Subjects · Leaving Cert English
Leaving Cert English: Functional Writing
How often Functional Writing 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 Functional Writing.
- Yours faithfully
- Best wishes
- To whom it may concern
- After the signature
- Bottom left
- Top right
- A formal letter to an unknown recipient
- A formal letter to a named manager
- An informal letter to a close friend
Show the answers
(a) Best wishes
(b) Top right
(c) A formal letter to an unknown recipient
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 QB, Text 2 QB, Text 3 QB |
| 2025 | Text 1 QB, Text 2 QB, Text 3 QB |
| 2024 | Text 1 QB, Text 2 QB, Text 3 QB |
| 2023 | Text 1 QB, Text 2 QB, Text 3 QB |
| 2022 | Text 1 QB, Text 2 QB, Text 3 QB |
| 2021 | Text 1 QB, Text 2 QB, Text 3 QB |
| 2019 | Text 1 QB, Text 2 QB, Text 3 QB |
| 2018 | Text 1 QB, Text 2 QB, Text 3 QB |
| 2017 | Text 1 QB, Text 2 QB, Text 3 QB |
| 2016 | Text 1 QB, Text 2 QB, Text 3 QB |
Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.
More Functional Writing questions
Functional Writing, 2 marks
The minutes of a meeting record…
- How long each person spoke
- The menu that was served
- What was discussed and decided
Show the answer
What was discussed and decided
They are usually written in the past tense and third person, recording decisions and who will act on them.
Functional Writing, 2 marks
The list of items to be discussed at a meeting is the…
- Memo
- Agenda
- Minutes
Show the answer
Agenda
It's circulated before the meeting; the minutes later record what happened under each item.
Functional Writing, 2 marks
A press release is written mainly for…
- Journalists and the media
- Close friends and family
- Exam candidates and teachers
Show the answer
Journalists and the media
It's an official statement from an organisation, written like a news story so the media can use it.
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 QB, Text 2 QB, Text 3 QB |
| 2025 | Text 1 QB, Text 2 QB, Text 3 QB |
| 2024 | Text 1 QB, Text 2 QB, Text 3 QB |
| 2023 | Text 1 QB, Text 2 QB, Text 3 QB |
| 2022 | Text 1 QB, Text 2 QB, Text 3 QB |
| 2021 | Text 1 QB, Text 2 QB, Text 3 QB |
| 2019 | Text 1 QB, Text 2 QB, Text 3 QB |
| 2018 | Text 1 QB, Text 2 QB, Text 3 QB |
| 2017 | Text 1 QB, Text 2 QB, Text 3 QB |
| 2016 | Text 1 QB, Text 2 QB, Text 3 QB |
Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.
More Functional Writing questions
Functional Writing, 2 marks
In a formal letter, where does the sender's own address usually go?
- Bottom right, under the signature
- In the middle of the first line
- Top right of the page
Show the answer
Top right of the page
Put your address at the top right with the date under it. The receiver's address goes on the left, above the greeting.
Functional Writing, 3 marks
If a formal letter begins 'Dear Sir/Madam', it should end with…
- Lots of love
- Yours faithfully
- Yours sincerely
Show the answer
Yours faithfully
If you do not know the name, use Dear Sir/Madam and Yours faithfully. If you do know it, use Dear Ms Ryan and Yours sincerely.
Functional Writing, 2 marks
A speech should begin by…
- Greeting the audience named in the task
- Giving your home address and the date
- Listing the sources you used for research
Show the answer
Greeting the audience named in the task
Open with something like Good morning, fellow students. It shows the examiner you know exactly who you are speaking to.