Overview
Leaving Cert English is a compulsory subject taken by virtually all students. It is examined at Higher and Ordinary Level. The exam consists of two written papers, each worth 50% of the final grade. An oral presentation component was introduced in some years but the written papers remain the core assessment.
Paper 1 (50%): Language and Composition
Paper 1 tests your reading comprehension and writing skills. It is divided into two sections:
Section I: Reading (40 marks, ~50 min)
- Two unseen texts (literary and/or informative)
- Questions testing comprehension, vocabulary, style and personal response
- One question asks you to compare the two texts
Section II: Composition (60 marks, ~70 min)
- Choose one from a range of prompts: personal essay, persuasive speech, article, short story, descriptive writing
- Marked on: clarity of purpose, structure, language quality, creativity
- Plan your answer carefully: a well-structured essay scores significantly higher
Paper 2 (50%): Poetry and Literature
Paper 2 covers the prescribed texts you study throughout the year. Three sections:
Section I: Poetry (40 marks)
- Unseen poem: analyse and respond (20 marks)
- Prescribed poetry: answer on a poet you studied: discuss themes, style, imagery (20 marks)
Section II: The Single Text (60 marks)
- One full-length play or novel studied in depth
- Recent texts have included: Hamlet (Shakespeare), King Lear, The Great Gatsby, A Doll's House, 1984
- Answer one question from a choice of three
Section III: The Comparative Study (60 marks)
- Three texts studied under comparative modes: Theme/Issue, Literary Genre, General Vision & Viewpoint
- Answer one question linking all three texts under a given mode
- Typical combinations: novel + play + film, or three novels
Higher Level vs Ordinary Level
- Higher Level: More complex texts, longer answers, comparative study required, higher standard of literary analysis expected
- Ordinary Level: Shorter texts, simpler vocabulary in prompts, comparative study is optional (or replaced with a single text question)
Exam Strategy Tips
- Read the Paper 1 texts carefully: do not rush the comprehension section
- For the composition, choose a genre you are comfortable with and stick to it
- For poetry, learn key quotes from each poem and practice analysing unseen poems
- For the comparative study, write practice essays linking all three texts: this is where most students lose marks
- Use the full time allocation: do not finish early without checking your work
- Write in paragraphs with clear topic sentences
Prescribed Texts (Sample List)
The SEC issues a prescribed text list each year. Recent and common texts include:
- Hamlet: William Shakespeare (Single Text)
- The Great Gatsby: F. Scott Fitzgerald (Comparative)
- A Doll's House: Henrik Ibsen
- 1984: George Orwell
- Small Things Like These: Claire Keegan
- Poetry by: Seamus Heaney, Eavan Boland, Emily Dickinson, Sylvia Plath, Patrick Kavanagh
English Paper 1 in 2026: What to Expect
Leaving Cert English is examined in two papers worth 50% each. Paper 1 — Language and Composition — is always the first exam of the Leaving Cert season, and in 2026 it kicked off the entire exam run on Wednesday 3 June. It tests comprehension of unseen texts and a choice of composition tasks (personal essay, speech, debate, short story, article, and so on), with marks awarded for engaging with the texts, command of language and awareness of audience and purpose.
Paper 2 — Poetry and Literature — covers the prescribed poets, a single novel, a play and the comparative study (cultural context, general vision and viewpoint, or literary genre). Higher Level students answer on all sections; Ordinary Level students follow a slightly reduced specification. The SEC's published marking schemes are the best guide to exactly what examiners reward, and they are freely available on examinations.ie.
Marking in 2026: The Post-Marking Adjustment
Since 2021, the SEC has applied a post-marking adjustment to Leaving Cert results — a statistical boost designed to return grades gradually to pre-pandemic levels. In 2026 the SEC confirmed the adjustment continues, with overall results expected to land just below 2020 levels (which were about four percentage points ahead of 2019). What this means for students: the grade you see on results day is not simply your raw mark — it has been adjusted nationally before release.
Appeals still work on the re-marked script, and if your appeal succeeds your adjusted grade is recalculated and your CAO offer can be upgraded in a later round. Because the adjustment is applied to all candidates, it does not change your relative position — the points race is decided by the same rules for everyone.