THE SHORT ANSWER
See how the subject fits together
The oral examination is a substantial part of the subject. Paper 1 and Paper 2 require different preparation, and literature must match your programme.
A revision map, not a prediction of which questions will appear. Official sources and scope
MORE THAN A TOPIC LIST
How is Irish (Gaeilge) assessed?
- Oral examination: 40% at Higher and Ordinary Level.
- Paper 1 includes listening and composition.
- Paper 2 includes reading comprehension and literature.
This describes the syllabus assessment components. Use the SEC instructions for your year for timing, question choices, materials and submission arrangements. Read the official assessment section. (opens in a new tab)
Check your selected programme
Confirm your prescribed or selected prose, poetry and, at Higher Level, additional literature. Oral materials and examination-year arrangements should be checked against current instructions.
YOUR SUBJECT, YOUR CHECKLIST
What should I revise?
Choose the checklist for your level. Topic groups are a starting map, not every syllabus outcome. Optional cards only apply if they are part of your programme.
This guide covers Higher and Ordinary Level, not Foundation Level. Higher Level includes additional literature. The official Gaeilge page links the separate Foundation Level syllabus.
Saved in this browser, separately for each subject and level. A tick is not a mastery score.
Speaking: an bhéaltriail
Communicating and responding in Irish.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
Can you explain a familiar experience and answer an unexpected follow-up?
Practise an exchange, not just a speech. Prepare how to ask for repetition naturally.
Listening: cluastuiscint
Understanding the meaning and details of recordings.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
What changed in a speaker’s arrangements?
Target names, times and the reason for the change; review missed phrases afterwards.
Composition: ceapadóireacht
Writing to the purpose and format of the task.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
Can you develop an idea without using a memorised answer that does not fit?
Plan the message first and use language you can control accurately.
Reading: léamhthuiscint
Locating evidence and understanding written Irish.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
Where in the passage is the information the question needs?
Answer what is asked and check the grammatical shape of your response.
Prose & poetry
Meaning, character, themes and language in your programme.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
How does a detail reveal an attitude or feeling?
Link the detail to your explanation instead of retelling the entire text.
Language accuracy
Tense, sentence structure, spelling and mutations in use.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
What recurring error could you remove from a paragraph?
Review one pattern at a time and practise it in new sentences.
Higher Level additional literature
The additional work in your Higher Level programme.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
How could you support an interpretation of a key moment?
Use this card only for HL; check your selected text and exact requirements.
The prompts are original study exercises, not quotations from SEC papers or predictions of examination questions. Check the official topic scope.
TURN TOPICS INTO PRACTICE
A useful next revision session
- Speak a little Irish regularly, including follow-up questions.
- Alternate listening with reading and short writing tasks.
- Keep literary revision tied to the works and level you actually study.
After practising, write down the exact point that stopped you. Revisit that step, then try again without the notes. A tick should record work you have done, not confidence alone.
Before you narrow your revision
Does a topic’s absence last year mean it is due this year?
No. This guide does not infer question probabilities from previous papers. Use past papers to practise skills and interpret instructions, not to exclude valid syllabus content.
Should I complete every optional card?
No. Check your class’s selected programme and your level. A chosen text, elective or prescribed topic is not interchangeable with another student’s programme. Use the full official syllabus for detailed outcomes.
Are the practice prompts real exam questions?
No. They are short, original CollegeRoute study prompts designed to help you apply the topic. They do not carry an official SEC mark allocation or predict examination wording.
Sources and scope
Checked 8 September 2026. Intended for the 2027 examination cohort.
- Curriculum Online: Irish (Gaeilge) (opens in a new tab). Official subject information, specifications and associated guidance.
- Irish (Gaeilge): official syllabus / specification (PDF) (opens in a new tab). Used sections: Language skills, literature and assessment: Gnathleibheal and Ardleibheal sections.
- State Examinations Commission (opens in a new tab): examination-year instructions, official papers and marking schemes.
These are editorial revision groups, not a transcription of every learning outcome. The practice prompts and study tips are independent CollegeRoute suggestions. Your teacher’s programme, prescribed material and current official instructions remain the reference for exact requirements.