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Subjects · Leaving Certificate

Leaving Cert English

What has come up on the English papers (2016–2026), topic by topic, with step-by-step practice at Higher Level and Ordinary Level.

Higher Level Ordinary Level

English, Higher Level(6 marks)

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

(a)In the comparative, what does 'GVV' stand for?
  1. Genre, Voice and Viewpoint
  2. General Vision and Viewpoint
  3. General Values and Vision
(b)How many composition titles are usually offered on Higher Level Paper 1?
  1. Twelve
  2. Three
  3. Seven
(c)How many texts usually appear in the Comprehending section of Paper 1?
  1. Three
  2. Five
  3. Two
Show the answers

(a) General Vision and Viewpoint

(b) Seven

(c) Three

Your turn: pick the answer for each one.

Higher Level

400 flash cards and 240 step-by-step drill questions at Higher Level.

What comes up

How many of the last 10 English Higher Level papers asked each topic.

TopicAskedLast seenHow often
Composing banker10 of 102026
Comprehending banker10 of 102026
Functional Writing banker10 of 102026
Poetry banker10 of 102026
Narrative Technique banker10 of 102026
Rhetoric banker10 of 102026
Comparative Study banker10 of 102026
Single Text banker10 of 102026
Unseen Poetry banker10 of 102026
King Lear 4 of 102025
Macbeth 3 of 102026
Hamlet 2 of 102024
Othello 1 of 102022
The Tempest 1 of 102021

Try three

Functional Writing, 2 marks

'A Chara', used to open a formal letter in Irish, literally means…

  1. Sir
  2. Reader
  3. Friend
Show the answer

Friend

'A Chara' is the standard greeting in Irish formal letters, the equivalent of 'Dear Sir/Madam'.

Rhetoric, 2 marks

'Act now!' uses which verb mood?

  1. Conditional
  2. Imperative
  3. Subjunctive
Show the answer

Imperative

Commands create urgency and are common in adverts, instructions and speeches.

Comprehending, 2 marks

'Anecdotal evidence' is evidence drawn from…

  1. Personal stories rather than data
  2. A large statistical survey
  3. A peer-reviewed study
Show the answer

Personal stories rather than data

It's personal and engaging but not proof; a strong argument balances it with facts and statistics.

Practise English HL free

Ordinary Level

300 flash cards and 150 step-by-step drill questions at Ordinary Level.

What comes up

How many of the last 10 English Ordinary Level papers asked each topic.

TopicAskedLast seenHow often
Composing banker10 of 102026
Comprehending banker10 of 102026
Functional Writing banker10 of 102026
Narrative Technique banker10 of 102026
Poetry banker10 of 102026
Rhetoric banker10 of 102026
Comparative Study banker10 of 102026
Single Text banker10 of 102026
Unseen Poetry banker10 of 102026

Try three

Narrative Technique, 3 marks

'Show, don't tell' in a story means…

  1. Use drawings or pictures alongside the words you write
  2. Tell the reader the ending first, then go back
  3. Describe what happens so the reader works out the feeling
Show the answer

Describe what happens so the reader works out the feeling

Instead of She was nervous, write Her hands shook as she opened the letter. Detail convinces the reader more than a label does.

Unseen Poetry, 3 marks

A line repeated at the end of each stanza of a poem is called…

  1. A byline
  2. A refrain
  3. A caption
Show the answer

A refrain

A refrain works like a chorus in a song. It stresses a key idea and gives the poem a pattern.

Poetry, 3 marks

A poetry question asks for a diary entry by the speaker. You should…

  1. Use details from the poem in your entry
  2. Ignore the poem and invent a new story
  3. Write a list of techniques found in it
Show the answer

Use details from the poem in your entry

A creative task is still a test of the poem. Write as the speaker, but build the entry from the events, images and feelings in the poem.

Practise English OL free

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