Written Exam Guide (Leaving Cert Agricultural Science): Revision Notes

Written Exam Guide

Course overview

The Leaving Certificate Agricultural Science course was introduced into classrooms in September 2019 and first examined in June 2021. Your final grade comes from two main components that work together to assess your agricultural knowledge and scientific skills.

The written examination accounts for 75% of your total grade and takes place in June during your Leaving Certificate year. This comprehensive exam tests your understanding of agricultural concepts, scientific practices, and practical applications across all areas of the syllabus.

The Individual Investigative Study (IIS) contributes 25% to your final grade. This independent research project allows you to explore a specific agricultural topic in depth, developing your scientific investigation skills while building knowledge that will also support your written exam performance.

Study strategies for success

Achieving excellence in Agricultural Science requires consistent effort and strategic study approaches. Begin by establishing a routine where you review material covered in class each day, then create your own summary notes or mind maps. These personal study aids work particularly well when made on flashcards or A3 pages at the completion of each topic.

Expanding your agricultural knowledge

To broaden your understanding beyond the classroom, engage with current agricultural media and resources:

Reading one agricultural article weekly helps you stay informed about farming sector developments and agricultural science advances both in Ireland and internationally. Focus on diverse topics like farm diseases, dairy and beef production, or fertiliser use to build comprehensive knowledge that supports both your exam answers and IIS research.

Exam format and structure

Paper layout and timing

The written examination lasts 2.5 hours and consists of approximately 40 pages. Don't feel overwhelmed by the paper size - you must answer all questions in the spaces provided, so no additional answer sheets are needed.

Section A contains ten short questions worth 10 marks each, totalling 100 marks. You must complete all ten questions, with some offering internal choices between different options.

Section B presents five long questions worth 50 marks each, totalling 200 marks. You select and answer four of these five questions based on your strengths and preparation.

Time management strategy

Allocate approximately 45 minutes to Section A, allowing enough time to read through Section B and select your strongest four questions. Plan for a minimum of 22 minutes per long question, which provides time at the exam's start for paper review and question selection, plus time at the end for answer revision.

Course content framework

The Agricultural Science curriculum follows a structured approach with scientific practices forming the central foundation. This framework helps you understand how different topics connect and support each other.

Scientific practices sit at the curriculum's heart and include core skills like hypothesising, experimenting, investigating, communicating, interpreting, and evaluating. These practices demonstrate science's contribution to agriculture and appear throughout all course areas.

Three main subject strands surround this scientific core:

• Soils: Covers formation, classification, management, and physical, chemical, and biological properties
• Crops: Includes plant physiology, classification, and production processes
• Animals: Encompasses animal physiology, food-producing animals, and production systems

Specified practical activities

The course includes 20 Specified Practical Activities (SPAs) that your teacher covers throughout fifth and sixth year. These laboratory experiments develop your hands-on scientific skills while reinforcing theoretical concepts.

Keep detailed records of each SPA, ensuring you understand the reasoning behind every step. Always include large, clearly labelled diagrams showing experimental setups, and familiarise yourself with key concepts like dependent variables (what you measure), independent variables (what you change), and control variables (what you keep constant).

SPA exam integration

Written exam questions frequently test SPA knowledge. For example, recent higher-level papers have included questions asking students to:

The investigative skills you develop during your IIS complement SPA learning perfectly. Both components enhance your ability to gather and process data, evaluate evidence, and develop scientific arguments - skills directly assessed in your written examination.

Success strategies for achieving H1 grades

Daily study habits

Developing consistent study routines forms the foundation of exam success. Review each day's class material before the next lesson and complete all homework assignments to your highest standard, then seek teacher feedback to improve your responses further.

Ensure you understand the purpose behind each step in practical work, particularly during SPAs. Create comprehensive summary notes with clearly labelled diagrams after completing each topic.

Broader learning approaches

Expand your agricultural knowledge by reading at least one farming-related article weekly to enhance your agricultural knowledge base. Begin your IIS as early as possible, completing it well before mock examinations to allow time for revisions and reference updates.

Examination technique

During the actual exam, apply strategic approaches that maximise your performance. Never leave questions blank during the exam - draw on your agricultural knowledge to provide reasoned responses even for unfamiliar topics.

Read each question carefully, as some may cover topics not explicitly taught but which you can address using your broader agricultural understanding. During the exam, read the entire paper first and identify questions where you feel most confident before beginning your responses.

Exam day preparation

On examination day, invest time in thoroughly reading the complete paper, paying particular attention to Section B. Mark or tick the questions you can answer most effectively, allowing you to select the four long questions where you feel most confident.

You may encounter questions on topics that seem unfamiliar, but don't panic. These questions typically guide you towards the actual requirements, and your agricultural knowledge base will enable you to develop appropriate responses.