LC Latin study guide
LC Latin · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
LC Latin is the Leaving Certificate subject examination in Latin, taken by Irish post-primary students as one of their examination subjects and used for entry to third-level courses and for general certification. It suits candidates who enjoy close reading, linguistic precision and the literature and history of the Roman world, and who are willing to build vocabulary and grammatical control steadily over two years. The LC Latin study guide has 6 sections and about 1,734 words.
01Unseen translation of Latin prose
The unseen prose translation question asks you to construe a continuous Latin passage you have not seen before and to render it in clear, idiomatic English. It rewards recognition of clause structure and case functions more than isolated vocabulary.
325 words, about 2 min02Unseen translation of Latin verse
Unseen verse translation tests scansion, recognition of poetic word order and sensitivity to tone. You must construe hexameter or elegiac couplets and produce English that reflects emphasis and imagery.
299 words, about 1 min03Prescribed prose text: comprehension and translation
The prescribed prose section tests close knowledge of your set author's Latin and the historical or rhetorical context. You may be asked to translate a short passage and to answer comprehension questions on character, argument and style.
294 words, about 1 min04Prescribed verse text: comprehension and translation
The prescribed verse section tests detailed knowledge of your set poem or poems, usually epic or lyric, including scansion, poetic technique, characterisation and Roman values. Comprehension questions often ask how a speech or simile works, not merely what happens.
261 words, about 1 min05Essay on a prescribed topic or theme
The essay asks you to construct an argument on a prescribed theme or topic, drawing on your prescribed prose and verse. It tests selection of evidence, analysis and the ability to compare authors, not retelling.
298 words, about 1 min06Language, grammar and vocabulary questions
The language paper tests accidence, including declensions, conjugations and principal parts, syntax such as cases, subjunctive and indirect statement, and vocabulary. Questions may ask you to parse, identify a construction or choose the correct form.
257 words, about 1 min