Sir, – I believe the Leaving Certificate examinations are played on a very slanted pitch.Kids from homes of wealthy parents can avail of grinds and extra help in subjects in which they may be struggling.However, kids from disadvantaged areas by and large do not have that option.So, it is not a level playing pitch. When the results come out in late summer, those kids who received the extra help will get more points due to that intervention.That extra help may not be available to these over-achievers in college, so they may struggle. As someone who worked in a disadvantaged area all my teaching life, I find this situation very unfair. It does not give a true reflection of the participants’ abilities. – Yours, etc,Pat Burke Walsh,Gorey,Co Wexford.