A step-by-step guide to the higher-level Irish exam
QUESTION BY QUESTION
PÁIPÉAR 1
Ceist 1 - Ceapadóireacht
This section has a choice of nine subject matters:
A. Aiste
There are three titles given, usually on topical matters such as Nósanna agus tuairímí faiseanta - tá aos óg na linne seo ina sclábhaithe acu.
- Ensure that you understand the title that you are choosing.
- Have you enough information to attain two-and-a half to three pages of writing?
- Will your store of vocabulary enable you to write on the given subject matter?
- Give a short introduction followed by full development on three or four main points.
- Conclude the essay with, e.g., a seanfhocal or a line of poetry.
B. Scéal
In this section, you have a choice of two titles. Generally, there will be seanfhocail e.g. Is minic a bhíonn ciúin ciontach. Sometimes, the title is a single word, e.g. Aoibhneas.
- Under no circumstances should you attempt this section if you can't translate the word.
- The scéal is well suited to the creative writer as it will not be factual like Imirce in Éirinn san aois seo caite - students can totally depend on their own imagination.
C. Alt Nuachtáin/Alt Irise
You will have a choice of two titles.
- The guidelines for this section are similar to the aiste guidelines, except that you are required to write an article for a newspaper or journal. The best way to prepare for this essay choice would be to read topical articles in current newspapers and journals, e.g. Foinse, Dréimire or Tuarascáil in The Irish Times.
D. Díospóireacht /Óráid
This section has always been a favourite with those students who are active debaters in either English or Irish and you will be able to choose between either the díospóireacht or the óráid.
- Díospóireacht: Beidh ort an chaint a scríobh a dhéanfá i ndíospóireacht scoile ar son nó in aghaidh an rúin. Decide on one argument or the other - you cannot take both sides.
- Óráid: This will differ from the Díspóireacht in that you are giving a talk to a group of people. Unlike the debate, you may deal with both sides of the argument.
Ceist 2 - Léamhthuiscint
It is advisable to answer the Léamhthuiscint first, as it will help you to start "thinking" in Irish. More importantly, it is often the case that a word, a spelling, a turn of phrase or even an idea will feature in one of the questions, which you can then use in your answers.
The Léamhthhuiscint will be divided into A and B with 35 marks for each part. Students have no choices in this question - both must be answered, in the student's own words.
- Read the passage first, then read the questions and then read the passage again. Remember this part of the examination is a test of your understanding and not merely locating the answer.
- Remember to number your answers in the way the questions are presented, i.e. 1 (a) (b) etc.
PÁIPÉAR 2
Ceist 1 - Prós
Answer A Prós Ainmnithe or B Prós Roghnach.
A. Prós Ainmnithe
This section will be divided into (a) and (b). Both must be answered but with an internal choice in each section. In section (a) students will have a choice between two stories (25 marks) and in section (b), they will have a choice between two questions on the same story (15 marks).
B. Prós Roghnach
As in the Prós Ainmnithe section above, students will have a choice:
Two questions available in the (a) section (25 marks each) - one must be attempted.
Two questions available in the (b) section (15 marks each) - one must be attempted.
As a rule of thumb, answers in this section should ideally be one-and-a-quarter to one-and-a-half pages for a 25-mark question and between three-quarters and one whole page for the 15-mark question.
Remember to state clearly the name of the chosen piece of literature and its author.
Ceist 2 - Próstéacs Breise
What is being tested here is your knowledge of the piece of literature and not your accuracy in grammar.
Remember that you must state the name of the chosen piece of literature and its author.
Ceist 3 - Filíocht
Students must answer either Section A or Section B and Section C.
Generally, the text of the poems will be printed on the exam paper, enabling students to back up their answers with relevant quotations.
No quotation should exceed two lines. Remember the quote is a back-up for the point you have made.
If you are required to explain or comment on specific lines from the given poem, no quote(s) will be necessary.
