personal essay leaving cert marking scheme

Leaving Cert Papers, News, Notes, Tips and Resources

Higher Level Papers

2019 Paper 1 2019 Paper 2 2018 Paper 1 2018 Paper 2 2017 Paper 1 2017 Paper 2 2016 Paper 1 2016 Paper 2 2015 Paper 1 2015 Paper 2 2014 Paper 1 2014 Paper 2 2013 Paper 1 2013 Paper 2 2012 Paper 1 2012 Paper 2 2011 Paper 1 2011 Paper 2 2010 Paper 1 2010 Paper 2 2009 Paper 1 2009 Paper 2 2008 Paper 1 2008 Paper 2 2007 Paper 1 2007 Paper 2 2006 Paper 1 2006 Paper 2 2005 Paper 1 2005 Paper 2 2004 Paper 1 2004 Paper 2 2003 Paper 1 2003 Paper 2 2002 Paper 1 2002 Paper 2

Ordinary Level Papers

Higher Level Marking Schemes

2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003

Ordinary Level Marking Schemes

2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002

3 thoughts on “English”

no english marking schemes?

Excellent help and support for our country’s certificate exams which we are considering a review for. Thank you.

Would request a print out of the 2009 or 2010 exam paper please, for professional work at the Ministry of Secondary Education, Yaounde Cameroon. Thanks.

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Marking Scheme

Leaving cert english hl.

Simply select the Marking Scheme you want to download from the exam years presented in the list below. The files will open in printable PDF format for you. If you are having trouble, please right-click (Windows) or control-click (Mac) on the link to download and save the file to your computer.

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Grade Academy

English hl (leaving cert 2024).

This course covers all sections of Higher Level English, Paper I and Paper II in preparation for Leaving Cert 2024. The video lectures break down the course into a series of short essential topics for each section. The lecturer, William McSweeney, an expert at Leaving Cert marking, will show students precisely how the marking schemes operate. He will outline and explain strategies for dealing with all sections; he will illustrate how to recognise the key task words in exam questions and will share detailed insights on time management in the exam. The key sections include Comprehending, Composing, Hamlet as a Single Text, 5 Poets, Key Comparative Knowhow and How to Excel at the Comparative Tasks.

William McSweeney has been a teacher of History & English for 18 years.  A member of the Cork History Teachers’ Association, he is currently teaching in Scoil Mhuire, Cork City, William has also created his own website for JC & LC History - www.historyvault.ie. He has also worked for the State Exams Commission as an examiner as well as DEB in the past. He has also contributed a chapter on Irish economic history in the publication ‘Own Our Oil’, published in 2014.

Course curriculum

1. introduction.

Introduction to Grade Academy English

Approaching Paper 1 Guidelines

Question A: Comprehension

Question A: Comprehension Example 1

Question A: Example 1 Full Answer

Question A: Comprehension Example 2

Question A: Comprehension Example 3 (2012)

Question A: Answering the Use of Language Question

Question A: Language Genres Explained

Question B: Types, Styles, & Language Use

Question B Approaches

Personal Essay Guidelines & Choice of Language

The Personal Essay: An Introduction

Personal Essay - Register, Themes & Engagement

Personal Essay Example 1

Speeches: Formal Language, Techniques & Structure

Speech Writing Example 1

Question B: Guided Reading of Samples

Opinion Piece Essay

Discursive Essay

Review time? 🌟

Paper 2 Overall Guidelines - Structure, Timings & Choices

Hamlet: Short Introduction of Themes, Motifs & Characterisation

Hamlet Act I

Hamlet Act I Key Moments & Quotes

Hamlet Act II

Hamlet Act II KM & Quotes

Hamlet Act III

Hamlet ACT III Key Moments & Quotes

Hamlet Act IV

Hamlet Act IV Key Moments & Quotes

Hamlet Act V

Hamlet Act V Key Moments & Quotes

Hamlet Key Questions To Prepare

Hamlet Key Questions

Hamlet's Arc of Development

The Role of Women in Hamlet

The Ghost as Moral Provocateur

King Claudius & Amoral Ambition

Hamlet: Revenge & Justice Explored

Comparative Question: The Three Modes Explained

Mode 1: Cultural Context

Mode 2: Theme or Issue

Mode 3: Literally Genre

Cultural Context Structure

Structure of Comparative Answer (Cultural Context)

