LC Ancient Greek

Students in the Irish Leaving Certificate system who want to study Greek authors in the original language. It suits strong language learners and those interested in classics, history or philosophy. It can be taken as a school subject or independently, and the examining authority's website explains entry routes for external candidates.

Translation of Greek into English, both prepared and unseen; comprehension and interpretation of prescribed texts; grammar, syntax and vocabulary; and discussion of classical civilisation and literary style. Expect to explain forms and constructions as well as render meaning, and to support opinions about a text with evidence from the Greek.

The current structure, duration and mark allocation are published each year by the examining authority. Check its official website and the most recent marking scheme rather than relying on older guides, since papers are revised periodically. Your teacher or examiner's report will also flag any changes to the layout.

The grammar load is comparable to Latin but the verb system is larger, with more principal parts to memorise. The candidature is small, so the standard of the top grades is high. Difficulty mostly depends on how much unseen translation you practise: candidates who only revise prepared texts usually find the unseen section hardest.

Yes, candidates generally may sit the subject again in a later year. The examining authority sets the entry deadlines, fees and any restrictions, and publishes them on its website. If you are repeating, ask for your script or the examiner's report so you know which section cost you marks.

Start with accidence and a core vocabulary list, then move to syntax while translating short sentences. Add unseen passages of increasing length, and only then work through the prescribed texts in detail. Keep revising vocabulary throughout; most lost marks in translation come from forgotten forms and common words rather than obscure ones.

Misreading verb tense or voice, ignoring particles and connectives so the argument of a passage is lost, and writing loose English that omits a clause. In the literature questions, the usual failure is retelling the story instead of answering the question with reference to specific Greek words and their effect.

You need enough context to explain what a text is doing: the occasion, the audience, and the conventions of the genre. Learn dates and institutions that the prescribed texts actually refer to, rather than a general survey. Context questions reward precise, relevant knowledge, not wide but vague reading.

The examining authority publishes the specification, past papers, marking schemes and examiner's reports on its official website; these are free and are the most reliable source. Your school can also supply the prescribed text list for your year, which changes, so confirm it before buying commentaries.