As the big day finally arrives for thousands of exam students, the Herald speaks to two who will share their experiences over the next couple of weeks.

Conor Ralph (15) from Clontarf. Junior Cert Student at the Catholic University School on Leeson St.

The first day has finally arrived -- the Junior Cert exams are starting today and I'm surprised to admit I'm a bit nervous.

I've Honours English all day today, paper one and two, and I'm definitely feeling the pressure because it's not my best subject.

I feel prepared but I'm still a bit nervous and the gorgeous sunny weather over the last few days certainly hasn't helped me cram in much extra knowledge.

I'm hoping the poetry and drama sections will go well, because I really enjoyed the texts.

I studied the Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring in my school, the Catholic University School on Leeson Street, and it was really enjoyable. I already loved the film, but the book was even better. I've also prepared Playboy of the Western World and Mid-Term Break by Seamus Heaney, which I feel okay about.

I've been doing loads of past papers since the beginning of the year, because they seem to be the only way of preparing for the Junior Cert.

studious

My parents are really encouraging and my brother Mark is starting the Leaving Cert today -- I can't imagine what he must be feeling, but it has definitely helped create a bit more of a studious atmosphere in my house in Clontarf.

I'm hoping that will rub off on me and help me get through the next week and a half. I'm dying to get the exams over with.

I've been revising a bit over the last few weeks, but probably not as much as I should have been. It has been really hard to get my mind focused because this is obviously my first time to do State exams.

I'm doing the standard 11 subjects for the exams, which are not too bad. I'm probably most confident about French and Music. I already have some of the music marks covered because I had my guitar exam a few months ago, so I feel pretty confident about that exam, which is my last on June 17.

The exam I'm dreading is definitely Business, which is my least-favourite subject. It is going to be a tough day for that exam because paper one and paper two are on the same day, so I'm not looking forward to that at all.

I'm really into sports, so I'm hoping that I'll do well enough in my Junior Cert to continue most of the subjects at higher level for the Leaving, so I can get enough points to study something sports-related in college.

As for today, fingers crossed ...

- Aoife Anderson