Exam guide

The exam at a glance

The 2027 examination keeps the adjusted arrangements that have been in place since 2022, with paper duration unchanged. For 2027 the confirmed layout is five questions in Section A and three in Section B, the layout used on the 2023–2026 papers. The 2027 timetable is not published yet; in 2026, Paper 1 was held in the afternoon (2:00 to 4:30) and Paper 2 was held in the morning (9:30 to 12:00).

Your time plan

At an even pace, each mark is worth 0.5 minutes (150 minutes divided by 300 marks), which is an arithmetic calculation rather than an official instruction.

How your work is marked

In the 2026 marking scheme, each question part was marked on a scale with fixed marks: B scales have three levels, C scales four, and D scales five. In 2026, Paper 2 also included A scales (0 or 5 marks).

All of the scale values below are from the 2026 marking scheme.

Scale marks change between years: on a 10-mark C scale, marks were 0, 4, 6, 10 in 2025, but 0, 3, 7, 10 in 2026. On a 10-mark D scale, marks were 0, 3, 5, 8, 10 in 2022, but 0, 2, 5, 8, 10 in 2026. The 2026 marking scheme warned that marking details can change without notice; the 2027 scheme is not yet published.

What this means for you: In 2026 examiners could award only the exact numbers on the assigned scale, or full credit minus one for a slip. Any work of merit awarded marks immediately—in 2026, some merit on a 5-mark D-scale part earned 2 of 5. In 2026, work that reached low partial credit kept at least that mark whatever errors followed, so it is worth writing down relevant initial steps.

Rules that win and lose marks

All of these rules are from the 2026 marking scheme:

• Slips off full credit: A slip (such as incorrect rounding, early rounding, missing units, misreading, or an arithmetic error not simplifying the work) costs one mark off full credit.
• Single versus multiple slips: A single slip is ignored unless your solution would otherwise receive full credit; several slips count as an error.
• Rounding penalties: Applied once per unit of marking rather than on every line.
• Solutions lacking supporting work: In 2026 Paper 1, an answer without supporting work earned the lowest level of credit above zero; in 2026 Paper 2, it earned the highest level below full credit.
• Errors after earning credit: Once work earns a level of credit, subsequent errors do not reduce the marks awarded.
• Low partial credit floor: Work reaching Low Partial Credit retains at least that mark, regardless of following errors.
• Non-stepped questions: Each error that is not a slip generally drops the award by one level of credit.
• Stepped questions: A later step can be correct even if an earlier step was wrong.
• Carrying forward errors: A wrong answer carried into a later part is accepted there unless it oversimplifies the work.
• Multiple attempts: Every attempt at substantial work is marked and the best counts, even if crossed out.
• Multiple selections uncrossed: Leaving multiple uncrossed options in a selection question awards the lowest mark.
• Extra calculation work: Wrong extra work written after a calculation is generally not penalised.
• Extra explanation sentences: In written explanations, the whole answer is judged, so a wrong extra sentence can cost marks.
• Scale marks only: Examiners award only scale marks or full credit minus one; there are no half-way marks.

The sections of the paper

Section A (Concepts and Skills): Carries 150 marks on each paper and sets six questions of 30 marks each. You answer any five of the six questions. Questions are similar in content and length to those set before adjustments, when candidates answered all six questions for 25 marks each.

Section B (Contexts and Applications): Carries 150 marks on each paper and sets four questions of 50 marks each. You answer any three of the four questions. Under confirmed arrangements, each Section B question carries somewhat less material than a normal 50-mark question.

Using past papers

A marking scheme shows the exact scale values and criteria used in that examination year. Every marking scheme warns that marking details can change from year to year without notice, and the 2027 scheme does not exist yet.

What examiners said

The 2015 Chief Examiner's report is now twelve years old and was written for an earlier layout without choice; no Chief Examiner's report has been published for Leaving Certificate Mathematics since 2015, and its advice to attempt every question no longer applies.

• Show all work; an incorrect answer with no work generally earns nothing, while a valid method can earn credit.
• Answer the exact question asked, in the required form and with the appropriate unit.
• Estimate the answer in advance where possible and check that the result makes sense.
• Cross out errors with a single line instead of using correction fluid; visible valid work can still earn marks.
• Do not try to force the correct answer when the question gives the result to be shown.
• Be prepared for the unexpected, as the syllabus requires problem solving in unfamiliar contexts.
• Know what information is available in the Formulae and Tables booklet and where to find it.

In the exam hall

The practical instructions printed on the 2026 examination papers state:

• Pen and pencil: Write in blue or black pen; pencil is for graphs and diagrams only.
• Answer areas: Write only inside the designated answer areas; scripts are scanned and marked on screen, so writing outside may not be seen.
• Extra work: Place extra work in the designated space at the back of the booklet, clearly labelled with the question number and part.
• Supporting work: Include relevant supporting work, as marks are lost if it is not shown.
• Units: Include appropriate units of measurement where relevant, or marks may be lost.
• Simplest form: Give answers in simplest form where relevant, or marks may be lost.
• Formulae booklet: Use the Formulae and Tables booklet supplied in the hall; you cannot bring your own copy.
• Diagrams: Diagrams on the paper are generally not to scale.