Ceist Eile

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Subjects · Leaving Cert English

Leaving Cert English: Unseen Poetry

How often Unseen Poetry 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

Unseen Poetry, Ordinary Level(6 marks)

Quick ones on Unseen Poetry.

(a)At Ordinary Level, the Unseen Poem on Paper 2 is worth…
  1. 50 marks
  2. 20 marks
  3. 10 marks
(b)The Unseen Poem questions at Ordinary Level usually come as…
  1. Ten one-word questions
  2. One essay question worth 50 marks
  3. Two questions of 10 marks each
(c)How many times does the paper tell you to read the unseen poem before you write?
  1. At least twice
  2. Not at all - read the questions only
  3. Once, quickly
Show the answers

(a) 20 marks

(b) Two questions of 10 marks each

(c) At least twice

Your turn: Ordinary Level questions on Unseen Poetry.

Higher Level

Asked on 10 of the last 10 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Unseen Poetry
2025Unseen Poetry
2024Unseen Poetry
2023Unseen Poetry
2022Unseen Poetry
2021Unseen Poetry
2019Unseen Poetry
2018Unseen Poetry
2017Unseen Poetry
2016Unseen Poetry

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

Ordinary Level

Asked on 10 of the last 10 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Unseen Poetry
2025Unseen Poetry
2024Unseen Poetry
2023Unseen Poetry
2022Unseen Poetry
2021Unseen Poetry
2019Unseen Poetry
2018Unseen Poetry
2017Unseen Poetry
2016Unseen Poetry

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

More Unseen Poetry questions

Unseen Poetry, 2 marks

A question asks, 'Did you enjoy this poem?' Can you answer no?

  1. No, you must always praise the poem
  2. Only if you name the poet and the date it was written
  3. Yes, if you give reasons from the poem
Show the answer

Yes, if you give reasons from the poem

An honest answer is fine either way. What earns marks is explaining your view with reference to the poem.

Unseen Poetry, 2 marks

A question asks whether you would recommend the poem to a certain reader. Your answer should…

  1. Summarise a poem you studied in class instead
  2. Say yes or no and give reasons with reference to the poem
  3. Say yes, since the examiner chose the poem for a good reason
Show the answer

Say yes or no and give reasons with reference to the poem

Think about that reader. Would they relate to its subject, enjoy its language? Give two or three reasons, each with a quote.

Unseen Poetry, 2 marks

In the line 'the kettle sulks on the cold stove' (written for Ceist Eile), the technique is…

  1. Personification
  2. Simile
  3. Onomatopoeia
Show the answer

Personification

Sulking is something a person does. Giving it to a kettle is personification, and it makes the kitchen feel gloomy.

Other English topics

All of Leaving Cert English