Leaving Certificate English course

Course Contents

Remember, you can complete this Leaving Certificate English course within 6 to 24 Months of enrolling. So take your first step by contacting us today !

Please note the content shown below is 2026 syllabus. This course is also available for 2027 syllabus. Please contact college for details.

Higher Level

See Ordinary level >>

Unit 1: Comprehending & composing

Unit 2: Comprehending & composing

Unit 3: Comprehending & composing

Unit 4: Single text study - Macbeth - Part I

Unit 5: Single text study - Macbeth - Part II

Unit 6: Single text study - Macbeth - Part III

Unit 7: Poetry: unseen & prescribed poetry - J. Donne, E. Bishop

Unit 8: Poetry - S. Heaney, T.S. Eliot, P. Meehan

Unit 9: Poetry - T.K. Smith, W.B. Yeats, E. Ní Chuilleanáin

Unit 10: Comparative study - The Crucible by Arthur Miller

Unit 11: Comparative study - Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

Unit 12: Comparative study - Shawshank Redemption directed by Frank Darabont

Unit 13: Final Test - Preparation for Leaving Certificate Exam

Detailed Content

Unit 1: Comprehending & composing

Categories of language
Reading with understanding
Answering question A on Paper 1

Unit 2: Comprehending & composing

Answering question B on Paper 1
Composing know how

Unit 3: Comprehending & composing

Guidelines for effective writing
Writing a composition

Unit 4: Single text study - Macbeth - Part I

How to study the play
Act I and II scene by scene commentaries and revision
Important quotations from the play
Self-directed exercises

Unit 5: Single text study - Macbeth - Part II

Act III and IV scene by scene commentaries and revision
Important quotations
Self-directed exercises

Unit 6: Single text study - Macbeth - Part III

Act V scene by scene commentaries and revision
Important quotations
Self-directed exercises
The themes in Macbeth
Imagery in Macbeth
The characters

Unit 7: Poetry: unseen & prescribed poetry - J. Donne, E. Bishop

Unseen poem and poetry check list
Guidelines for answering the unseen poem
The prescribed poems
John Donne - The Flea, Song: Go and Catch a Falling Star
Elizabeth Bishop - Filling Station, The Prodigal

Unit 8: Poetry - S. Heaney, T.S. Eliot, P. Meehan

Seamus Heaney - A Constable Calls, A Call, The Underground
T.S Eliot - Preludes, Aunt Helen
Paula Meehan - Buying Winkles, Hearth Lesson, Prayer for the Children of Longing

Unit 9: Poetry - T.K. Smith, W.B. Yeats, E. Ní Chuilleanáin

Tracy K.Smith - It's Not, The Greatest Personal Privation, The Searchers
William B. Yeats - The Lake of Inisfree, The Wild Swans at Coole, An Irish Airman Foresees his Death
Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin - Street, To Niall Woods and Xenya Ostrovskaia, married in Dublin on 9 September 2009

Unit 10: Comparative study - The Crucible by Arthur Miller