Cultural Context Question on One Text Q2 (a) (2016)

Theme or Issue Structure

Literary Genre Structure

Unseen Poem Common Question Types & Approaches

Unseen Poem Sample Answers

Unseen Poem Example 1 (2003)

Unseen Poem Example 3 (2011)

Unseen Poem Example 2 (2015)

Approaches to Studied Poets

Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson: An Introduction

Emily Dickinson - I Felt a Funeral, in my Brain

Emily Dickinson: Hope is the thing with feathers

Emily Dickinson: There's a certain Slant of light

Emily Dickinson - I heard a Fly buzz - When I died

Emily Dickinson - The Soul has Bandaged moments

Seamus Heaney

Introduction to Seamus Heaney

Seamus Heaney- A Call

Seamus Heaney- A Constable Calls

Sylvia Plath

Paula Meehan

Philadelphia, Here I Come!

PHIC! Introduction

PHIC! Episode I Key Moments

PHIC! Episode II Key Moments

Philadelphia, Here I Come! Episode III Key Moments

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This course covers Comprehending A & B, Composing, Hamlet scene by scene as well as characters and themes, Unseen Poetry and 5 of Poets, Key Comparative Knowhow, and how to excel at the comparative tasks. The video lectures break down the course into a series of short essential topics for each section. The aim of the lectures is to provide a critical understanding of texts. Grade Academy provides clear and unique insights into the meaning of texts. We will show students how to use the texts to tackle questions and how to justify their various views, through reference and quotes. If you sign up and engage, you will also be able to identify and illustrate techniques.

For students to improve their grade in English. I build their skills from the first lecture through to their prescribed texts. My aim is to empower students as critical readers and enable them as versatile writers so that they will be highly prepared for both English Examination papers at Higher Level and better prepared to enter life after school.

To master the requirements for high achievement at Higher Leaving Cert English. To be more articulate, to communicate better, to be a much more critical reader, to be able to compose a variety of different types of texts for different situations, to understand their prescribed texts and how to recognise and to respond to the tasks inherent in the questions. I expect they will up their game significantly at English, develop themselves as intelligent participants in society, and become confident and assured about how they express themselves. I expect that they will know how to construct purposeful responses and sustain their responses in a coherent and purposeful manner. The students will learn to appreciate that learning itself is a life-long process.

See why students love Philip's course

Course Reviews

So happy i that i found this online english grind.

I honestly feel SO much better about LC english after buying this course. I can't tell you how stressed I was starting to feel about this exam in particular ...

I honestly feel SO much better about LC english after buying this course. I can't tell you how stressed I was starting to feel about this exam in particular towards the end of 5th year - it's my weakest subject and I tended to bounce between grades. Was thinking about dropping to OL in 6th year. Since I found Grade Academy through a friend, I just feel so differently about this subject. Philip is really passionate about the language but more importantly, he gives you really good notes and proper formats to follow for questions like the essay in P1 which I hated. Wish I had known about this in 5th year. Going to buy more before the pre's. Good luck :D

Philip is wonderful

I thought it would be helpful but I didn't think I would enjoy it so much. Philip is a fantastic teacher and his passion for english really shows.

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Writing Tips for the Composing Question on the Leaving Cert

23 July 2021

7 minutes to read

• 01. How Do I Practice My Writing? Check Out Past Exam Papers
• 02. Running Out of Time? Manage your Timekeeping
• 03. How to Find your Style and Writers Voice
• 04. Focus on the Technical Side of Writing (Grammar, Spelling and Structure etc.)
• 05. Look at the Marking Scheme to Know What Is Asked of You

The composing section on English paper 1 is an opportunity to really boost up your grade and despite what some students think, you can really prepare for this question. With a whopping 100 marks for this question , it is really worth doing that preparation, and with this Superprof guide, you will find some key tips and tricks.

Unlike the paper two poetry question, for example, there isn’t a prescribed question here. You won’t know exactly what kind of essay question will come up, or what kind of writing prompts you will have to follow. This can make some students feel uneasy and they assume they will be going into the exam blind.

This is not the case! While the questions change every year, they tend to follow the same formula , and they are essentially asking you the same things! While we wouldn’t recommend learning off an essay in its entirety and shoehorning it into a question, you should certainly have an idea of the kind of essay you can write. What is your voice? Though the characters may change, and the narrative, you will still be able to go into the exam with a framework of an essay where the bulk of it is in your head, and you just need to tweak it slightly to fit the question!

