Junior Cycle Irish consists of two Classroom-Based Assessments (CBAs), both of which are done in 3rd year. You will complete each CBA in class over a period of 3 weeks or less. After completing the two CBAs, you will complete a written assessment which is worth 10% of the final grade for Junior Cycle Irish.
Guide
How to succeed in your Junior Cycle Irish CBA 2
By Rachel Mahon - 7 minute readRachel, an experienced Irish teacher, gives her tips in this guide on how to tackle the communicative task in the Junior Cycle Irish CBA 2.
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Introduction
Course breakdown
Let's have a quick look at the breakdown of the course:
CBA 1: punann teanga (language portfolio)
CBA 1 will be completed during your first term of 3rd year. This CBA will require you to select three pieces of work from your portfolio that showcase your knowledge of the Irish language. This may consist of a presentation you have done, a written piece you completed, a poster you have made or something you have done based on a piece of literature that you have studied.
CBA 2: tasc cumarsáide (communicative task)
CBA 2 will be completed during your second term of 3rd year. For this CBA, you will carry out a three-minute oral piece of work. This can be based on a topic of your choice and may be in the form of roleplay, presentation, drama, conversation or interview. I recommend that you pick something that you are interested in such as a sport you play or a hobby you enjoy.
Tasc measúnaithe (assessment task)
Your Assessment Task will be completed in school over the course of two single classes or one double class (80 minutes minimum). It will be based on CBA 2 (your communicative task). The first class will be spent preparing by looking at the material provided by the NCCA (National Council for Curriculum and Assessment) and reflecting on the communicative task. In the second class, you will fill in your answer book (in Irish) which will then be sent for correction by the State Examinations Commission (SEC).
Descriptors
The following descriptors include the criteria your teacher will be using to decide which category your work fits into:
Thar barr ar fad (exceptional)
There may be some mistakes but strengths outweigh weaknesses/mistakes. Mistakes are minor and it is easy for the student to carry out recommendations on how to improve their work if required. The conversation is natural and of a high standard with good grammar, excellent sentence structure, an excellent range of vocabulary, good pronunciation and self-correction. The student understands and answers the teacher’s questions very well.
Os cionn na n-ionchas (above expectations)
Feedback may indicate that certain areas need to be improved but overall, the work is to a very good standard. The conversation flows with a good range of vocabulary and pronunciation. The student is able to self-correct.
Ag teacht leis na hIonchais (in line with expectations)
Work is of a good standard overall. Feedback might suggest a range of areas that could be improved upon but there is a good understanding of the task with no major mistakes. There is a reasonable level of vocabulary present with possible gaps here and there. Grammar may come across as limited in places with frequent mistakes and errors in structure.
Níor chomhlíon na hionchais go fóill (yet to meet expectations)
A good effort was made but the task wasn’t fully understood. The student is unable to speak continuously for any length of time and words are mispronounced. Questions are not understood fully, poorly answered or not answered at all.
CBA 2: tasc cumarsáide (communicative task)
Ullmhúchán an scoláire (student preparation)
In CBA 2, you will carry out a three-minute Irish oral piece during your second term of 3rd year. This may be on any topic of your choice and it may be in the form of roleplay, presentation, drama, conversation, interview, etc.
The preparation and end presentation will be carried out during class time over a period of 3 weeks in accordance with the NCCA timetable (your teacher will inform you about this). At the end of your oral piece, your teacher will ask you three questions based on the topic you spoke about. You may ask them to repeat the question or phrase it differently if you don’t understand.
Top tip
It's a good idea to brainstorm which questions your teacher might ask about your presentation so you can have the answers prepared in advance.
The task may be completed individually or in groups but each member must talk for approximately 3/4 minutes. Each member completes the reflective note based on their individual contribution to their group. Texts/literature from 2nd and 3rd years may be used as content for a presentation.
Top tip
The best way to prepare for CBA 2 is to actively participate in communication through Irish both inside and outside of the classroom. This will help you improve your language skills in sentence structure, pronunciation and speaking.
Completing your reflective note
After completing CBA 2, you will be required to complete a reflective note. Here is a template:
Choosing your presentation
While deciding what presentation you are going to do for CBA 2, keep the following questions in mind:
How can I make this interesting for my listeners, i.e. my teacher and my fellow classmates?
Am I interested in the topic?
Am I able to keep within the time limit?
Questions to help you reflect on your work
| Seo é an rud ba thábhachtaí a d’fhoghlaim mé... | This was the most important thing I learned... |
| Seo é an bealach a d’fhoghlaim mé... | This was the way I learned... |
| Seo é an rud a bhí deacair dom... | This was the thing I found difficult... |
| Seo é an rud ba mhó a thaitin liom... | This is the thing I liked most... |
| Seo é an rud is mó a chuir ag smaoineamh mé... | This is the thing that made me think the most... |
| Seo é an rud is mó a bhfuil cabhair de dhíth orm... | This is the thing I need most help with... |
| Seo é an rud a chuireann trína chéile i gcónaí mé... | This is the thing that really confuses me... |
| Seo é an rud a chuir iontas orm... | This is the thing that surprised me... |
| Seo é an rud casta... | This is the complicated thing... |
| Seo é an rud a d’fhoghlaim mé atá nua... | This is the thing I learned that’s new... |
| D’fhéadfainn foghlaim ní b’fhearr dá... | I could learn better if… |
The Assessment Task
This is a written task completed during school time within two single classes or one double class (a minimum of 80 minutes). It is common level and based upon CBA 2. Let's have a closer look at the Assessment Task:
First class
The first class will be spent preparing by looking at the material provided by the NCCA (National Council for Curriculum and Assessment) and reflecting on the communicative task.
Second class
In the second class, you will fill in your answer book (in Irish). This will then be sent for correction by the State Examinations Commission.
Who marks it?
It is not marked by your teacher but sent to the State Examinations Commission for correction as it is worth 10% of the overall Junior Cycle Irish exam.
What am I tested on?
It is a written task in which you will be tested on your ability to discuss your experience of choosing, preparing and presenting a topic for the communicative task and/or your understanding of the experience and your ability to reflect on the skills you developed.
What happens if I'm absent for the Assessment Task?
If you are absent for the Assessment Task, your school may make arrangements to allow you to complete the task as close to the scheduled time as possible.
Best of luck! You will be great.
By Rachel Mahon
Rachel Mahon is an experienced teacher of Irish.