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Leaving Cert Technology: Communication technologies

How often Communication technologies comes up on the Technology papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 8 of the last 9 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

OL Asked on 5 of the last 9 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2024.

Communication technologies, Higher Level(7 marks)

Quick ones on Communication technologies.

(a)How does a GPS receiver find its position?
  1. Signals from one nearby Wi-Fi router
  2. Timing signals from several satellites
  3. Reading an RFID tag
(b)What is the Internet of Things (IoT)?
  1. A cable standard for connecting printers and scanners to PCs
  2. A directory of websites about technology and gadgets
  3. Everyday devices with sensors connected to the internet
(c)Bluetooth is best described as:
  1. A short-range wireless link between devices
  2. A wired link using a USB cable
  3. A long-range satellite link for phones
Show the answers

(a) Timing signals from several satellites

(b) Everyday devices with sensors connected to the internet

(c) A short-range wireless link between devices

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Communication technologies.

Higher Level

Asked on 8 of the last 9 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025B2a, B3a, B3d
2024A10, B2a, B2b
2023A1, B2b
2022A11
2021A1, A7
2019Not asked
2018B2a, B2b, B2c, B3c
2017A9, B3b
2016A2, A4, B2a

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

More Communication technologies questions

Communication technologies, 3 marks

How does a wireless phone charger transfer energy?

  1. Infrared light beams
  2. Radio signals from a mobile mast
  3. Electromagnetic induction between coils
Show the answer

Electromagnetic induction between coils

A.c. in the charger's coil makes a changing magnetic field, which induces a current in a coil inside the phone. The coils must be close and lined up.

Communication technologies, 3 marks

Why is a mobile phone network split into cells, each with its own mast?

  1. To stop phones calling numbers abroad
  2. Frequencies can be reused, serving many users
  3. So phones need no battery near a mast
Show the answer

Frequencies can be reused, serving many users

Each cell covers a small area at low power, so the same frequencies can be reused in cells further away. Calls hand over from cell to cell as a phone moves.

Communication technologies, 2 marks

Why might a home on a remote Irish island use satellite broadband?

  1. No fibre or cable network reaches it
  2. Satellite is always faster than fibre
  3. It needs no power supply
Show the answer

No fibre or cable network reaches it

Satellite broadband works anywhere with a view of the sky, so it suits places without fibre, although it can have a longer delay (latency) than fibre.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 5 of the last 9 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2024.

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Not asked
2024A2
2023Not asked
2022B2d
2021A1
2019Not asked
2018Not asked
2017A2
2016A1

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

More Communication technologies questions

Communication technologies, 2 marks

GPS works out a location using signals from…

  1. Local radio stations
  2. Wi-Fi routers only
  3. Satellites
Show the answer

Satellites

A GPS receiver times signals from several satellites to calculate its position. It is used in sat navs, phones, drones and fitness trackers.

Communication technologies, 2 marks

Bluetooth is best suited to…

  1. Wired connections to a router
  2. Short-range wireless links between devices
  3. Long-distance links between countries
Show the answer

Short-range wireless links between devices

Bluetooth connects nearby devices such as earbuds, speakers and smartwatches over about 10 metres using low-power radio.

Communication technologies, 3 marks

Contactless card payment uses…

  1. NFC (near field communication)
  2. GPS (global positioning)
  3. Infrared (IR) light
Show the answer

NFC (near field communication)

NFC, a form of RFID, works over a few centimetres, so the card or phone must be held close to the reader. The very short range helps security.

Other Technology topics

All of Leaving Cert Technology