Leaving Cert English paper 1 'allowed well-read students to shine'

Leaving Certificate students Jenna Ezzeddine, Ellie Boyle, Aislinn Bellchambers, and Rose Brosnan started their Leaving Cert exams at Presentation Secondary School, Tralee. Picture: Domnick Walsh

Dune: Part Two, The Wizard of Oz, an “ode to the spirit, cheer and energy” of Manchester, and arguments for and against postage stamps all featured in the first State examinations of 2026. 

Exams kicked off on Wednesday morning for a record number of students sitting Leaving Certificate and Junior Cycle examinations over the coming weeks.

Siobhán O’Donovan, ASTI subject representative for English and a teacher at Patrician Academy in Mallow, said this year’s higher level English paper 1 included three “lovely" comprehensions. 

These included an article by Jeanette Winterson, an extract from Elif Shafak’s 2024 novel There Are Rivers in the Sky, and two further texts on the topics of poetry and art.

School principal Aaron Wolfe with students Ronan Kenny, Seán Varian O’Driscoll, and John Paul Irabor at Coláiste Éamann Rís in Cork who were happy with their first paper of this year's Leaving Certificate exams. Picture: Noel Sweeney

“These gave the well practised student plenty of scope to demonstrate their ability to understand, analyse and evaluate a piece of writing and respond to it using effective language and expression skills.”

The composing section, worth a “whopping” 25% of students’ marks, allows “the well-read and well-practised student to shine”, Ms O’Donovan said.

Davin O'Regan and Cormac Murphy giving the thumbs-up after Leaving Certificate English Paper 1 Higher Level in Pobalscoil na Tríonóide, Youghal, Co Cork. Picture: Howard Crowdy

“Creative writing skills are to the fore here but there is such a choice in genre that there is something to suit all tastes.”

At Ordinary Level, candidates were also “happy coming out of the exam hall”, Ms O’Donovan said.

“The paper held no surprises and allowed students to demonstrate their skills.”

Namo Rahimi and Tristan Noonan at Coláiste Éamann Rís in Cork where they were happy with their first paper of this year's Leaving Certificate exams. Picture: Noel Sweeney

Most students who emerged from the Junior Cycle English examination were happy with the Higher Level paper, according to Sue O’Sullivan-Casey, an English teacher at Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine in Kenmare, Co Kerry, and Studyclix subject spokesperson.

However, a question on the Ordinary level paper about a red fox "would have challenged some ordinary level candidates to think creatively and articulate their thoughts as a piece of audio visual," she added. 

Students Ella Deghan and Milena Baran started their Leaving Cert exams at Presentation Secondary School Tralee today. Picture: Domnick Walsh

Meanwhile, Kate Barry, ASTI subject spokesperson for this year’s Junior Cycle English paper, said teachers would like to see more choice on the Higher Level paper. 

A question on the novel section asked students to focus on a character's personal growth. 

“Any novel that you choose, you should be confident your class can answer. There’s an element of luck with this question.”

Wednesday afternoon saw Leaving Cert students tackle home economics, with a paper judged to be "challenging but fair, striking a good balance between testing students' knowledge", according to Studyclix spokesperson Megan Friel, a teacher at Mercy College Sligo. 

Junior Certificate students Jodie Kennedy and Aya Alkurdi started their exams at Presentation Secondary School Tralee today. 

The higher level paper was "relevant and matched what had been anticipated", while the ordinary level exam used "student-friendly and straightforward" language. 

Guste Kazenas, Fiona Siby, Achsa Jacob, and Siobhan Lyons who are among the North Monastery Co-educational Secondary School's first group of girls to sit the Junior Cycle exams. Picture: Jim Coughlan

The 2026 Junior Cycle Religious Education exam paper was a balanced and fair assessment of the subject, according to Róisín Dignan, ASTI subject spokesperson. 

"The questions reflected the broad range of topics studied over the three years and gave students multiple opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge, understanding, and application of religious education concepts." 

• Jess Casey, Education Correspondent