Ceist Eile

Ceist Eile is in development. Features, questions and prices may change while we refine it.

Subjects · Leaving Cert Geography

Leaving Cert Geography: Rock types

How often Rock types comes up on the Geography 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

June 2028 is the first exam on the new Geography course. These come from the 2016–2026 papers, so read them as a guide.

Rock types, Higher Level(7 marks)

Quick ones on Rock types.

(a)Fine-grained igneous rock that forms the Giants Causeway?
  1. Granite
  2. Basalt
  3. Limestone
(b)Metamorphic rock formed from sandstone?
  1. Slate
  2. Marble
  3. Quartzite
(c)Sedimentary rock made mainly of calcium carbonate from shells and skeletons?
  1. Limestone
  2. Slate
  3. Sandstone
Show the answers

(a) Basalt

(b) Quartzite

(c) Limestone

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Rock types.

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
2026SQ4, Q1C
2025SQ4, Q1B
2024Q3B
2023SQ4, Q1B
2022Q2C
2021SQ4, Q2B, Q3C
2019Q2B, Q3B
2018SQ7
2017Q3A
2016SQ4, Q1B, Q3B

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

More Rock types questions

Rock types, 2 marks

Metamorphic rock that forms the cone of Errigal in Co. Donegal?

  1. Granite
  2. Limestone
  3. Quartzite
Show the answer

Quartzite

Quartzite is very resistant, so it stands up as steep, pale peaks such as Errigal, Croagh Patrick and the Great Sugar Loaf.

Rock types, 2 marks

Igneous rock formed when lava cools at the Earth's surface is described as what?

  1. Metamorphic
  2. Extrusive (volcanic)
  3. Intrusive (plutonic)
Show the answer

Extrusive (volcanic)

Lava pours out onto the surface and cools fast, so extrusive rocks such as basalt have small crystals.

Rock types, 3 marks

Sedimentary rock made of rounded pebbles cemented together?

  1. Conglomerate
  2. Breccia
  3. Shale
Show the answer

Conglomerate

The pebbles were rounded by rivers or waves before burial. Breccia is similar but its fragments are angular.

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
2026SQ2, Q3B
2025SQ4, Q2B
2024SQ2, Q3C
2023SQ2, Q1B
2022Q2C
2021Q1C
2019Q2C, Q3A
2018SQ1, Q1B
2017SQ4, Q1B
2016SQ6, Q2B

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

More Rock types questions

Rock types, 2 marks

Rock type formed when molten rock cools and hardens?

  1. Sedimentary
  2. Metamorphic
  3. Igneous
Show the answer

Igneous

Igneous rocks such as granite and basalt form when magma or lava cools. Slow cooling gives large crystals and fast cooling gives small ones.

Rock types, 2 marks

Rock type that limestone belongs to?

  1. Metamorphic
  2. Sedimentary
  3. Igneous
Show the answer

Sedimentary

Limestone built up on the sea floor from the shells and skeletons of sea creatures, which were pressed into layers of rock.

Rock types, 2 marks

Igneous rock with large crystals that cooled slowly underground?

  1. Granite
  2. Basalt
  3. Sandstone
Show the answer

Granite

Slow cooling deep in the crust gives the minerals time to grow into big crystals, and granite is quarried in the Mournes and in Wicklow.

Other Geography topics

All of Leaving Cert Geography