A Shift in Assessment
Leaving Certificate students across Ireland faced a rigorous testing environment this week as the state examinations continued on June 10, 2026. Educators and subject experts have characterized the higher-level papers for French and history as notably challenging, requiring students to pivot from rote memorization toward critical thinking and nuanced analysis.
French: Beyond the Classroom
Ann Brudell, chairperson of the French Teachers’ Association of Ireland (FTA Irelande) and a teacher at Scoil Mhuire, noted that while the ordinary level paper was considered fair, the higher-level exam presented significant hurdles. Brudell highlighted that several topics were outside the lived experience of the average 17- or 18-year-old, including complex questions regarding the housing crisis and the specifics of driving school lessons.
Furthermore, the paper required linguistic manipulation due to ambiguous phrasing, testing students’ ability to interpret specific vocabulary in high-pressure contexts. While predictable topics like language learning remained, the demand for advanced grammatical precision was described as “very demanding” by subject experts.
History: Rewarding Breadth over Prediction
The higher-level history paper also drew attention for its departure from traditional, predictable formats. Patrick Hickey, an educator and history commentator, noted that the exam rewarded students who possessed a genuine breadth of understanding rather than those who relied on rehearsed answers or predicted topics.
The document-based question regarding the GAA up to 1891 forced students to contrast contemporary reports, while the mini-essay sections required precise knowledge of political developments rather than general overviews. Similarly, the British history section on dictatorship and democracy extended through 1945, challenging those who had only prepared up to 1939 to “dig deep” into their historical knowledge.