Oral Exam

Exam Layout and 2027 Assessment Structure

The oral examination is a single common test for Higher and Ordinary Level candidates, marked to one standard scheme. What puts you in the top bands is range: varied tenses, rich idiomatic phrasing, and the ability to move smoothly from personal details into wider community and national themes.

Examination Overview

The Day Itself and the 2027 Adjustment

The oral test is held during a set examination period in the second half of your final year, conducted by a visiting SEC examiner, and takes about 15 minutes in total. For 2027 you prepare 10 of the 20 series issued, and one of your prepared series is chosen at random in the examination. Your teacher will confirm the exact school procedure for identifying your 10 on the day.

Official Marking Bands

Understanding how marks are banded shows you where the exam is won:

• An Comhrá (120 marks): Repertoire (75 marks) — Excellent 64–75, Very Good 53–63, Good 42–52, Fair 30–41, Weak 19–29, Very Weak 0–18. Ability (45 marks) — Excellent 39–45, Very Good 32–38, Good 25–31, Fair 18–24, Weak 12–17, Very Weak 0–11.
• An tSraith Pictiúr (80 marks): Narration (50 marks) — Excellent 42–50, Very Good 35–41, Good 27–34, Fair 20–26, Weak 12–19, Very Weak 0–11. Ability (20 marks) — Excellent 17–20, Very Good 14–16, Good 11–13, Fair 8–10, Weak 5–7, Very Weak 0–4. The question exchange carries an additional 10 marks.

The gap between Good and Excellent in conversation repertoire is 22 marks — more than half the value of the entire poetry section. That gap is earned through vocabulary and idiom, not talking faster.

Cuid 1: An Fáiltiú (Reception - 5 Marks)

The Reception settles your nerves with five simple administrative questions. Answer each in a clear, complete sentence.

1. Ainm (Name)

• Ceist: Cad is ainm duit?
• Freagra: [Ainm iomlán] is ainm dom.

2. Aois (Age)

• Ceist: Cén aois thú?
• Freagra: Tá mé sé bliana déag d'aois (16) / Tá mé seacht mbliana déag d'aois (17) / Tá mé ocht mbliana déag d'aois (18).
• Grammar Rule: The noun bliain changes to bliana after numbers 3 to 10. The numbers seacht and ocht cause an eclipsis (urú), turning bliana into mbliana.

3. Dáta Breithe (Date of Birth)

• Ceist: Cad é do dháta breithe?
• Freagra: Rugadh mé ar an dara / tríú / gcúigiú lá (déag) de mhí Mheán Fómhair, dhá mhíle is a hocht / a naoi.
• Grammar Rule: Use ordinal numbers for the day. After ar an, c-initial ordinals take an urú (ar an gcéad lá, ar an gceathrú lá, ar an gcúigiú lá), while dara, tríú, séú are unchanged. The preposition de triggers lenition (séimhiú) on the name of the month (de mhí Eanáir, de mhí Mheán Fómhair, de mhí Dheireadh Fómhair).

4. Seoladh Baile (Home Address)

• Ceist: Cén seoladh baile atá agat?
• Freagra: Tá mé i mo chónaí ag [Uimhir], [Bóthar/Sráid], i mBaile Átha Cliath / i gCorcaigh / i Luimneach / i sráidbhaile beag.
• Grammar Rule: Mo causes a séimhiú (i mo chónaí). The preposition i eclipses b, c, d, f, g, p, t (i mBaile Átha Cliath, i gContae na Mí, i bPort Láirge). It does not change l, m, n, r, s (i Luimneach, i sráidbhaile, i Muineachán). Before a vowel, i becomes in (in Éirinn, in Albain, in oifig).

5. Uimhir Scrúdaithe (Examination Number)

• Ceist: Cad é d'uimhir scrúdaithe?
• Freagra: Seo í m'uimhir scrúdaithe: a haon, a dó, a trí, a ceathair, a cúig, a sé... (or recite the digits directly when asked).
• Grammar Rule: Because uimhir is feminine (an uimhir), use í rather than é.

Cuid 2: Léamh na Filíochta (Poetry Reading - 35 Marks)

In Part 2, the examiner picks one poem from the five common prescribed poems and asks you to read it aloud. You may bring and use your own copy of the poems. Bring a copy you can read easily — heavy annotation can distract you while reading aloud. No preparation time is allowed in the room.

At 35 marks, this 2-minute section carries more marks than a 30-mark prescribed literature question on Paper 2.

The Five Prescribed Poems for 2027

1. Dínit an Bhróin (Máirtín Ó Direáin) — read in full.
2. Deireadh na Feide (Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh) — read in full.
3. Iníon (Áine Durkin) — read in full.
4. Glaoch Abhaile (Áine Ní Ghlinn) — read in full.
5. Úirchill an Chreagáin (Airt Mac Cumhaidh) — verses 1 and 2 only for the oral exam. (Note: all verses remain examinable on Paper 2).

