Leaving Cert English 2027: What You Need to Know

Paper 1: Comprehension and Composition

Paper 1 tests your ability to read unseen texts and write in a range of genres. The comprehension section gives you two or three texts and asks you to analyse language, purpose, and audience. The composition section asks you to write a personal essay, short story, speech, article, or other genre piece.

This paper rewards students who can read closely and write with clarity. PCLM (Purpose, Coherence, Language, Mechanics) applies to every answer you write. If you are not sure what PCLM means or how examiners use it, read our PCLM guide before anything else.

Useful Guides for Paper 1

• Personal Essay Guide
• PCLM Explained
• How to Get a H1 in English

Paper 2: The Literature Paper

Paper 2 is where your prescribed texts come in. You need to answer on a single text (Shakespeare is mandatory at Higher Level), your prescribed poetry, and a comparative study. The key to Paper 2 is specificity: quote precisely, analyse the language, and always connect your points back to the question.

Prescribed Poetry 2027 (Higher Level)

You must study 8 poets and at least 6 poems from each. Here are your prescribed poets for 2027:

1. John Donne (carries over from 2026)
2. Paula Meehan (carries over from 2026)
3. Adrienne Rich (NEW for 2027)
4. Derek Mahon (NEW for 2027)
5. Emily Dickinson (carries over from 2026)
6. Patrick Kavanagh (NEW for 2027)
7. Elizabeth Bishop (NEW for 2027)
8. W.B. Yeats (carries over from 2026)

What changed from 2026: Seamus Heaney, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Eilean Ni Chuilleanain, and Sylvia Plath are no longer on the list. If you have older siblings’ notes on those poets, they will not help you in 2027. Focus on the four new additions: Rich, Mahon, Kavanagh, and Bishop.

Visit our Poetry section for detailed notes on each poet.

Single Text Options 2027

At Higher Level, you must study a Shakespeare play. Your options for 2027 include:

• Macbeth (Shakespeare, mandatory option)
• Othello (Shakespeare)
• Sive (John B. Keane)
• Girl on an Altar (Marina Carr, NEW for 2027)
• The Great Gatsby (F. Scott Fitzgerald, NEW for 2027)
• A Raisin in the Sun (Lorraine Hansberry)
• Hamnet (Maggie O’Farrell)
• The Cove (Ron Rash)
• Dracula (Bram Stoker)

For the single text question on Paper 2, you get a choice of two questions. One focuses on a specific scene or extract. The other is thematic. Both reward close analysis of language and technique, not plot summary.

Comparative Study 2027

You study three texts and compare them through one of these modes:

• Theme or Issue
• Cultural Context
• General Vision and Viewpoint

Your teacher will choose the mode and texts. The key skill here is comparison: you need to move between texts constantly, not write about each one separately.

Study Strategy for 2027

If you are in 5th year reading this, you have time. Start with the poets and single text your teacher has assigned. Build your knowledge of PCLM early so you write better answers from the start, not just during revision.

If you are in 6th year, prioritise: know your single text inside out, have strong notes on at least 6 poets, and practise timed essays. The exam rewards students who can write clearly under pressure, not students who have memorised the most content.