The goal of Leaving Cert English is to help you develop a diverse set of literacy and oral skills across personal, social and cultural aspects. Throughout the course, you will learn how to understand and appreciate various materials (such as poems and novels) and you will be encouraged to explore your own interpretations and express your opinions. There will also be opportunities for you to engage in creative writing, using the following headings:
Guide
Everything you need to study Leaving Cert English
- 4 minute read
English is a core subject and is compulsory in all schools. The exam is designed to be clear and accessible as its purpose is to allow you to showcase your knowledge rather than trick you with unfamiliar information. This article shows you everything Studyclix has to offer to study Leaving Cert English which will hopefully make your learning a lot easier.
Jump to:
Show all sections
What's involved?
The language of information
The language of argument
The language of persuasion
The language of narration
The aesthetic use of language
This curriculum will hopefully empower you to become an independent learner who can confidently navigate the world beyond school.
What to expect on the exam papers
Paper 1
Section I
Three texts (one of which is visual) are presented to you on a general theme. Two sets of questions (A and B) follow each text. You must answer a Question A on one text and a Question B on another (100 marks).
Section II
This is a composing section where you must write an extended composition in a specific genre of language from a list of seven choices (story, talk, debate, article, essay, etc.) (100 marks).
Paper 2
Section I
The single text (60 marks)
Section II
The comparative study (70 marks)
Section III
Poetry (70 marks)
Section I
Three texts (one of which is visual) are presented to you on a general theme. Two sets of questions (A and B) follow each text. You must answer a Question A on one text and a Question B on another (100 marks).
Section II
This is a composing section where you must write an extended composition in a specific genre of language from a list of seven choices (story, talk, debate, article, essay, etc.) (100 marks).
More information
Future careers with Leaving Cert English can be in advertising, writing, the arts, business, management, journalism, politics and entertainment. For more information, check out the curriculumonline website.
How Studyclix can help you study English
Read our H1 guide
Every year students ask us questions like:
What is the best way to study the poets?
What should I know for the comparative?
How much time should I spend on each question?
Thankfully, all of the answers to these questions can be found in our H1 Leaving Cert English Guide. It was written by a H1 student and is full of tips and tricks for maximizing your marks in the exam.
Listen to the Studyclix Podcast
Don't have the time to read our H1 Guide? No worries! You can listen to our H1 English podcast episode instead. From how to write comparatively to how to spill your guts about Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin, this podcast episode has you covered for everything you need to know about the Leaving Cert English exam.
You can find it by searching for 'Studyclix English' on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Alternatively, you can tune in here:
For more English advice, check out our other podcast episodes:
Examiner-annotated essays
Our expert teachers and examiners have reviewed a number of sample essays to show you how to structure an answer and where to pick up marks. Along with written notes in the paragraphs, every essay includes a number of feedback boxes from the examiner which have been colour-coded to represent what you should and shouldn't do in your answers, for example:
You can find these essays on the 'videos and notes' page on a topic or at the bottom of an exam question. Click here to read more about how you can study using these essays.
Shakespeare
We've teamed up with Leaving Cert English teacher and expert, Peter Tobin, to bring you a podcast series all about the prescribed plays by William Shakespeare.
In each episode, Peter zones in on specific aspects of the plays and gives detailed instructions on how to dissect Othello or Macbeth as part of your Leaving Cert studies. Peter also discusses the characters, key scenes, themes and writing techniques, all in the context of Leaving Cert questions to help you give the best response possible when you're taking the exam.
Othello episodes
Macbeth episodes
Hamlet episodes
Not sure how to approach a Shakespeare essay? No problem! In this video, Peter focuses on how to answer different Macbeth questions on the day of your exam:
Check out the Studyclix Explains YouTube channel for more videos like this.
Poetry
Studying poetry for the Leaving Cert can pose a challenge due to its intricate language and complex themes. If you're struggling with understanding the prescribed poems, check out the following podcast episodes (we recommend having each poem to hand while you listen to the podcasts):
Top tip
Stuck on a poetry question? Not sure about a theme? Looking for some more notes? Try asking our community page for some tips and advice. There are plenty of students and teachers there who are more than willing to help you out.
Have some ideas for more resources?
We are always looking for new ways to improve our site so we would love to hear your feedback. Get in touch by emailing info@studyclix.ie 😊