The Leaving and Junior Certificate exams are under way across the country.
More than 131,000 students are sitting the traditional form of the exams, for the first time since the Covid pandemic.
That's an increase of 6% on the numbers who sat the exams in 2019.
Guidance counsellor Betty McLoughlin says families and friends have a role to play in supporting students at exam time.
"We'll be there to keep the lines of communications open.
"Have patience as well. Young people going through these exams, they're going to be stressed, they're going to be off form, so just give them a pass if they're not in the best of mood, just tell them you're there for them and that you support them, and that the exams are not the be all and end all - they need to hear that too."
