Breakdown of the Scrúdú Cainte (Leaving Cert Irish): Revision Notes
Breakdown of the Scrúdú Cainte
The Irish oral exam is worth 40% of your final grade. That might sound scary—but that's okay! We're here to help you. The examiner wants you to succeed. They are not trying to catch you out. With practice, you can guide the conversation towards topics that you feel confident talking about.
The key to success? Practice! The more you practice, the more confident you'll feel.
The Layout:
- Fáiltiú = 5 marks
- Léamh na Filíochta = 35 marks
- Comhrá = 120 marks, 7-8 minutes approx.
- Sraith Pictiúr = 80 marks, 3-4 minutes approx.
So you enter the room - what next?
Greet the examiner
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Dia duit
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Or the response: Dia is Muire duit The examiner might ask how you are doing:
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Conas atá tú?
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Cén chaoi a bhfuil tú? Reply with:
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Go maith, go raibh maith agat. Agus tú féin? (Good, thank you. And you?)
Or (if you're feeling honest!):
- Rud beag néirbhíseach ach go maith, go raibh maith agat! (A little nervous but good, thank you!)
Léamh na Filíochta
This section is worth 35 marks—that means simply reading aloud a poem is worth more marks than answering a full poetry question on Paper Two (which is only worth 30 marks)!
Read the poems aloud as much as possible. In the weeks before the exam, try starting every oral study session by reading each poem out loud. This will help you get used to the flow of the words, making it feel natural on the day.
On exam day, this section can help you settle in before the conversation starts.
Don't rush—take your time and pronounce everything clearly.
Cómhrá
The Irish oral exam is a conversation, not a recital of memorised answers. The examiner wants a natural and flowing discussion.
You can steer the conversation towards topics you know well and feel confident talking about. For example, if you have prepared sport, try mentioning your training when discussing school facilities. This can lead the examiner to ask more about sport, giving you the chance to use your prepared material in a way that feels natural.
Sraith Pictiúr
Prepare these in advance. Take the examiner through the sequence, picture by picture. Aim for approximately five sentences per picture.
You will then ask the examiner three questions about the sraith. Keep it simple!
The examiner will then ask you three questions about the sraith. Again, keep your responses short and sweet!
Moving fluidly through the pictures is important, so practice as much as possible.
This is one of the biggest challenges for Leaving Cert students. But remember—the hardest part is often the nerves. Your well-being comes first. Your teachers are there to support you, so don't be afraid to ask for help. You have been learning Gaeilge for years and this is your chance to show what you know. The examiner wants you to succeed.
Show enthusiasm, speak with confidence, and most of all, believe in yourself!
We know it's scary, but at SimpleStudy, we know that you are far more capable than you realise. You've got this!
Go n-éirí an bóthar leat!
