Third Year (An Tríú Bliain) (age 14–16) – The Junior Certificate (Teastas Sóisearach) examination is sat in all subjects (usually 10 or 11) in early June. Many schools hold Mock Examinations (also known as Pre-Certificate Examinations) to prepare students around February. The mocks are not state examinations — independent companies provide the exam papers and marking schemes – and are therefore not mandatory across all schools.