Question A: Complete Exam Skills Guide (2025 Text 1 Exemplar)

This resource is a comprehensive, step-by-step revision and teaching guide for Question A (Higher Level) in Leaving Certificate English Paper 1. It is designed to help students understand exactly what each part of Question A is testing and how to respond with clarity, control, and confidence.

Using Text 1 from the 2025 Leaving Certificate examination as a worked example, this booklet breaks Question A into manageable skills rather than vague “comprehension” tasks.

What This Resource Covers

A clear explanation of what Question A is and what examiners reward
A breakdown of the three parts of Question A:

(i) Insight and understanding
(ii) Personal response
(iii) Language and style

Explicit guidance on how to read the text differently for each part
Step-by-step methods for planning and writing answers
Fully written Higher Level sample answers for:
Question A (i)
Question A (ii)
Question A (iii)

Annotated sample answers showing why responses score well
A dedicated section explaining common Question A (iii) formats, including:
effectiveness statements
identifying and discussing style
blended writing styles

A clear overview of language styles (informative, persuasive, personal, narrative, descriptive, blended) and what makes each effective

A print-friendly Question A revision checklist for exam preparation

Key Strengths
Uses real exam material (2025 Paper 1, Text 1)
Strong focus on thinking, explanation, and examiner expectations
Avoids rote learning and “feature spotting”
Ideal for Sixth Year Higher Level
Suitable for class teaching, homework, and independent revision

Who This Resource Is For
Higher Level Leaving Certificate English students
Teachers looking for a clear, structured way to teach Question A
Students who struggle to distinguish between A (i), A (ii), and A (iii)
Revision classes and exam preparation weeks

Format
PDF
Print-friendly
Suitable for classroom or home use