A practical guide for parents supporting their teen through the Leaving Cert oral exams
By Mary Bradley
5 minute read
The Leaving Cert oral exams are fast approaching, and for many teens (and their parents), this part of the exam process brings its own brand of stress.
The orals are a very specific kind of challenge. Sitting in a one-to-one interview with an examiner and being expected to speak naturally and confidently in a second language , all while managing nerves, pressure, and perfectionism.
In this blog, I’ll walk you through how to support your teen with any oral exam anxiety, how to help them practice effectively, and what you can do to stay calm too.
And if you’re feeling nervous for them? You’re absolutely not alone.
Why Oral Exams Feel So Stressful
Oral exams combine a lot of stress factors at once:
- Speaking under pressure
- Fear of freezing or forgetting
- The pressure of a one-to-one setting
- The fear of making mistakes in front of a stranger
For teens who struggle with exam nerves, language anxiety, or perfectionist thinking, oral exams can feel overwhelming.
That’s why it’s so important to support not just their study, but also their mindset, breathing, and confidence going in.
Step 1: Reassure and Reframe
When teens are feeling panicked about the orals, you can help by gently reminding them:
- The examiner wants them to do well
- They’re not being judged on perfection, just communication
- Everyone gets nervous, even fluent speakers
- They’ve already put in years of preparation
You might say:
“It’s normal to be nervous but you’ve done the work. You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to try your best and keep going.”
This kind of reassurance helps calm performance anxiety, and it also helps them separate their self-worth from a single moment in an exam room.
Step 2: Practice the Feeling; Not Just the Words
Most students practice what they want to say but not how to manage the nerves that come with saying it under pressure.
Encourage your teen to:
- Do mock orals at home to get used to the exam setting
- Practice with classmates or record themselves
- Use grounding tools like box breathing, humming, or shaking out tension
- Try vocal warm-ups like jaw massage, tongue twisters, or sighing
- Visualise the full experience, from walking into the room to calmly answering questions
These tools help reduce the physical symptoms of oral exam anxiety, making it easier for them to access what they already know.
If your teen needs more structured support, I’ve created a short 20 minute oral exam anxiety webinar, available for just €12. And it comes with some great bonus resources!
🎧 Access the short webinar Here (€12) > Leaving Cert Oral Exams: Managing the Nerves
Step 3: On the Day of the Oral Exam
Here are some simple, practical things your teen can do on the morning of the exam:
- Have some ice-cold water handy to help regulate the nervous system
- Use breathing techniques (e.g. box breathing, in-in-out breath)
- Repeat calming affirmations like “I am prepared, I can cope”
- Do some light movement to release tension
- Take a pause before answering; it’s allowed and it helps!
Remind them: even a short pause or mistake is not a disaster. What matters most is how they recover and keep going.
Step 4: Keep the Bigger Picture in Sight
Oral exams can feel like a huge deal, and they are important. But they’re also just one part of the exam journey, and they don’t define your child’s worth or intelligence.
This experience will teach them confidence, resilience, and communication skills that will serve them for years to come, in interviews, presentations, and public speaking situations.
If your teen is struggling with exam stress more generally, I’ve created a range of supports to help:
💛 Free Parent Webinar: Support Your Teenager Through Exam Anxiety
🎓 Self-Paced Course for Teens: Exam Empowerment
📝 Blog: Exam Anxiety, What You Need to Know
A Note for Teens: If You’re Nervous About the Orals
You can show this part to your teenager:
Hi, if the oral exams are making you nervous, that’s completely normal.
This is a big deal, but you’re not being judged. The examiner wants you to succeed. And you’ve done so much preparation already.
You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to do your best, breathe, and keep going.
If you forget something, ask them to repeat the question. If you pause, take a breath. You can do this.
You’ve got more in you than you think. Keep going.
In Summary
Oral exams bring a different kind of challenge, but with a bit of support, practice, and perspective, your teen can go in feeling confident, focused, and prepared.
Remember: it’s not about being flawless. It’s about showing up, managing nerves, and trusting what they already know.
And you? You’re doing a brilliant job by being there beside them.
You’ve got this.
They do too.