Keep reading to learn some of the ways you can teach yourself to write a better English essay!

Worried about the exam in general? We help you get past this fear with our guide to preparing for the English papers!

How Do I Practice My Writing? Check Out Past Exam Papers

As we mentioned, it is possible to be very prepared when you go into the composing question, but how? Well, this comes with practice and repetition, and no matter the way to focus on these two key things than to practice real exam examples.

The Irish state examinations committee recognises how much of a benefit it is to students to have access to past years exams, so they provide all of these for free online. All you need to do is to download the PDF. The more of these you take, and even read, the more familiar you become with the English paper, and the less of a shock you’ll face when it comes to sitting the exam!

You will start to notice trends, too. While no question is the exact same throughout the years, certain trends, themes and topics keep coming up. You will notice certain storyline narratives are quite similar. This question is not as broad as it might appear at first! For example, the relationship between people, love, hope and current social events are usually seen popping up in this question.

Now, what do you do next? Well quite simply, once you have read all of the years, take notes of the questions, what are they asking of you, break it down and simplify, highlight keywords. The more you read the more you learn! Once you’ve done this, focus on actually answering the question, going as slow as you need to, and making sure you formulate a well-structured essay.

You can find these exam papers on the official state examinations website!

Get your teacher to read through some of them, or find yourself an English tutor on Superprof that can help you ace this question!

Would you rather get some help with the fiction and comparative section? Check out our guide to the fiction texts here!

Running Out of Time? Manage your Timekeeping

This is related to the above tip, is super important and can be applied across all of the exams you will sit, not just English. One of the most common problems students who sit this paper complain about is the lack of time. It can be tough, but certainly manageably when you break it down.

There is nothing worse than a student who has done the prep, and knows the question inside out, only for them to run out of time. They might have had an H1 answer in their brain just waiting to come out, but if the examiner can’t see it, it isn’t worth anything. Harsh, maybe, but true. This shows that how you write can be as important as what you know! You must be able to get your ideas out in time.

I mentioned above that you can start with these exam papers at your own pace, but you will eventually have to crank it up (don’t worry, you have plenty of time leading up to the exam) until you can finish a paper and question in the allotted time you will have on exam day.

Do as many questions as you can and time yourself. Maybe at first, you will need your notes, that’s ok! If you can finish it in time with notes, it’s a start! Keep working your way until you can take a question (preferably one you haven’t seen before) and write a great essay in time. Once you have done this, that’s half the battle. Repetition is key here!

Timekeeping is also very relevant to the poetry question, and we know this can be a difficult one for some students, so we have composed a guide to all things leaving cert poetry!

How to Find your Style and Writers Voice

This is connected to the above tip, as the more past exam papers you read, and the more essays you write out and plan, the more you will notice and sharpen your very own writing style!

Now don’t worry, everyone has their own writing style, no matter what level you are! If you are having trouble finding a style, keep writing! What comes naturally to you? Are you a comedic writer? Or one with a darker tone? Usually writing style reflects personality!

What kind of movies do you watch? What genre of books do you read? This will help you realize what kind of writing style or storytelling style appeals to you! It will be easier to write a 3 or 4-page essay on a topic you are familiar with and that you enjoy! It will also be quicker, as it leaves less room for second-guessing, and as we know, timing is very important!

Try out a few different styles too! Don’t pigeonhole yourself into one genre, as this will leave your hands tied when it comes to the question! Maybe a topic you really like comes up, but it’s in the style of a speech, and you have never written a speech!

Go through the past exam papers and look at all of the questions. Try to write an essay in all of the styles. Of course, there will be some you are naturally better at, and this is fine, you can hone these skills, but by being flexible, you will give yourself more options and more marks on exam day!

Is the comparative question stressing you out? Get back on top of it with the Superprof English comparative guide!

Focus on the Technical Side of Writing (Grammar, Spelling and Structure etc.)

Spelling, grammar, syntax etc . is where a lot of marks are lost each year by students. On the other hand, it is something that, if worked on, can give you a great basis to go on and obtain a good grade. Even if you struggle thematically, or with a narrative, if you get your spelling, grammar, and language use spot-on, you already have something to work with.

Double and triple check your work after you’ve finished. Never ever leave the exam without checking at least once, in fact, we would suggest at least twice! These are easy marks to pick up, and something you can correct yourself, before the examiner has to!

