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Junior Cycle English: Personal writing and diaries

How often Personal writing and diaries comes up on the English papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 2 of the last 8 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025.

OL Asked on 6 of the last 8 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026. most years

Personal writing and diaries, Higher Level(7 marks)

Quick ones on Personal writing and diaries.

(a)Which feature is essential in a diary entry?
  1. A headline and a byline
  2. First person and a date
  3. A list of sources used
(b)In personal writing, which detail makes a memory most vivid for the reader?
  1. Formal vocabulary
  2. A list of dates
  3. Specific sensory detail
(c)What is a 'blog'?
  1. An informal online journal
  2. A formal business letter
  3. A printed newspaper editorial
Show the answers

(a) First person and a date

(b) Specific sensory detail

(c) An informal online journal

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Personal writing and diaries.

Higher Level

Asked on 2 of the last 8 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025.

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Not asked
2025Q10
2024Not asked
2023Not asked
2022Q2
2019Not asked
2018Not asked
2017Not asked

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Personal writing and diaries questions

Personal writing and diaries, 2 marks

What register best suits a personal diary entry?

  1. Formal and impersonal
  2. Technical and scientific
  3. Informal and reflective
Show the answer

Informal and reflective

A diary is written for yourself, so it can be casual and honest. Reflection on what you felt and learned lifts it above a list of events.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 6 of the last 8 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Q5
2025Q9
2024Q3, Q10
2023Q3
2022Q3, Q4
2019Not asked
2018Q3, Q7
2017Not asked

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Personal writing and diaries questions

Personal writing and diaries, 2 marks

A diary entry is usually written in the...

  1. Third person
  2. Second person
  3. First person
Show the answer

First person

A diary is private writing about your own life, so it uses I, me and my, and shares your thoughts and feelings honestly.

Personal writing and diaries, 2 marks

A diary entry usually begins with...

  1. Your address and theirs
  2. The date and Dear Diary
  3. A headline and the writer's name
Show the answer

The date and Dear Diary

Diary entries are dated, often start with Dear Diary, and are written in an informal first-person voice about the day's events and feelings.

Personal writing and diaries, 3 marks

Which sentence best suits a diary entry?

  1. I couldn't sleep; I kept replaying the match.
  2. The match took place at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
  3. Tickets for the match cost ten euro each at the gate.
Show the answer

I couldn't sleep; I kept replaying the match.

A diary shares personal thoughts and feelings. The other two are plain facts, better suited to a report or a notice.

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