Question By Question
Paper 1
170 marks (170 mins)
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 of the language. Cailltear marcanna tri bheith faillioch ann. Remember 80 per cent of the marks are going for the Gaeilge and 20 per cent for your thoughts. Allow 10 minutes at the start of the exam to read through the paper in its entirety and 10 minutes at the end of the exam to check over your work.
Ceist 1 - Ceapadoireacht
100 marks (allow 80 minutes)
This section has a choice of nine subject matters:
A. Aiste
There are three titles given - usually on topical matters e.g. Fograi agus fograiocht.
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, perhaps, a suitable seanfhocal, a line of poetry or an echo of your opening sentence.
B. Sceal
In this section, you have a choice of two titles. Generally, there will be seanfhocail e.g. Ar mhuin na muice. Sometimes, the title is a single word e.g. Ailleacht.
Under no circumstances should you attempt this section if you can't translate the word.
The sceal is well suited to the creative writer as it will not be factual like Imirce in Eirinn san aois seo caite - students can totally depend on their own imagination.
C. Alt Nuachtain/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 or Dreimire.
D. Diospoireacht/ Oraid
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 diospoireacht or the oraid.
Diosp oireacht: Beidh ort caint a scriobh a dheanf a i ndiospoireacht scoile ar son no in aghaidh an ruin. Decide on one argument or the other - you cannot take both sides.
Or aid: This will differ from the Diospoireacht 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 - Leamhthuiscint
70 marks (allow 70 minutes)
It is advisable to answer the Leamhthuiscint 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 Leamhthhuiscint will be divided into A and B with 35 marks for each part. Allow 45 minutes for each section. Students have no choices in this question - both must be answered. Bear in mind the following points:
Number your paragraphs.
Read the questions first.
Then read the passage.
In answering the questions, you are asked to put the answers into your own words - oiread agus is feidir leat. Remember this question is a test of your understanding and not merely locating the answer.
Number your answers in the way the questions are presented, i.e.: 1 (a) (b) etc.
Paipear 2
180 marks (200 minutes)
Ceist 1 - Pros
40 marks (allow 45 minutes)
A. Pros 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).
One of the greatest difficulties many students encounter is how to start an answer, but any of the following would suffice:
i) Is deacair dul i gcoinne an raitis sin.
No
ii) Is aneifeachtach an leiriu a thugtar duinn ar aigne na mban sa sceal "Fiosracht Mhna"
No
iii) By using the wording supplied on the question itself, mar shampla, "Is e mo thuairim go gcuireann an sliocht as an ursc eal, `Gafa' go mor lenar dtuiscint ar shaol an duine oig sa la ata inniu ann, cuir i gcas . . .
B. Pros Roghnach
As in the Pros 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.
While a choice of material is available, the following should be covered: Gearrsceal Amhain Sliocht as Ursceal Sliocht as Drama
It is imperative for candidates to state clearly the name of the story/novel/drama they are basing their answer upon, as well as the name of the writer.
Ceist 2 - Prosteacs Breise
40 marks (Allow 40 minutes)
Answer from one of the following sections:
A. Gearrscealta
B. Urscealta
C. Dirbheathaisneisi
D. Dramai
Each section has two questions on the prescribed work (novel, drama etc) or students may choose from the Roghnach section where they must state clearly the name of the work they have studied along with the name of its author. To score well in Question 2, a thorough knowledge of the work is required and answers should be relevant to the questions asked.
All answers in both questions should have a clear introduction, full development of three or four main points, and a conclusion.
Ceist 3 - Filiocht
70 marks (allow 65 minutes)
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. Do not write your quotes in red. The quote itself should not be the answer but only 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. Filiocht Ainmnithe
For this section, students will have studied 5 poems as follows:
Treall
Chlaon Me Mo Cheann
Brid Og Ni Mhaille
Mac Eile Ag Imeacht
Faoilean
Three of these will appear on the exam paper in some combination. Students would be expected to have studied the five prescribed poems under the following headings:
a) Mothuchain agus an chaoi a gcuirtear in iul iad.
b) Na teicnici fileata ar bhain an file usaid astu, mar shampla, na meafair; codarsnacht; suiomh; athra; atmaisfear; simpliocht (no castacht); meadaracht agus iomhanna. c) An priomhtheama agus an fhorbairt a dheantar air sa dan.
d) Gne eigin den dan a thaitin no nar thaitin leat.
Read all questions very carefully. For example, if there is a question on mothuchain, ascertain if the question concerns the poet's feelings - na mothuchain ata ag an bhfile - or the reader's feelings - na mothuchain ata ionat fein.
A description of any two feelings would suffice for the 8-mark question; three for a 12-mark question and four for a question having 15 marks allocated to it.
B. Filiocht 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:
i) Dan a chum fear
ii) Dan a chum bean
iii) Dan nua-aimseartha
iv) Dan on sean re
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. Danta Dualgais Breise
In this section, all higher level students will have studied eight poems and are required to answer one of the two questions:
Filiocht On Sean Re
Cath Cheim an Fhia
Donncha Ban
Urchnoc Chein Mhic Cainte
An Fhiliocht Nua-Aimseartha
Mi an Mheithimh
Fiacha an tSolais
An Ceoltoir Jazz
Teangmhail
Labhrann Deidre
It is advisable to answer the dan on sean re, as the questions are more inclined to warrant factual answers, as opposed to do thuairim fein. Therefore, in relation to scoring well, they are safer - provided the facts are known.
Ceist 4 - Stair na Teanga
30 marks (allow 35 minutes)
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.
Two important topics which frequently feature in this question are An Ruraiocht and An Fhiannaiocht, each of these on alternate years.
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 (five to six points in each case).
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