4-Step Poetry Rehearsal Strategy

1. Comprehend the Meaning: Translate every line into English first so your vocal inflection matches the mood of the poem.
2. Listen to Native Models: Listen to recordings of native speakers or your teacher to absorb authentic rhythm and vowel length.
3. Isolate Difficult Sounds: Practise the sounds that trip students up: long vowels with a fada (á, é, í, ó, ú), slender versus broad consonant distinctions (bó vs beo), and lenited consonants like bh, mh, dh, gh, which must never sound like English letters.
4. Phrasing and Enjambment: Respect punctuation. When a sentence runs across line breaks without a comma or full stop, let your voice carry across the line instead of stopping dead at the margin.

Dialect Consistency

Decide early which dialect you are using — usually your teacher's — and stay in it for the whole 15 minutes. Examiners do not prefer Munster over Connacht or Ulster; they penalise candidates who flip randomly between dialects mid-sentence because it disrupts rhythm and clarity.

Marking Criteria (35 Marks)

• Excellent (29–35): Flawless pronunciation, natural cadence, expressive phrasing showing full text comprehension.
• Very Good (24–28): Accurate pronunciation and rhythm with only minor slips.
• Good (19–23): Fair pronunciation and comprehension, but delivery feels mechanical or word-by-word.
• Fair (14–18): Frequent hesitations and awkward pacing.
• Weak / Very Weak (0–13): Pervasive mispronunciations, anglicised phonetics, and little grasp of meaning.

Cuid 3: An Comhrá Ginearálta (General Conversation - 120 Marks)

Carrying half the total oral marks (120 out of 240), the General Conversation runs for about 8 minutes of the 15. It starts with your personal world and extends out into broader topics depending on how well you respond.

Show Three Tenses in the First Two Minutes

Examiners listen for grammatical range immediately. Work these three tenses into your opening answers:

• Past: An samhradh seo caite, chaith mé coicís i gcoláiste Gaeilge i gConamara agus bhain mé an-taitneamh as. (Last summer I spent a fortnight in an Irish college in Connemara and really enjoyed it.)
• Future: An bhliain seo chugainn, tá súil agam go ndéanfaidh mé staidéar ar an dlí in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe. (Next year I hope to study law in University of Galway.)
• Modh Coinníollach (Conditional): Dá mbeadh an deis agam, thógfainn bliain bhearnach chun taisteal. (If I had the chance, I would take a gap year to travel.)

High-Yield Opinion and Idiom Bank

Learn six of these off by heart and use them across different topics to push your stór focal into the 64–75 mark band:

• Is é mo thuairim láidir go... — It is my strong opinion that...
• Caithfidh mé a admháil go... — I must admit that...
• Chomh fada agus is eol dom... — As far as I know...
• Ar an lámh eile, ní féidir a shéanadh go... — On the other hand, it cannot be denied that...
• Is cúis mhór imní í sin do dhaoine óga. — That is a great cause of concern for young people.
• Dar liom, ní mór don rialtas... — In my view, the government must...
• Táim ar aon intinn leis sin. — I agree with that.
• Níl aon dabht faoi ach go... — There is no doubt but that...

Core Conversation Topics

Be ready to discuss both your personal world and wider syllabus topics:

• Mé Féin agus Mo Theaghlach: Personality (díograiseach, cainteach), family dynamics (réitímid go maith lena chéile; bíonn argóintí beaga ann ach tugann siad an-tacaíocht dom).
• Mo Cheantar agus Áiseanna: Facilities, rural vs urban life, community initiatives (Cumann Lúthchleas Gael, Coiste na mBailte Slachtmhara).
• An Scoil agus an Córas Oideachais: Subjects, timetable, exam pressure (brú na scrúduithe), opinions on the points system.
• Caitheamh Aimsire, Ceol agus Spórt: Team games, musical instruments, relieving daily stress (strus an lae a mhaolú).
• Pleananna don Todhchaí agus Saol na hOibre: University courses (cúrsa ollscoile), career paths (gairm bheatha), part-time work (post páirtaimseartha).
• Na Meáin Shóisialta agus an Teicneolaíocht: Social media (na meáin shóisialta), cyberbullying (cibearbhulaíocht), phone dependency (tá mé gafa le m'fhón póca).
• Bia agus Sláinte: Healthy eating (aiste bia shláintiúil), exercise (aclaíocht), obesity (murtall), mental health (meabhairshláinte).
• An Timpeallacht: Recycling (athchúrsáil), pollution (truailliú), climate change (athrú aeráide).
• Laethanta Saoire agus an Ghaeltacht: Irish colleges (coláiste samhraidh sa Ghaeltacht), travel abroad (dul thar lear).
• Na Meáin Chumarsáide agus an Ghaeilge: Irish broadcasting (TG4, Raidió na Gaeltachta, podchraoltaí), language preservation (caomhnú na teanga).

