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Subjects · Leaving Cert Home Economics

Leaving Cert Home Economics: The family

How often The family comes up on the Home Economics papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 9 of the last 10 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

OL Asked on 8 of the last 10 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026. most years

The family, Higher Level(7 marks)

Quick ones on The family.

(a)Family unit made up of parents and their children living together?
  1. An extended family
  2. A nuclear family
  3. A blended family
(b)Family in which parents, children and other relatives share a home?
  1. A lone-parent family
  2. A nuclear family
  3. An extended family
(c)Family formed when two partners with children from earlier relationships live together?
  1. A blended or reconstituted family
  2. A nuclear or two-parent family
  3. An extended or multi-generation family
Show the answers

(a) A nuclear family

(b) An extended family

(c) A blended or reconstituted family

Your turn: Higher Level questions on The family.

Higher Level

Asked on 9 of the last 10 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Q5, C4
2025Q5
2024Q5
2023Q5
2022Q5
2021Q5
2019Q5
2018Q5
2017Not asked
2016Q5

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

More The family questions

The family, 3 marks

What is a gender role?

  1. A job that by law only one sex is ever allowed to do
  2. A family's decision about who does the weekly shopping
  3. Behaviour society expects of a person because of their sex
Show the answer

Behaviour society expects of a person because of their sex

Gender roles are learned through socialisation, not set by law. They have become less fixed in Irish families.

The family, 2 marks

A role often played by grandparents in Irish families today?

  1. Paying all of the family's household bills
  2. Minding grandchildren while the parents work
  3. Taking legal guardianship of every grandchild
Show the answer

Minding grandchildren while the parents work

Many grandparents give childcare, advice and emotional support, and pass on family history and traditions.

The family, 2 marks

Stage of the family life cycle when the couple's first child is born?

  1. The expanding (child-bearing) stage
  2. The contracting (empty nest) stage
  3. The launching (leaving home) stage
Show the answer

The expanding (child-bearing) stage

The cycle runs from the couple stage to expanding, then launching as children leave, then the empty nest.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 8 of the last 10 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Q5
2025C4
2024Q5
2023Q5, C4
2022Not asked
2021Q5, C4
2019Q5
2018Q5
2017Q5
2016Not asked

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

More The family questions

The family, 2 marks

What name is given to a family of parents and their children only?

  1. An extended family
  2. A blended family
  3. A nuclear family
Show the answer

A nuclear family

A nuclear family is two generations living together. Adding grandparents or other relatives makes it an extended family.

The family, 2 marks

What is a family that includes grandparents or other relatives called?

  1. A lone parent family
  2. An extended family
  3. A nuclear family
Show the answer

An extended family

Extended families share childcare, costs and company, which is a real support when both parents work.

The family, 2 marks

What is a family headed by one parent called?

  1. A lone parent family
  2. A blended family
  3. An extended family
Show the answer

A lone parent family

Lone parent families have become more common in Ireland and can face higher costs of childcare on one income.

Other Home Economics topics

All of Leaving Cert Home Economics