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Subjects · Leaving Cert Classical Studies

Leaving Cert Classical Studies: Plato's Crito & Socrates

How often Plato's Crito & Socrates comes up on the Classical Studies papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 3 of the last 3 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

OL Asked on 2 of the last 3 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

Plato's Crito & Socrates, Higher Level(6 marks)

Quick ones on Plato's Crito & Socrates.

(a)Which principle does Socrates insist on in the Crito?
  1. Always obey the wishes of your friends
  2. Never do wrong, even in return for wrong
  3. Escape any punishment that is unjust, by any means
(b)According to the Laws, what must a citizen do if he thinks a law is unjust?
  1. Ignore it quietly
  2. Leave secretly at night
  3. Persuade the city or obey
(c)Why was Socrates' execution delayed?
  1. The sacred ship had not returned from Delos
  2. The Laws forbade executions in winter
  3. Crito had appealed the verdict
Show the answers

(a) Never do wrong, even in return for wrong

(b) Persuade the city or obey

(c) The sacred ship had not returned from Delos

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Plato's Crito & Socrates.

Higher Level

Asked on 3 of the last 3 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q11
2024Q10
2023Q16

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

More Plato's Crito & Socrates questions

Plato's Crito & Socrates, 2 marks

Crito says escape is Socrates' duty to whom?

  1. The jury who condemned him
  2. The Laws of Athens
  3. His young sons
Show the answer

His young sons

Crito says a good man should bring up and educate his children. The Laws later answer that his friends will care for them better in Athens.

Plato's Crito & Socrates, 2 marks

How do the Laws say he will be received in the Underworld if he escapes?

  1. He will be sent straight to Elysium with the heroes
  2. Their brothers, the laws of Hades, will not welcome him
  3. Hades will reward him for his cleverness in escaping
Show the answer

Their brothers, the laws of Hades, will not welcome him

The speech ends by extending justice beyond death. Wronging the laws on earth will be answered by the laws below.

Plato's Crito & Socrates, 2 marks

Who are Simmias and Cebes in the Crito?

  1. Theban friends ready to pay for the escape
  2. Jurors who voted to condemn Socrates
  3. Prison guards whom Crito has already bribed
Show the answer

Theban friends ready to pay for the escape

Crito stresses the money is ready from many friends, so Socrates need not worry about cost. The Thebans reappear in the Phaedo.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 2 of the last 3 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q11
2024Q8, Q15
2023Not asked

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

More Plato's Crito & Socrates questions

Plato's Crito & Socrates, 2 marks

What does Crito want Socrates to do?

  1. Write a speech for the jury
  2. Pay a fine to the Laws
  3. Escape from prison
Show the answer

Escape from prison

Crito has money and helpers ready. He fears people will think Socrates' friends let him die, and says Socrates would be abandoning his sons.

Plato's Crito & Socrates, 3 marks

Socrates says we should care about the opinion of whom?

  1. The richest citizens
  2. The expert who knows
  3. The majority
Show the answer

The expert who knows

He compares it to an athlete who follows his trainer, not the crowd. On right and wrong, we should follow the one who truly knows, not the many.

Plato's Crito & Socrates, 2 marks

According to Socrates, what matters most?

  1. Living well, not just living
  2. Living as long as possible
  3. Being popular in Athens
Show the answer

Living well, not just living

For Socrates, living well means living justly. Escaping would be wrong, so a longer life gained that way would not be worth having.

Other Classical Studies topics

All of Leaving Cert Classical Studies