Conversation Repair Strategies

If you miss a word or need time to think, keep communication going in Irish:

• Gabh mo leithscéal, an bhféadfá an cheist a rá arís, le do thoil? (Pardon me, could you repeat the question, please?)
• Ní thuigim an focal sin. Cad is brí leis, le do thoil? (I don't understand that word. What does it mean, please?)
• Is ceist shuimiúil í sin... níl mé lánchinnte, ach déarfainn go... (That is an interesting question... I am not entirely sure, but I would say that...)

Answering Yes/No Questions in Irish

Irish has no single words for yes and no. Echo the verb tense from the question:

• An bhfuil tú réidh? → Tá / Níl (Present of bí)
• An dtaitníonn an scoil leat? → Taitníonn / Ní thaitníonn (Present regular)
• Ar imir tú peil inné? → D'imir / Níor imir (Past regular)
• An ndeachaigh tú ann? → Chuaigh / Ní dheachaigh (Past irregular — irregular verbs use an + the dependent form: An ndearna…?, An bhfaca…?, An bhfuair…?)
• An raibh tú sa Ghaeltacht riamh? → Bhí / Ní raibh (Past of bí)

Cuid 4: An tSraith Pictiúr (Picture Sequences - 80 Marks)

The Picture Series tests narrative description and direct interaction across roughly 4 minutes. In the 2027 examination, you prepare 10 picture series from the 20 issued by the SEC.

Before You Start and Examiner Guidance

Unlike the poetry reading, you are given a short preparation time once the series is chosen. Use it to settle three points: the names of your characters, the tense you will use, and your opening line for panel one.

During narration, the examiner will guide you through the six panels so that all of them are covered inside the time. If the examiner prompts you with "Agus an chéad phictiúr eile?" or "Bogaimis ar aghaidh", move to the next panel immediately. Lingering on panels 1–2 and rushing panels 5–6 damages your descriptive account score, because the 50 marks reward covering the whole story evenly.

Sequencing Phrases and Initial Mutations

Learn these six panel openers off by heart, keeping the mutations exact:

• Sa chéad phictiúr... (in the first picture)
• Sa dara pictiúr... (in the second picture)
• Sa tríú pictiúr... (in the third picture)
• Sa cheathrú pictiúr... (in the fourth picture)
• Sa chúigiú pictiúr... (in the fifth picture)
• Sa séú pictiúr / sa phictiúr deireanach... (in the sixth / last picture)

Grammar Rule: The preposition sa triggers a séimhiú (sa chéad phictiúr, sa cheathrú pictiúr, sa chúigiú pictiúr), but not before consonants d, t, s (sa dara, sa tríú, sa séú).

Narrative Linking Connectors

Use connectors so your answer sounds like a flowing story rather than a list of captions:

• Ina dhiaidh sin... (after that...)
• Níos déanaí an lá sin... (later that day...)
• Go tobann... (suddenly...)
• Ar an drochuair... (unfortunately...)
• Mar thoradh air sin... (as a result of that...)
• Faoi dheireadh... (at last / finally...)

Tense Discipline: Present vs Past Narration

Pick one narrative tense and stick to it throughout all six pictures. Switching between feicimid and chonaic mé mid-story is a frequent source of lost marks.

• Present Tense Narrative (easiest for consistency): Sa dara pictiúr, téann Liam agus Niamh go hoifig an phríomhoide. Iarrann siad cead díol cístí a reáchtáil agus aontaíonn an príomhoide leo.
• Past Tense Narrative (equally valid): Sa dara pictiúr, chuaigh Liam agus Niamh chuig oifig an phríomhoide agus d'iarr siad cead an díol cístí a eagrú. Thug an príomhoide cead dóibh láithreach mar bhí an-mheas aici ar an gcarthanas áitiúil.

Essential Grammar for Top-Band Narration

1. An Briathar Saor (Autonomous Verb): Excellent for setting scenes where the person acting is general (Cuirtear fógra in airde — A notice is posted; Eagraítear cruinniú — A meeting is organised; Bunaíodh an club — The club was founded).
2. Progressive Passive: Possessive pronoun á with a verbal noun (tá an turas á phlé — the trip is being discussed; tá an ócáid á heagrú — the event is being organised).
3. An Tuiseal Ginideach (Genitive Case): Showing possession between nouns (halla na scoile, cluiche ceannais na craoibhe, doras an tseomra).
4. People Counting (Uimhreacha Pearsanta): Use personal numbers from 1 to 10 (beirt chairde, triúr daltaí, ceathrar múinteoirí). Note that beirt* lenites the following noun.

