LC English study guide
LC English · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
LC English (Leaving Certificate English, Ardteistiméireacht Béarla) is the English examination taken by senior-cycle students in Ireland and is a core subject for most third-level entry pathways. It is for candidates who can read and respond to unfamiliar material, sustain an argument, and write at length under time pressure. The LC English study guide has 5 sections and about 1,577 words.
01Composing (Paper 1)
Section I of Paper 1 is worth 100 marks and asks you to write one extended piece chosen from a set of prompts, with roughly 1 hour 20 minutes of the 2 hour 50 minute paper available for it. Each prompt names a purpose (to entertain, persuade, inform, reflect) and an audience (a magazine, a blog, a competition).
336 words, about 2 min02Reading Comprehension and Functional Writing (Paper 1)
Question A (Reading Comprehension) and Question B (Functional Writing) are each worth 50 marks and both draw on the same three texts. Allow roughly 45 minutes for each half.
347 words, about 2 min03Single Text Study (Paper 2)
Paper 2, Section I is worth 60 marks and asks one question on your prescribed single text - a novel or a play. Questions usually come in two parts: a broad part on theme, character or relationship, and a narrower part on an aspect such as the opening, the ending, tension, imagery or a turning point.
301 words, about 2 min04Comparative Study (Paper 2)
Paper 2, Section II is worth 70 marks. You compare three prescribed texts under one of the comparative modes - for example Theme, Social Setting, Relationships, Cultural Context, Hero/Heroine/Villain, or Literary Genre.
299 words, about 1 min05Poetry (Paper 2)
Paper 2, Section III is worth 70 marks. It contains an unseen poem question and questions on the poets you have studied.
294 words, about 1 min