Leaving Cert Geography 2026

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

Higher Level

Part 1 Part 2 Marking Scheme

What's in the 2026 Higher Level paper?

Q1 ordnance survey maps, landscape identification, drainage patterns · 8 marks
Q1 ordnance survey maps, sketch map, earthquakes, rock formation · 80 marks
Q2 glaciation, fluvial landforms, glacial landforms · 8 marks
Q2 karst, chemical weathering, mass movement, plate boundaries · 80 marks
Q3 plutonic processes, surface processes, physical weathering, human impact · 80 marks
Q3 isostasy, coastal landforms, rejuvenation · 8 marks
Q4 rock types, rock cycle, metamorphic rocks · 8 marks
Q4 map skills, european region, primary economic activity, boundaries · 80 marks
Q5 eurozone, european union, population distribution, secondary economic activity · 80 marks
Q5 tectonic cycle, faulting, earthquakes · 8 marks
Q6 graphical interpretation, irish economy, core periphery, tertiary economic activity · 80 marks
Q6 concept of a region, types of region · 8 marks
Q7 aerial photographs, sketch map, economic development, mobility of economic activities · 80 marks
Q7 ordnance survey maps, map skills, grid reference · 8 marks
Q8 renewable energy, human development index, european union policy, primary economic activity · 80 marks
Q8 elevation profile, ordnance survey maps, map skills · 8 marks
Q9 aerial photographs, satellite imagery, map skills · 8 marks
Q9 irish exports, graphs, conflict of interest, ordnance survey maps · 80 marks
Q10 census, graphs, urban land use, migration · 80 marks
Q10 weather, weather charts, isolines · 8 marks
Q11 irish migration, population characteristics, developing world city, urban growth · 80 marks
Q11 regional development, irish economy, transport · 8 marks
Q12 graphical interpretation, education, european union · 8 marks
Q12 aerial photographs, overpopulation, urban settlement, ordnance survey maps · 80 marks
Q13 global interdependence, development, underdevelopment · 80 marks
Q14 global interdependence, sustainable development, fair trade · 80 marks
Q15 global interdependence, global trading patterns, multinational companies · 80 marks
Q16 geoecology, soil characteristics, soil development · 80 marks
Q17 geoecology, soil, human impact · 80 marks
Q18 geoecology, biomes, climate, vegetation · 80 marks
Q19 culture and identity, minority languages · 80 marks
Q20 culture and identity, cultural groups, nation states · 80 marks
Q21 culture and identity, identity, european region · 80 marks
Q22 atmosphere-ocean environment, atmospheric circulation, ocean circulation · 80 marks
Q23 atmosphere-ocean environment, water cycle, precipitation · 80 marks
Q24 atmosphere-ocean environment, climate types, climate characteristics · 80 marks

Ordinary Level

Part 1 Part 2 Marking Scheme

What's in the 2026 Ordinary Level paper?

Q1 layers of the earth, plate tectonics · 10 marks
Q1 ordnance survey, landforms, mass movement, earthquakes · 100 marks
Q2 rocks, igneous rocks, sedimentary rocks, metamorphic rocks · 10 marks
Q2 surface processes, coastal erosion, karst landscapes, rock cycle · 100 marks
Q3 mass movement, igneous rocks, human interaction, surface processes · 100 marks
Q3 coastal defences, coastal erosion, coastal deposition · 10 marks
Q4 volcanoes, structure of a volcano · 10 marks
Q4 sketch map, continental region, primary economic activity, culture · 100 marks
Q5 satellite interpretation · 10 marks
Q5 irish language, continental region, economic activities, core periphery · 100 marks
Q6 european union, tertiary economic activity, irish region, urban regions · 100 marks
Q6 map skills, ordnance survey · 10 marks
Q7 aerial photograph, developed economy, european union policy · 100 marks
Q7 ordnance survey, grid reference, map skills · 10 marks
Q8 renewable energy, multinational companies, economic activity and conflict · 100 marks
Q8 aerial photograph · 10 marks
Q9 regions, types of region · 10 marks
Q9 graphs, education, ordnance survey, fossil fuels · 100 marks
Q10 weather charts, depressions, anticyclones · 10 marks
Q10 aerial photograph, population dynamics, urban sprawl · 100 marks
Q11 tourism, statistical interpretation · 10 marks
Q11 population, graphs, migration, settlement distribution · 100 marks
Q12 weather statistics, statistical interpretation · 10 marks
Q12 urban development, developing world city, overpopulation · 100 marks