The state exams have started for over 7 thousand students across the north west region today.
This year, the timetable for the Leaving Cert has been extended by two days to minimise subject clashes.
Donegal has the highest number of students sitting the Leaving Certificate in the region with 2,139 people taking their first exams today.
There is 812 students sitting the exam in Sligo and just 412 in Leitrim – the lowest number in the country.
The figures for those sitting the Junior Cert exams compared to those sitting the Leaving Cert in Donegal is higher at 2,389 followed by Sligo at 838 and 498 in Leitrim.
Across the three counties there are more females than males sitting both the Leaving and Junior Cert exams.
In total over 124-thousand across the country are taking exams over the next couple of weeks.
English and CSPE are first up at junior cycle today, while Leaving Cert students will take English Paper 1 along with Home Economics.
Education Minister and Donegal TD Joe McHugh says simple things like diet and exercise can be a big help for students over the next few weeks.
