Irish (Junior Cert)

School examination subject in Ireland

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Irish (Irish: Gaeilge) is a subject of the Junior Cycle examination in Secondary schools in Ireland.[1] There are three levels: Higher (Irish: Ardleibhéal;[2] commonly known as Honours), Ordinary (Irish: Gnáthleibhéal;[2] commonly known as Pass) and Foundation (Irish: Bonnleibhéal)[3].

## Syllabus

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The Irish syllabus at the Junior Cycle level is aimed at developing the student's aural, written, speech, and literature skills. The examination then tests the student's proficiency of these skills.[4]

Prior to 2021, students could take the optional Oral exam (Irish: Scrúdú béil) that aided with pronunciation and speaking Irish for the Leaving Certificate examination. The oral exam was worth 160 marks were graded out of 400 marks, compared to the students not taking the oral exam that were graded out of 240. The oral exam was worth 40% of the total exam.[5] In 2021, the optional oral examination was replaced with mandatory classroom-based assessments as part of reforms to the junior certificate.[6]

Students who were educated outside of Ireland until age 12, have learning difficulties, or are in special education can obtain an exemption from the subject if they attend an English-medium school.[7]

## Higher level

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This article needs to be updated. The reason given is: Section is out of date due to reforms. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (May 2025)

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The Higher level examination has one written paper, which last 2 hours (120 minutes) in total and is worth 225 marks,[8] and an aural comprehension (Irish: Cluastuiscint) examination, which lasts 30 minutes, with a maximum of 45 marks available. There are certain rules which apply to all students. For example, a studied Novel can only be used in the novel section and students must write only one essay. Students are also required to answer all sections of the exam. Marks will be lost otherwise.

### Questions

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Written/Aural Paper 1 (2 hours) has two sections: Written Language (Irish: Scríobh na Teanga), and Comprehension (Irish: Léamhthuiscint):

Question  | Type  | Mark[9] | Recommended time to spend

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Part 1  | Aural Comprehension  | 45 marks  | 15 minutes (average tape length)
Part 2  | Comprehensions (2)  | 40 marks  | 40 minutes
Part 3  | Contextual Language Tests (2)  | 20 marks  | 15 minutes
Part 4  | Composition  | 50 marks  | 50 minutes

Written Paper 2 ( 1 hour 30 mins ) has four sections: Prose, Poetry and Letter writing:

Question  | Type  | Mark  | Recommended time to spend

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Part 1, Question 1  | Unseen Prose  | 15 marks  | 15 minutes
Part 1, Question 2  | Studied Prose  | 15 marks  | 15 minutes
Part 2, Question 3  | Unseen Poetry  | 15 marks  | 15 minutes
Part 2, Question 4  | Studied Poetry  | 15 marks  | 15 minutes
Part 3  | Letter Writing  | 30 marks  | 25 minutes

## Ordinary level

[edit]

This article needs to be updated. The reason given is: Section is out of date due to reforms. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (May 2025)

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The Ordinary level examination has three parts, a written examination, which lasts 1 hour 30 minutes (90 minutes) and is worth 220 marks, and an aural comprehension examination, which lasts 30 minutes, with a maximum of 100 marks available and an oral examination lasting about 10 minutes

### Questions

[edit]

This paper has two sections, Section 1 (Irish: Roinn 1), which is the comprehension section, and Section 2, the written language section. Each carries 110 marks.

Section One: Comprehension

Question  | Type (example)  | Mark  | Recommended time to spend

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Question 1  | Pictures and Signs  | 30 marks  | 5 minutes
Question 2  | Notices/Poem(Answer 2 of 3)  | 15 marks each  | 10 minutes
Question 3  | Extracts (two parts)  | 30 marks each  | 20 minutes

Section Two: Written Language

Question  | Type (example)  | Mark  | Recommended time to spend

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Question 1  | Write Postcard  | 20 marks  | 10 minutes
Question 2  | Write a blag  | 20 marks  | 15 minutes
Question 3  | Short article,Diary entry (c. 15 lines)  | 40 marks  | 25 minutes

## References

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1. ^ McGuire, Peter (6 June 2024). "Junior Cycle Irish: Some tricky words on otherwise straightforward papers". The Irish Times. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
2. ^ a b Mac Gearailt, Colm; Ó Duibhir, Pádraig (February 2023). Athbhreithniú luath ar chur i bhfeidhm na Sonraíochtaí Gaeilge T1 agus T2 don tSraith Shóisearach [Early review of the implementation of the Irish Language Specifications L1 and L2 for Junior Cycle] (PDF) (Report) (in Irish). Dublin City University. p. 29. Retrieved 1 June 2025 - via National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. "Socraíonn Coimisiún na Scrúdaithe Stáit an scrúdú deiridh ag dhá leibhéal: Gnáthleibhéal agus Ardleibhéal." [The State Examinations Commission sets the final examination at two levels: Ordinary Level and Higher Level.]
3. ^ Mac Gearailt, Colm; Ó Duibhir, Pádraig (February 2023). Athbhreithniú luath ar chur i bhfeidhm na Sonraíochtaí Gaeilge T1 agus T2 don tSraith Shóisearach [Early review of the implementation of the Irish Language Specifications L1 and L2 for Junior Cycle] (PDF) (Report) (in Irish). Dublin City University. p. 49. Retrieved 1 June 2025 - via National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. "Theastaigh ó go leor múinteoirí go mbeadh sonraíocht Bonnleibhéil ann agus bhí an tuairim seo níos láidre i measc múinteoirí T2 ná T1. Mar a scríobh múinteoir T2 amháin: "Páipéar bonnleibhéal a bheith ann do na daltaí laga" (Múinteoir T2, Suirbhé)." [Many teachers wanted a Foundation Level specification and this view was stronger among L2 teachers than L1. As one L2 teacher wrote: “There should be a foundation level paper for the weaker students” (L2 Teacher, Survey).]
4. ^ "An Ghaeilge". NCCA Curriculum Online. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
5. ^ "Oral exam set for Junior Cert French". Irish Independent. 1 February 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2025. "The oral examination component in Junior Cycle French is worth 20% of the overall mark, in the case of Irish the oral exam is worth 40%."
6. ^ "Junior Cycle". St Patrick's Classical School. Retrieved 1 June 2025. "In the New Junior Cycle, the Oral component is compulsory and takes place during both CBA1 and CBA2 (both completed in 3rd Year). Following CBA2 an Assessment Task takes place which is worth 10% of the final grade and is based on work completed during CBA2."
7. ^ "Minister McHugh announces new criteria for granting exemptions from the study of Irish" (Press release). Department of Education and Youth. 22 August 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2025 - via gov.ie.
8. ^ "JUNIOR CYCLE EXAMINATION TIMETABLE 2025" (PDF). State Examinations Commission. 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2025 - via schooldays.ie.
9. ^ "Scéim Mharcála Ardleibhéal Gaeilge T2" (PDF). State Examinations Commission. 2023. p. 7-8, 11. Retrieved 1 June 2025 - via educateplus.ie.

## External links

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* Department of Education and Science - Irish Junior Cycle Syllabus (in Irish)
* skoool.ie - Irish Junior Cycle Study Notes

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Subjects in the Junior Certificate Examination

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