As part of the Junior Cycle program, students are required to do Classroom Based Assessments in 2nd and 3rd year. Classroom Based Assessments take place during class time under the supervision of their teacher. Their goal is to promote a positive and collaborative learning environment for students while also informing them about their learning progress.

Classroom Based Assessments vary from subject to subject and include a range of subject-appropriate activities such as oral tasks, practical and design tasks, artistic performances and project work. Students are awarded a “descriptor” (Exceptional/ Above expectations/ In line with expectations/ Yet to meet expectations) by their teachers once they have completed their CBA. These descriptors are printed beside the student's grade descriptor for their final state Junior Cycle exam, on their Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement.

2nd Year CBAs 2023/2024

Students in 2nd year this year will complete a CBA1 in Business Studies, History, English, Geography, Art, Classics, Religion, Maths, Science, French, German, Technology and Music from November 6th to May 2nd this school year.

Unless informed by the Minister for Education, they will complete one CBA in each of their short courses (CSPE and Coding), a CBA 1 and CBA 2 in Irish, and a CBA 2 in all other subjects in the 2024-2025 school year.

Current 2nd year pupils will complete a written Assessment Task (AT) in 3rd year, based on the learning outcomes of CBA 2 prior to sitting their final state-certified examination in June. The Assessment Task is externally graded by the State Examinations Commission just like their final Junior Cycle examination, which they sit in June of 3rd Year.

3rd Year CBAs 2023/2024

In most subjects, for students in 3rd year (2023/ 2024), there is only the requirement to do one CBA, either a CBA1 or CBA2, during Junior Cycle. Pupils who completed CBA1s in second year will not have to do a CBA2 in third year. The exceptions to this are Visual Art, Music, Applied Technology, where a CBA 2 must be completed, as these are linked to the final examination, and Irish, where the CBA2 is their oral presentation. Students will also complete a CBA in their short courses this year (Coding and P.E.).

They will not be required to complete an Assessment Task in their subjects this year either.