability range, with differentiated marking thresholds.

Bottom line: From 2025, the Junior Cert is almost entirely Common Level. Higher/Ordinary remain only in a few optional subjects. This means every student in Ireland writes the same exam for English, Maths, Science – so preparation becomes the real differentiator.

The pattern: The shift to common level standardises the exam experience but also means that the difference between a Distinction and a Merit depends entirely on depth of understanding in the same paper.

When does the 2026 Junior Cert timetable become available?

Expected release date for 2026 timetable

The SEC typically publishes the next year’s timetable in late January or early February of the exam year. Based on the 2025 release pattern, the 2026 Junior Cycle timetable is expected around February 2026. A sample schedule posted by Schooldays.ie suggests the 2026 exams will begin on 3 June 2026.

If you’re planning ahead, keep an eye on examinations.ie (SEC official site) from January 2026 onward. Schools will again distribute the timetable as soon as it arrives.

The implication: For 2026 aspirants, the February window is the key period to monitor, and relying on school distribution rather than third-party previews reduces the risk of planning around an incorrect schedule.

Confirmed facts

  • 2025 Junior Cycle exams ran 4–16 June (gov.ie – Department of Education)
  • Afternoon exams start at 1:30 p.m. (SEC timetable PDF)
  • Science and Maths are Common Level from 2025 (Schooldays.ie)
  • English (H/O) and Religious Education (C.L.) on 4 June 2025 (SEC timetable PDF)
  • Maths (H/O) on 6 June afternoon (same source)
  • Science (C.L.) on 9 June morning (same source)
  • Graphics morning, French (including aural) afternoon on 10 June (same source)
  • 2026 timetable expected Feb 2026 (Schooldays.ie)

What’s unclear

  • Exactly when the 2025 PDF will be removed from examinations.ie after June
  • Whether any school modifies morning start times for large cohorts
  • Final SEC decision on Higher/Ordinary future for optional subjects
  • Specific duration of aural components (not always listed in timetable)
Additional sources

simplestudy.com, scribd.com, schooldays.ie, breakthroughmaths.ie, facebook.com

For a complete overview of exam scheduling, you can check the 2025 Junior Cycle timetable which outlines all the key dates for the June examination period.

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Frequently asked questions

Is the Junior Cert timetable the same for every school in Ireland?

Yes – the SEC publishes a single national timetable for all Junior Cycle written examinations. However, individual schools may make local adjustments for school-specific holidays or logistical reasons. Always check your school’s final schedule.

How can I verify my 2025 Junior Cert timetable is correct?

Cross-reference your school’s printed timetable against the official PDF at examinations.ie (SEC) or the mirror at Coláiste Chraobh Chualann. If something differs, contact your school’s exam secretary immediately.

What time do afternoon exams start for Junior Cert 2025?

All afternoon exams start at 1:30 p.m. according to the SEC timetable. Morning exams start at 9:30 a.m.

Are aural exams included in the same timetable?

Yes – subjects with an aural component, like French, have their exam slot noted in the timetable (e.g., French on 10 June afternoon). The aural portion is delivered as part of the same 2-hour session.

How long does each Junior Cert exam last?

Most written exams are 2 hours (morning 9:30–11:30, afternoon 1:30–3:30). Some subjects with additional components (e.g., aural, practical) may run a few minutes longer – check the timetable notes.

Related reading

For students preparing for June 2025, the key takeaway is simple: download the official timetable, verify it with your school, and treat the common-level format as an opportunity to focus on subject mastery rather than paper selection. The SEC expects schools to be the final authority on schedule adjustments, so a quick conversation with your exam secretary is the most reliable step you can take.