A. Filíocht Ainmnithe
Three of the five poems you have studied will appear on the exam paper in some combination. Be sure that you can write about:
- The main ideas in the poem (príomhsmaointe)
- The feelings / emotions (na mothúcháin) - a description of any two feelings would suffice for the eight-mark question; three for a 12-mark question and four for a question having 15 marks allocated to it.
- The techniques (teicníocht) used by the poet, e.g. metaphors (meafair), images (íomhánna), metre (meadaracht), contrast (codarsnacht), repetition (athrá) etc..
B. Filíocht Roghnach
Students who opted to study for this section may choose whatever poetry they wish, while ensuring that their choice has a wide variety as follows:
- Dán a chum fear
- Dán a chum bean
- Dán nua-aimseartha
- Dán sean-aimseartha
This section will be divided into (a) and (b), both having an internal choice. The same poem may not be used as the basis for your answer in both parts.
C. Dánta Dualgais Breise
In this section, all higher-level students will have studied eight poems and are required to answer one of the two questions:
There is usually a choice between the old and modern poetry. It is advisable to answer the dán sean-aimseartha, as the questions are more inclined to warrant factual answers, as opposed to do thuairim féin.
Therefore, in relation to scoring well, they are safer - provided the facts are known.
Ceist 4 - Stair na Teanga
In this final section, students will be asked to write a short account - gearrchuntas - on two sections out of six, (a) to (f). Generally there will be a pattern.
For example, section (a) is usually a list of seven or eight writers and poets, and if you opt to answer this section, you write on only two.
It is easy to score well in this section by knowing the relevant facts and students should write their answers in "point" form where possible (at least three main points, each of them well developed).
EXAM STRUCTURE AND STRATEGY
Oral Exam 150 marks
Aural Exam 100 marks
Written Exam 350 marks
Total: 600 marks
Written papers - Páipéar 1
Time: 170 minutes. Allow 10 minutes at the start of the exam to read through the paper.
Marks: 170
Structure:
Ceist 1 - Ceapadóireacht (100 marks): Answer 1 of 9. Allow 90 minutes.
Ceist 2 - Léamhthuiscint (70 marks): Answer A and B. Allow 60 minutes (30 minutes for each section)
Páipéar 2
Time: 200 minutes. Allow 10 minutes at the start of the exam to read through the paper.
Marks: 180
Ceist 1 - Prós (40 marks): Answer either A Prós Ainmnithe or B Prós Roghnach. Allow 40 minutes.
Ceist 2 - Próstéacs Breise (40 marks): Answer from one of the following sections: A. Gearrscéalta; B. Úrscéalta; C. Dírbheathaisnéisí; D. Drámaí. Allow 40 minutes.
Allow 10 minutes at the end of the exam to check over your work.
Ceist 3 - Filíocht (70 marks): Answer on two of the following sections: A. Filíocht Ainmnithe or B. Filíocht Roghnach and C. Dánta Dualgais Breise. Allow 65 minutes.
Ceist 4 - Stair na Teanga (30 marks): Answer on two sections out of six, (a) to (f). Allow 35 minutes.
Allow 10 minutes at the end of the exam to check over your work
• The main function of Paper 1 is to examine the student's knowledge of the language, as opposed to knowledge of the prescribed texts. Cruinneas na teanga is vital, i.e. accuracy with the language. Cailltear marcanna trí bheith faillíoch ann.
• Remember that 80 per cent of the marks are for fluency and expression as Gaeilge and 20 per cent for content.
• You should write about 500 - 600 words, approximately two and a half pages for Ceist 1 (Ceapadóireacht).
• Answers for Ceist 2 (Léamhthuiscint) should be in your own words, as far as possible.
• On Paper 2, remember: for Ceist 1 (Prós) and Ceist 3 (Filíocht), you choose between prescribed course (prós / filíocht ainmnithe) and optional course (prós / filíocht roghnach).
