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Subjects · Leaving Certificate

Leaving Cert Engineering

What has come up on the Engineering papers (2016–2025), topic by topic, with step-by-step practice at Higher Level and Ordinary Level.

Higher Level Ordinary Level

Engineering, Higher Level(6 marks)

Three quick ones from the Engineering topics that come up most.

(a)What does G00 command a CNC machine to do?
  1. Linear cutting move at feed rate
  2. Rapid move to a position, not cutting
  3. Clockwise arc
(b)What two things must be present for iron to rust?
  1. Water and carbon dioxide only
  2. Oxygen only
  3. Oxygen and water
(c)Crystal lattice of iron at room temperature (α-iron)?
  1. Body-centred cubic (BCC)
  2. Close-packed hexagonal (CPH)
  3. Face-centred cubic (FCC)
Show the answers

(a) Rapid move to a position, not cutting

(b) Oxygen and water

(c) Body-centred cubic (BCC)

Your turn: pick the answer for each one.

Higher Level

470 flash cards and 270 step-by-step drill questions at Higher Level.

What comes up

How many of the last 9 Engineering Higher Level papers asked each topic.

TopicAskedLast seenHow often
Plastics, elastomers & composites banker9 of 92025
CNC & CAD/CAM banker9 of 92025
Hardening, tempering & annealing banker9 of 92025
Hardness, impact, fatigue & creep banker9 of 92025
Mechanisms & drives banker9 of 92025
Crystal structure & solidification banker9 of 92025
MIG, TIG & other welding banker9 of 92025
Robotics & automation banker9 of 92025
Plastics processing banker9 of 92025
Corrosion & protection banker9 of 92025
History of technology banker9 of 92025
Iron–carbon diagram banker9 of 92025
Non-destructive testing banker9 of 92025
Prescribed special topic banker9 of 92025

More topics: Tensile testing & stress–strain, Thermal equilibrium diagrams, Energy & renewables, Cutting tools, chips & fluids, Case & surface hardening, Material properties & selection, Design & prototyping, Electronics & circuits, Modern & emerging technology, Benchwork, drilling & grinding, Limits, fits & measurement, Pneumatics & hydraulics, Health & safety, Manual metal arc welding, Plastics & the environment, Ferrous & non-ferrous alloys, Ores, extraction & furnaces, Oxy-acetylene welding, Lathe & milling machines, Soldering, adhesives & fasteners, Casting, forging & forming.

These counts come from the 2016–2025 papers. June 2028 is the first exam on the new Engineering specification, so read them as a guide to the core topics; the app follows the course for the June you sit.

Try three

Tensile testing & stress–strain, 3 marks

A 10 mm diameter bar breaks after a maximum load of 31.4 kN. UTS?

  1. About 100 N/mm²
  2. About 314 N/mm²
  3. About 400 N/mm²
Show the answer

About 400 N/mm²

Area = π × 5² = 78.54 mm². UTS = 31 400 ÷ 78.54 ≈ 400 N/mm². Using the diameter instead of the radius, or leaving out π, gives the wrong answers.

Thermal equilibrium diagrams, 3 marks

A and B are insoluble as solids; the eutectic is at 40% B. What percentage of a slowly cooled 10% B alloy is eutectic?

  1. 75%
  2. 25%
  3. 10%
Show the answer

25%

Lever rule at just above the eutectic temperature: eutectic liquid = (10 - 0) ÷ (40 - 0) = 25%. The other 75% is primary crystals of pure A formed on the way down.

Mechanisms & drives, 3 marks

A drawback of helical gears on parallel shafts?

  1. They create an end (axial) thrust on the bearings
  2. They cannot carry heavy loads
  3. They change the direction of drive by 90°
Show the answer

They create an end (axial) thrust on the bearings

The angled teeth push the gear along its shaft, so thrust bearings are needed. Double helical (herringbone) gears cancel the thrust.

Practise Engineering HL free

Ordinary Level

370 flash cards and 180 step-by-step drill questions at Ordinary Level.

What comes up

How many of the last 9 Engineering Ordinary Level papers asked each topic.

TopicAskedLast seenHow often
Material properties & selection banker9 of 92025
Soldering, adhesives & fasteners banker9 of 92025
Benchwork, drilling & grinding banker9 of 92025
Lathe & milling machines banker9 of 92025
CNC & CAD/CAM banker9 of 92025
Electronics & circuits banker9 of 92025
Plastics processing banker9 of 92025
Modern & emerging technology banker9 of 92025
Ferrous & non-ferrous alloys banker9 of 92025
Mechanisms & drives banker9 of 92025
Limits, fits & measurement banker9 of 92025
Hardening, tempering & annealing banker9 of 92025
Ores, extraction & furnaces banker9 of 92025
Oxy-acetylene welding banker9 of 92025

More topics: Plastics, elastomers & composites, Cutting tools, chips & fluids, Energy & renewables, Health & safety, Robotics & automation, Manual metal arc welding, Design & prototyping, Pneumatics & hydraulics, Case & surface hardening, Plastics & the environment.

These counts come from the 2016–2025 papers. June 2028 is the first exam on the new Engineering specification, so read them as a guide to the core topics; the app follows the course for the June you sit.

Try three

Electronics & circuits, 3 marks

A 12 V supply drives a current of 0.4 A through a resistor. What is its resistance?

  1. 4.8 Ω
  2. 12.4 Ω
  3. 30 Ω
Show the answer

30 Ω

R = V ÷ I = 12 ÷ 0.4 = 30 Ω. Multiplying gives 4.8, which is the power in watts, not the resistance.

CNC & CAD/CAM, 3 marks

A benefit of CAD over drawing by hand?

  1. It removes the need for dimensions
  2. Designs are quick to edit, copy and share
  3. It needs no computer
Show the answer

Designs are quick to edit, copy and share

CAD drawings can be changed in seconds, stored safely, emailed and shown in 3D. The same file can go straight to a CNC machine or 3D printer (CAD/CAM).

Limits, fits & measurement, 3 marks

A hole is Ø20 ± 0.05 mm. What is its largest diameter?

  1. 20.05 mm
  2. 19.95 mm
  3. 0.10 mm
Show the answer

20.05 mm

Upper limit = nominal + 0.05 = 20.05 mm. The lower limit is 19.95 mm, and 0.10 mm is the tolerance.

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