Subjects · Leaving Cert English
Leaving Cert English: Comprehending
How often Comprehending comes up on the English papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.
HL Asked on 10 of the last 10 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker
OL Asked on 10 of the last 10 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker
Quick ones on Comprehending.
- Two
- Three
- Five
- The aesthetic use of language
- The language of argument
- The language of information
- Similarities and differences
- The plot of each text
- Only the better writer
Show the answers
(a) Three
(b) The language of information
(c) Similarities and differences
Higher Level
Asked on 10 of the last 10 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker
Every paper, year by year
| Year | Where it came up |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Text 1 QA, Text 2 QA, Text 3 QA |
| 2025 | Text 1 QA, Text 2 QA, Text 3 QA |
| 2024 | Text 1 QA, Text 2 QA, Text 3 QA |
| 2023 | Text 1 QA, Text 2 QA, Text 3 QA |
| 2022 | Text 1 QA, Text 2 QA, Text 3 QA |
| 2021 | Text 1 QA, Text 2 QA, Text 3 QA |
| 2019 | Text 1 QA, Text 2 QA, Text 3 QA |
| 2018 | Text 1 QA, Text 2 QA, Text 3 QA |
| 2017 | Text 1 QA, Text 2 QA, Text 3 QA |
| 2016 | Text 1 QA, Text 2 QA, Text 3 QA |
Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.
More Comprehending questions
Comprehending, 2 marks
In a comprehension question, 'infer' means…
- Copy the relevant lines out exactly
- Summarise the plot in your own words
- Work it out from clues in the text
Show the answer
Work it out from clues in the text
Inference means reading between the lines; back up what you work out with evidence quoted from the text.
Comprehending, 2 marks
A writer's 'register' is…
- The number and length of their paragraphs
- The level of formality of their language
- The speed and fluency of their writing
Show the answer
The level of formality of their language
e.g. formal for a report, informal for a blog. Matching register to audience earns marks in Question B.
Comprehending, 2 marks
In an image, the part that seems furthest from the viewer is the…
- Background
- Foreground
- Caption
Show the answer
Background
The foreground is nearest the viewer, with the middle ground between. Using these terms shows close reading of images.
Ordinary Level
Asked on 10 of the last 10 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker
Every paper, year by year
| Year | Where it came up |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Text 1 QA, Text 2 QA, Text 3 QA |
| 2025 | Text 1 QA, Text 2 QA, Text 3 QA |
| 2024 | Text 1 QA, Text 2 QA, Text 3 QA |
| 2023 | Text 1 QA, Text 2 QA, Text 3 QA |
| 2022 | Text 1 QA, Text 2 QA, Text 3 QA |
| 2021 | Text 1 QA, Text 2 QA, Text 3 QA |
| 2019 | Text 1 QA, Text 2 QA, Text 3 QA |
| 2018 | Text 1 QA, Text 2 QA, Text 3 QA |
| 2017 | Text 1 QA, Text 2 QA, Text 3 QA |
| 2016 | Text 1 QA, Text 2 QA, Text 3 QA |
Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.
More Comprehending questions
Comprehending, 2 marks
Paper 1 is divided into which two sections?
- Poetry and Drama
- Single Text and Comparative Study
- Comprehending and Composing
Show the answer
Comprehending and Composing
Section I is Comprehending, based on the texts printed in the paper. Section II is Composing, where you write one piece of your own.
Comprehending, 3 marks
In Section I of Paper 1, Question A and Question B must be answered on…
- Any text, even the same one twice
- Two different texts
- The same text
Show the answer
Two different texts
You answer Question A on one text and Question B on a different one. Answering both on the same text loses marks.
Comprehending, 2 marks
A short piece of writing underneath a photograph is called a…
- Caption
- Headline
- Byline
Show the answer
Caption
Captions tell you what a picture shows and guide how you read it. Visual text questions often ask about them.