Leaving Cert English 2025

The 2025 Leaving Cert English exam papers and official marking scheme, free below as direct PDF links from the State Examinations Commission archive.

Higher Level

What's in the 2025 Higher Level paper?

Q1 comprehending, text 1, underdog effect, question a · 50 marks
Q2 comprehending, text 1, underdog effect, question b, team talk · 50 marks
Q3 comprehending, text 2, margaret atwood, question a · 50 marks
Q4 comprehending, text 2, margaret atwood, question b, online response · 50 marks
Q5 comprehending, text 3, samantha harvey, orbital, question a · 50 marks
Q6 comprehending, text 3, samantha harvey, question b, podcast reflection · 50 marks
Q7 composing, discursive essay, photography · 100 marks
Q8 composing, speech, truth · 100 marks
Q9 composing, short story, underdog · 100 marks
Q10 composing, personal essay, disappointment · 100 marks
Q11 composing, feature article, ireland, optimism · 100 marks
Q12 composing, personal essay, voting, elections · 100 marks
Q13 composing, short story, ambition, disaster · 100 marks

Q1 single text, literary analysis, essay, shakespearean drama · 60 marks
Q2 comparative study, theme or issue, cultural context, general vision and viewpoint · 70 marks
Q3 unseen poem, poetry, pat boran · 20 marks
Q4 prescribed poetry, poetry, essay · 50 marks

What's in the 2025 Ordinary Level paper?

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All PDFs open on the State Examinations Commission archive (examinations.ie). ExamAI links to them; we don't host or alter them.