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Subjects · Leaving Cert Construction Studies

Leaving Cert Construction Studies: Foundations & concrete

How often Foundations & concrete comes up on the Construction Studies papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 2 of the last 9 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2022.

OL Asked on 8 of the last 9 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

June 2028 is the first exam on the new Construction Studies course. These come from the 2016–2025 papers, so read them as a guide.

Foundations & concrete, Higher Level(7 marks)

Quick ones on Foundations & concrete.

(a)Typical size of a strip foundation under a cavity wall?
  1. About 300 mm wide and 750 mm deep
  2. About 750–900 mm wide and 300 mm deep
  3. About 2 m wide and 100 mm deep
(b)Why is steel reinforcement placed near the bottom of a strip foundation?
  1. So it acts as the radon barrier under the house
  2. To keep it well away from the DPC and the wall built above
  3. The bottom is in tension; concrete is weak in tension
(c)Why must reinforcing steel have 50–75 mm of concrete cover?
  1. To protect the steel from rust
  2. To reduce the weight of the foundation
  3. To make the concrete set faster
Show the answers

(a) About 750–900 mm wide and 300 mm deep

(b) The bottom is in tension; concrete is weak in tension

(c) To protect the steel from rust

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Foundations & concrete.

Higher Level

Asked on 2 of the last 9 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2022.

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Not asked
2024Not asked
2023Not asked
2022Q4
2021Not asked
2019Not asked
2018Not asked
2017Q9
2016Not asked

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

Ordinary Level

Asked on 8 of the last 9 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q8a, Q8e
2024Q4
2023Q8a
2022Q8a
2021Q8b
2019Q4
2018Q1, Q4
2017Not asked
2016Q1

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

More Foundations & concrete questions

Foundations & concrete, 2 marks

Main job of a foundation?

  1. To keep radon gas from rising up into the house above
  2. To stop heat escaping down through the floor
  3. To spread the building's load safely onto the ground
Show the answer

To spread the building's load safely onto the ground

The walls and roof are very heavy. A wide concrete foundation spreads that weight over a large area of firm ground so the house does not sink.

Foundations & concrete, 3 marks

Why is steel reinforcement placed in a concrete foundation?

  1. Steel makes the concrete set faster
  2. Concrete is weak in tension; steel adds strength
  3. Steel stops water soaking into the concrete
Show the answer

Concrete is weak in tension; steel adds strength

Concrete resists squashing well but cracks easily when stretched or bent. Steel bars near the bottom take the tension so the foundation does not crack.

Foundations & concrete, 2 marks

Foundation that is a continuous band of concrete under the walls?

  1. Strip foundation
  2. Pad foundation
  3. Pile foundation
Show the answer

Strip foundation

A strip foundation runs along under every load-bearing wall. It is the usual type for a house on firm ground. A pad sits under a single column.

Other Construction Studies topics

All of Leaving Cert Construction Studies