Specification

Useful Downloads

Specification
(PDF), Last Updated: 23 September 2011
(Version 6) For first teaching from September 2008. For first award of AS Level in Summer 2009. For first award of A Level in Summer 2010.

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The revised GCE Irish specification is made up of two parts: AS and A2. Students may take the AS as a ‘stand alone’ qualification without progression to A2. However, to gain the full GCE, students need to complete both the AS and the A2 courses.

The specification presents students with five broad contexts for learning:

Broad Contexts for Learning

AS

A2

  • Relationships
  • Health and Lifestyle
  • Young People in Society
  • Local and Global Citizenship
  • Environmental Awareness

Areas for development within each context for learning are outlined in the full specification.

At A2 students will also study Literature and Society:

Literature

Society

For Literature, students study one of the texts that appear in Appendix 1 of the specification.

For A2 2 Section C: Writing, students will answer one essay response based on one of the literary texts.

For Society, students explore one of the following themes:

  • Film: Gearrscannáin;
  • Region: a specific region in a Ireland;
  • Culture: a cultural aspect of Ireland other than literature (the arts, music, sport, folklore or festivals and tradition); or
  • An Historical Period: in 20 th century Ireland.

Students will chose one of the above themes, and this will then be discussed with an external examiner as part of the A2 speaking test.