# Junior Cert English 2026

> The 2026 Junior Cert English exam papers and official marking scheme for Higher and Ordinary level. Questions come from the official State Examinations Commission papers; every PDF link opens the original on examinations.ie.

Canonical: https://examai.ie/past-papers/junior-cert/english/2026

## Higher Level

- [Exam Paper](https://www.examinations.ie/archive/exampapers/2026/JC002ALP000EV.pdf)
- [Marking Scheme](https://www.examinations.ie/archive/markingschemes/2026/JC002ALP000EV.pdf)

### What's in the 2026 Higher Level paper?

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

## Ordinary Level

- [Exam Paper](https://www.examinations.ie/archive/exampapers/2026/JC002GLP000EV.pdf)
- [Marking Scheme](https://www.examinations.ie/archive/markingschemes/2026/JC002GLP000EV.pdf)

### What's in the 2026 Ordinary Level paper?

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

## Revise English by topic

- [Unseen Texts](https://examai.ie/past-papers/junior-cert/english/topic/unseen-texts)
- [Visual & Media Texts](https://examai.ie/past-papers/junior-cert/english/topic/visual-media-texts)
- [Studied Poetry](https://examai.ie/past-papers/junior-cert/english/topic/studied-poetry)
- [Shakespeare & Drama](https://examai.ie/past-papers/junior-cert/english/topic/shakespeare-drama)
- [Studied Novel & Short Story](https://examai.ie/past-papers/junior-cert/english/topic/studied-novel-short-story)
- [Studied Film](https://examai.ie/past-papers/junior-cert/english/topic/studied-film)
- [Functional Writing](https://examai.ie/past-papers/junior-cert/english/topic/functional-writing)
- [Creative & Personal Writing](https://examai.ie/past-papers/junior-cert/english/topic/creative-personal-writing)
- [Grammar & Punctuation](https://examai.ie/past-papers/junior-cert/english/topic/grammar-punctuation)

## Related

- [English 2025](https://examai.ie/past-papers/junior-cert/english/2025)
- [All English years](https://examai.ie/past-papers/junior-cert/english)