Here at Superprof, we try to break down all of the sections on the leaving cert paper, including an extensive guide to English paper one , as well as a play by play break down of English paper two , to make sure you have as much info going into the exam as possible.

Look at the Marking Scheme to Know What Is Asked of You

We mentioned before that you have access to past exam papers, but this is also true of the marking schemes, and this is something every student familiarises themselves with! It can be really helpful to sit on the other side of the exam to get some perspective.

By reading and studying the marking scheme, specifically for the composing question, you will begin to understand where marks are won and lost. The more familiar you become, the fewer marks you lose as you are actively aware of what to do and not to do!

For example, there is a big focus on language and mechanics. This includes what we discussed above, spelling, grammar etc., but also your use of the English language. Be mindful of paragraph length, not too short or too long. Keep the length of your sentences varied also! This is something that becomes much easier to do when you are mindful of this. Make sure you give the examiner what they want.

They also want to see if you are answering the question that is asked. Try not to go off on tangents and meander around the point, as you will lose marks. Even if you are a really verbose and skilled writer, resist the urge to pepper your essay with flowery language! Ask yourself, does this add anything? And if not, remove it! Again, the more familiar you are with the marking scheme, the less likely you are to fall victim to these common mistakes!

Remember, we cover all of the sections on the English leaving cert exam, including the composing question, where we help you construct a great answer over our English essay writing guide!

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• Feb 3, 2023

The Irish Leaving Cert Marking Scheme: What You Need to Know

Updated: Mar 26, 2023

The Irish Leaving Cert marking scheme is a critical aspect of the Leaving Cert exams and can greatly impact a student's final grades. In this article, we will take a closer look at the Irish Leaving Cert marking scheme and what students need to know in order to succeed on their exams.

The Structure of the Irish Leaving Cert Marking Scheme

The Irish Leaving Cert marking scheme consists of a number of different components, including written exams, oral exams, and practical exams. The exact weighting of each component will vary depending on the subject, but it is important for students to understand the structure of the marking scheme in order to prepare effectively for their exams.

Preparing for the Irish Leaving Cert Marking Scheme

Preparing for the Irish Leaving Cert marking scheme requires a combination of understanding the structure of the marking scheme, studying the course material, and practicing for the exams. Students should work closely with their teachers to develop a study plan that takes into account the specific requirements of their exams.

Maximizing Your Grades on the Irish Leaving Cert Marking Scheme

In order to maximize your grades on the Irish Leaving Cert marking scheme, it is important to:

Study consistently: Regular studying and review is key to success on the Leaving Cert exams.

Practice exams: Practicing for the exams can help you become familiar with the structure and format of the exams.

Seek help: If you are struggling with a particular subject, seek help from your teacher or a tutor.

Stay organized: Stay organized by keeping track of important dates, assignments, and exams.

In conclusion, the Irish Leaving Cert marking scheme is a critical aspect of the Leaving Cert exams and can greatly impact a student's final grades. By understanding the structure of the marking scheme, preparing effectively, and maximizing their grades, Irish Leaving Cert students can achieve success on their exams.

Are you a Leaving Certificate student looking to improve your grades and reach your full potential?

Look no further! Our grinds service offers personalized tutoring from experienced and qualified teachers. Our tailored approach ensures that you receive the support and guidance you need to excel in your exams and achieve your goals.

With our help, you will be well-prepared and confident on the day of your exams. Don't miss out on this valuable opportunity – contact us today to learn more and start achieving your dreams!

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Leaving Cert Irish: Marking Scheme

Want to learn more about the marking scheme on the leaving cert higher level irish papers.

How to best structure your responses to target the marking scheme

Clare Grealy, Irish teacher at The Institute of Education, explains how the questions are marked and what you can do to maximize your grade in the exams.

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Leaving Cert English Personal Essay: Irishness #625Lab

“the shoes of irishness fit me well.”, write a personal essay in which you explore your sense of what it means to be irish. (2001).

This is a good essay from a current Leaving Cert student. It’s published under our #625Lab section that reviews the strengths and weaknesses of students’ essays. Note the corrections and comments: these will point you to common mistakes to avoid and help you increase your grade.

