Junior Cert English 2026

The 2026 Junior Cert English exam papers and official marking scheme, free below as direct PDF links from the State Examinations Commission archive.

Higher Level

Exam Paper Marking Scheme

What's in the 2026 Higher Level paper?

Q1 reading comprehension, media texts · 10 marks
Q2 review writing, studied film · 25 marks
Q3 unseen prose, language analysis · 15 marks
Q4 studied novel, character · 25 marks
Q5 shakespeare, unseen drama · 25 marks
Q6 shakespeare, studied drama, character · 25 marks
Q7 unseen poetry, language analysis · 15 marks
Q8 studied poetry, speech writing · 20 marks
Q9 functional writing, visual texts, persuasive language · 20 marks

Ordinary Level

Exam Paper Marking Scheme

What's in the 2026 Ordinary Level paper?

Q1 visual texts, reading comprehension · 15 marks
Q2 visual texts, media texts, creative writing · 20 marks
Q3 unseen prose, reading comprehension, language analysis · 10 marks
Q4 unseen prose, reading comprehension, character · 15 marks
Q5 diary writing, personal writing, creative writing · 15 marks
Q6 studied novel · 20 marks
Q7 unseen poetry, language analysis · 10 marks
Q8 unseen poetry, reading comprehension · 10 marks
Q9 studied poetry · 20 marks
Q10 unseen drama, reading comprehension · 5 marks
Q11 unseen drama, character, functional writing · 20 marks
Q12 studied drama, studied film, character · 20 marks

Revise English by topic

Unseen Texts Visual & Media Texts Studied Poetry Shakespeare & Drama Studied Novel & Short Story Studied Film Functional Writing Creative & Personal Writing Grammar & Punctuation

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Questions come from the official State Examinations Commission papers. Every link opens the original PDF on examinations.ie.