Two Myths Worth Ignoring

• No official rule about five sentences: The SEC does not require five sentences per picture. Aiming for 4 to 5 detailed sentences per picture is simply a classroom benchmark to keep you on a pace of 30 to 35 seconds per panel.
• No official rule about three questions: S76/25 requires mutual question-and-answer interaction for 10 marks without setting an exact number. Preparing three reliable question stems per series is simply sound classroom practice.

Mastering Questions in An tSraith Pictiúr (10 Marks)

The 10-mark interaction section requires you to ask questions about the sequence as well as answer them. Formulate questions cleanly without stumbling over verbal particles.

Rules for Question Particles

• Present and Future Tense Questions: Use a + eclipsis (urú):
• Cén fáth a bhfuil cuma bhuartha ar an bpríomhoide? (Why does the principal look worried?)
• Cén uair a mbeidh an cluiche ar siúl? (When will the match be held?)
• Past Tense Questions (regular verbs): Use ar + lenition (séimhiú):
• Cén fáth ar shocraigh na daltaí labhairt leis an múinteoir? (Why did the students decide to speak to the teacher?)
• Cén áit ar cheannaigh siad na ticéid? (Where did they buy the tickets?)

Reliable Question Frames to Ask the Examiner

• Cén fáth a bhfuil / ar...? (Why is / was...?)
• Cén fáth ar bhris an troid amach ar an bpáirc imeartha i bpictiúr a dó?
• Cad a tharla...? (What happened...?)
• Cad a tharla don charr sa cheathrú pictiúr, dar leat?
• Cé mhéad...? (How much / how many...?)
• Cé mhéad airgid a bhailigh an coiste don charthanas sa phictiúr deireanach?
• Cén cineál / Cén saghas...? (What kind of...?)
• Cén saghas bia a bhí ar fáil sa cheaintín i bpictiúr a trí?

Answering the Examiner's Questions

Give full, explanatory answers echoing the question's tense:

• Ceist: Cén fáth a raibh áthas ar na daltaí i bpictiúr a sé?
• Freagra: Bhí gliondar an domhain orthu toisc gur bhuaigh siad an chéad duais sa chomórtas díospóireachta.

Key terms

An Bhéaltriail Chomónta

The common Leaving Certificate Irish oral exam taken at Higher and Ordinary levels, worth 240 out of 600 marks (40% of the Irish grade).

An Fáiltiú

The opening 1-minute welcome section worth 5 marks, checking five personal administrative details.

Léamh na Filíochta

The poetry reading section (~2 minutes, 35 marks) testing the accuracy of your pronunciation and rhythm of speech, and whether you show that you understand the poem the examiner chooses.

An Comhrá

The general conversation (~8 minutes, 120 marks) assessing spoken ability across Irish Repertoire (75 marks) and Language Ability (45 marks).

An tSraith Pictiúr

The picture series section (~4 minutes, 80 marks) consisting of a narrative account (50 marks), question interaction (10 marks), and language ability (20 marks).

stór focal

Vocabulary repertoire: the range, depth, and variety of Irish vocabulary, idioms, and sentence structures used by the candidate.

líofacht

Fluency: natural flow, pace, and spontaneous communicative ease in spoken Irish.

cruinneas

Grammatical accuracy: correct initial mutations, noun cases, prepositional pronouns, and verb endings.

an briathar saor

The autonomous verb form where an action is performed without specifying the agent (e.g. 'Cuirtear fógra in airde', 'Bunaíodh an club').

an tuiseal ginideach

The genitive case, used to show possession or when one noun qualifies another (e.g. 'doras na scoile', 'géarchéim na tithíochta').

séimhiú

Consonant lenition (adding an 'h') triggered by possessive adjectives, prepositions, or grammatical gender rules.

urú

Consonant eclipsis (adding a prefix consonant) triggered by prepositions with articles, numbers 7–10, or certain verbal particles.

an modh coinníollach

The conditional mood used for hypothetical scenarios and polite speculation (e.g. 'Dá mbeadh an deis agam, rachainn...').

Dínit an Bhróin

Prescribed poem by Máirtín Ó Direáin for the 2027 oral examination, read in its entirety.

Deireadh na Feide

Prescribed poem by Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh for the 2027 oral examination, read in its entirety.

Iníon

Prescribed poem by Áine Durkin for the 2027 oral examination, read in its entirety.

Glaoch Abhaile

Prescribed poem by Áine Ní Ghlinn for the 2027 oral examination, read in its entirety.

Úirchill an Chreagáin

Prescribed poem by Airt Mac Cumhaidh for the 2027 oral examination; verses 1 and 2 only are read in the oral exam.