Being Irish is a thought playing on everyone’s mind recently. It’s been called into question who we are and what we stand for now in comparison to the ideals of the rebel leaders in the GPO 100 years ago. In the political scheme of things, the general consensus seems to be that we have let them down. The homelessness crisis is deteriorating daily, our health system is woeful and we currently do not even have a government to blame it all on. It’s a far cry from the “romantic Ireland” they envisioned and fought for. Having said that, national pride is at an all time high. The 1916 centenary celebrations have made history buffs of us all as we celebrate this milestone event of our past. Whilst not everyone is in agreement that the Rising was the best way to gain our freedom, it has to be admired as the catalyst for a small nation to break free from seven hundred years of oppression exacted upon us by one of the biggest empires in the world. It beat all the odds. We should not have survived the war of independence and the subsequent civil war, in theory, should have brought the country to its knees, but we were too stubborn to give up, too determined to have our independence and too proud to give up on our country. Our history is the symbol of who we are as a people and we wear these shoes with pride.

Many of our customs have evolved from deeply spiritual and sacred practices from hundreds of years ago. It is a fantastic tribute to our culture that these old traditions are not dying out, but constantly being brought back to life by the younger generations. The session in the pub, the sing song on the way home, the stereotypical “craic agus ceol’” can only be found in Ireland and are appreciated by every generation and nationality who are fortunate enough to experience them first hand. (Hmm, in the introduction the author seemed a little dismissive of the auld craic agus ceol and now all of a sudden it’s a good thing? It would be better to stay consistent throughout the essay.) Every family has that one member who can always be counted on to regale all in attendance with their go to song, usually “Rattling Bog”, or the Gran Aunt who sits by the fire, just waiting to recite “Oh to have a little house…”. Some will need a few drinks up their sleeves, before they launch into a murderous rendition of Ellis Isle, but others, from years of childhood cajoling, know they have a talent and are all too eager to remind everyone of that. The trick is finding the balance between the good, the bad, and the American cousin. (This paragraph is clearly about culture, so it’s a huge improvement on the formless previous paragraph.)

The Irish wake, is one of the best ways to deal with the loss of a loved one. The whole family gathers and grieves together. The best part of the wake is that it truly is a celebration of the person’s life: stories are told, their favourite songs sung, you laugh until your stomach aches and cry until your eyes sting, but it is so wonderfully cathartic to, metaphorically, bring the person back to life, surrounded by family, before it is time to say goodbye for once and for all. The video that recently went viral sums this tradition up. Ger “farmer” Foley passed away in the village of Killorglin, after a long battle with CF. On the night of his funeral, a friend decided to dedicate his version of “Mr Brightside” to the young man. The pub lit up with a huge out pouring of emotion for their friend. Crucially, there were no tears. The song was a celebration of his life, a celebration of the contribution he made to a local festival, a celebration of his life and how he lived it. That’s what a funeral should be and that’s what an Irish funeral is. It’s a unique part of our culture that can’t be appreciated fully until you are grieving through it. The video was shared hundreds of times across social media, often accompanied by the quote: “Being Irish you know that a good funeral is better than a bad wedding.” The international reaction was one of shock and admiration. It seemed to confirm that the Irish, even in death, are always enjoying themselves. (This is an improvement on the previous paragraph as it illustrates that there indeed isn’t a party like an Irish party.)

The Irish hospitality is something we are famed for and perhaps why family pubs are so popular with tourists. The Irish will go out of their way to be as welcoming as possible to guests. I am reminded again of another of my Granddad’s anecdotes. His house was overflowing one Christmas, as all his sons had decided this was the year they would introduce their girlfriends to the family. Twenty one people were booked in to stay at the Murphy Inn that night, spread between four rooms. Kevin, the eldest son, had recently moved to Cork and had become well-known after the impression he left on the football pitch. According to my aunt’s account, he made a very good impression on the local parish priest there. Some girl from the parish was stuck in Kerry for the night and the priest directed her back to “Kevin Murphy’s house.” Just like that, she was invited to stay for the night, even though none of the twenty one people had ever laid eyes on her before. That is only one of hundreds of examples of Grandad’s excessive hospitality. He was also known to invite a travelling gypsy to move in whilst Nanny was in hospital one week or to open up the back garden to twenty Kilkenny nurses looking for a place to camp during the “Rose of Tralee” festival.

Leaving Cert English Papers are marked using “PCLM”

Clarity of purpose:, coherence of delivery, accuracy of mechanics.