THE SHORT ANSWER
See how the subject fits together
Power, citizenship, human rights and globalisation connect classroom ideas to public life.
A revision map, not a prediction of which questions will appear. Official sources and scope
MORE THAN A TOPIC LIST
How is Politics and Society assessed?
- Written examination: 80%.
- Report on a citizenship project: 20%.
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)
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.
These are broad revision groups shared across Higher and Ordinary Level, not identical lists of learning outcomes. Use the level-specific outcomes in the linked syllabus and questions from your own level. The checklist records each level separately.
Saved in this browser, separately for each subject and level. A tick is not a mastery score.
Power & decision-making
Power in school, national institutions and the European context.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
Who has influence over a decision, and how is it exercised?
Separate formal authority from other sources of influence.
Active citizenship
Community action and responsible communication.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
What would make a proposed action effective rather than symbolic?
Define the intended change and the people who can help achieve it.
Human rights
Rights and responsibilities in Ireland and beyond.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
How might two rights come into tension in a case?
Explain the principles and evidence without reducing the issue to slogans.
Globalisation & identity
Connections between global processes and local experience.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
How could one global development affect groups differently?
Trace effects on specific groups rather than assuming everyone gains or loses equally.
Sustainable development
Development, responsibility and competing priorities.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
Which evidence supports a proposed development policy?
Consider social, economic and environmental effects together.
Thinkers, arguments & evidence
Applying the programme’s ideas critically.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
How would two perspectives interpret the same issue?
Use a thinker’s idea to analyse the case, not simply add a name.
Citizenship project
Action, evidence and reflection.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
What did an action achieve and what limited its impact?
Distinguish participation from impact and support your evaluation with evidence.
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
- Pair a key concept with a concrete issue.
- Practise weighing evidence and alternative perspectives.
- Document project decisions and evaluate outcomes, not only activities.
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: Politics and Society (opens in a new tab). Official subject information, specifications and associated guidance.
- Politics and Society: official syllabus / specification (PDF) (opens in a new tab). Used sections: Four strands, eight topics and citizenship-project assessment.
- 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.