If you are a Leaving Cert student preparing to sit the English test then you are likely already up to your eyes revising the same texts and poems each day.
If you want to remain consistent with your exam preparations in the long run, it’s important to mix up your learning with a variety of different resources.
This will also help to ensure that you are not forgetting anything and keeping an test-oriented approach through the revision process.
I can’t stress enough the importance of practising past papers so that by the time you sit your exams, you are already familiar with the types of questions that you are likely to see on the day.
For many, the problem often lies in finding good quality resources online that provide clarity for your exam preparations and a little more credibility than an anonymous comment left on a Redditt forum.
With all the different topics that feature on the English assessment, it can be hard to narrow down what it is you need to do. This is why we have a series of informative articles where you can find the frameworks to start your learning journey!
The aim of this article is to provide a strategic mix of resources that you can rely on to get through the assessment and accomplish your academic potential in the subject.
Check out our guide to both leaving cert papers to get an idea of what you are up against, and keep an eye out for more links throughout the article!
Examinations.ie
Outside of learning with a private tutor, there is no resource quite as effective as practising past papers. They help you to manage your time in the assessment and prepare for the style of questions that actually feature across both papers.
Examinations.ie is a lifesaver for senior cycle students regardless of what subject they are studying. Here, you’ll find English exam papers and marking schemes spanning from 2002 to 2019, empowering you to practice with authentic materials and gain valuable insights.
If you are looking to get your hands on a past paper from any of these years, all you have to do is input the details of the paper you are seeking into the homepage.
You can easily select the level (Leaving Certificate or Junior Cycle) and the subject (English), streamlining your search for the desired resources.
By the time you sit down in the exam hall to write the paper, you’ll already be familiar with historical trends of questions that are featured on past papers and know what questions are likely to appear when you turn over your test booklet.
Perhaps you have all the info at the ready, but you are not sure how to revise or start? Check out the Superprof guide on how to study for the leaving cert exam! This can help eliminate stress and worries as it gives you goals and tips that help lessen the workload!
StudyClix
If you’re setting your sights on a high grade in the Leaving Cert English exam, then it's really important to grasp how the examiners grade your work.
Studyclix is going to be the tool for this, as it gives you access to exam papers and grading criteria for both the Leaving Certificate and Junior Cycle exams.
Marking schemes are everything when it comes to test preparation and English is no exception to this. Knowing exactly what marks are and aren't awarded for will help you to write answers that tick the boxes for a high grade and make life easier for the examiner who’s marking your paper.
By looking at these grading criteria alongside the test papers you can also pinpoint where you did well and where you need to improve.
Getting familiar with the grading system will help you approach the assessment with confidence and boost your chances of success. Do you still need to familiarize yourself with the paper? We have you covered in our article outlining the topics covered in the English leaving cert test!
625points
There simply aren’t enough students taking advantage of this absolute gem. 625points.com is a site run by past students who achieved top marks in their tests. It covers most of the subjects, but only at higher level.
This online resource provides resources that you can get so much value from. If at any point you find yourself asking what exactly an H1 quality answer looks like, then this is where you can find out.
These essays that you can expect to find on the site demonstrate how to address themes, characters, and cultural context in a certain standard level of writing. What’s even more appealing is that they have been assessed by examiners already and offer constructive feedback to enhance your writing abilities.
Apart from comparative essays, the website also offers sample essays for other types of compositions, such as descriptive pieces, articles and speeches.
Implementing this resource in your revision routine will ensure that you are well-equipped to tackle any question that comes your way during the examinations.
Most of the notes are free, but there are some premium notes. The premium notes include quizzes, advice, and videos. You can also submit an essay to the site for grading, where you’ll get invaluable feedback on your essay.
Quizlet
Quizlet is a well-renowned platform that can be an extremely effective tool in assessment preparations when it comes to crafting and reviewing flashcards. This makes it a valuable asset for students gearing up for the assessments.
Since the site is UK-based, you won’t be able to search for leaving cert English and find all the topics you need. Instead, you’ll need to search for individual topics.
With Quizlet, there is a basic free plan, which may give you all the access you need to develop revision tools for leaving cert English. The Quizlet Go plan gives you access to all the resources the free plan has, but you can use them offline and without ads. The Plus plan gives you more personalised revsion paths, lets you scan documents, and lets you track your progress.
Whether delving into terminology, character dissections or specific themes from the assigned readings, Quizlet enables users to generate flashcards tailored to their individual learning needs.
You’ll have zero difficulty remembering all of those quotes for Peper 2 if you decide to implement this resource in your preparations!
Leaving Cert English Podcasts
The Leaving Cert Survival Guide Podcast
The Leaving Cert Survival Guide podcast is from FM 104 and The Institute of Education of Dublin. The hosts, Crossy and Tara, have guest interviewees, such as teachers and wellness professionals.
The show covers all subjects at both higher and ordinary level, and other areas such as revision plans, stress relief, and managing expectations.
It has a few episodes focused on Leaving Cert English. One episode deals specifically with paper one, and another deals specifically with paper two.
Mr McBrides English Podcast
MrMcBridesEnglish podcast is a relatively new podcast, so there isn’t a huge number of episodes. However, the episodes that are up are extremely useful, and it looks like there will be more to be added. Mr McBride’s podcast is a tool that he plans to use to enhance the teaching for his own students, but it can be very useful for students from other schools as well.
The poetry episodes read and analyze individual poems. There are episodes on poems that will appear on the ordinary level paper and episodes on poems that will appear on the higher level paper. Newer episodes will focus on the texts for the comparative section.
Other Podcasts
Resources that are designed specifically for the subject are usually better, however, that doesn’t mean that you should ignore other resources. Spotify, for example, has recordings of Shakespeare plays performed as audio dramas. There’s also readings of the prescribed poetry, analysis of the texts for comparative, and lectures on literary and poetic devices.
The downside is that all the episodes, topics, or poets need to be searched for individually. However, this has a benefit. It means that you can search specifically for areas that you need to revise and focus your studying on specific topics.
Learn from a Private Tutor from Superprof
The most effective resource when it comes to learning any subject is practising with an experienced private tutor. Private tutoring has a direct correlation to improving test performance, whether that is through enhancing your understanding of the material or refining best practice assessment tactics
Finding an English tutor can help you focus on your weak points, where you need to brush up, and what will be most important for your assessment. It’s completely free for you to search and find the right tutor for you. Once you have, you can message them to start setting up your tutoring sessions.
The private tutors that offer their services on Supeprof will have helped countless students just like you achieve their academic potential in the subject in the past and will know the syllabus and test format inside and out!
Whether you're struggling with analysing literature, crafting essays, or honing grammar skills, the tutors at Superprof are here to assist. They possess a range of expertise covering all examinable topics on the paper and beyond.
Superprof recognises the significance of convenience and accessibility in tutoring services. With tutors accessible across the entirety of the island you'll have little difficulty finding the right match, whether you find yourself in Cork or Louth.
If you are in a more peripheral area or your study schedule is already quite stretched, then you can easily find online sessions on the platform too. By harnessing the knowledge and support provided by Superprof's tutors you will gain an advantage in your assessments.
For more tips and tricks for us, read our extensive leaving cert English guide, where you can learn to study better, as well as exam day tips!
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