2025J002A1EL

2025.S11

Coimisiún na Scrúduithe Stáit

State Examinations Commission

Junior Cycle Final Examination 2025

English
Higher Level
Wednesday 4 June Morning 9:30 – 11:30
180 marks

Examination Number

For example, 3rd February

Date of Birth 2005 is entered as 03 02 05

Centre Stamp
 The theme of this examination paper is

Perception

Instructions
There are four sections in this examination paper.

Section A Appreciating language 45 marks 3 questions

Section B Writing to explain and comment 40 marks 2 questions
Section C Appreciation of character, setting and story 40 marks 2 questions
Section D Listening and writing with imaginative purpose 55 marks 3 questions

Answer all ten questions and all parts of each question.

The questions do not all carry equal marks. The number of marks for each question is stated at
the top of the question.

You should spend about 30 minutes on Section A, 30 minutes on Section B, 25 minutes on Section
C and 30 minutes on Section D.

When answering on studied material, you must use texts in line with what is prescribed for this
year.

Write your answers in the spaces provided in this booklet. You may lose marks if you do not do so.
You are not required to use all of the space provided. You should read each question in full before
beginning your response.

Extra pages are provided if needed. Label any extra work clearly with the question number and
part.

You may only use blue or black pen when writing your answers. Do not use pencil.

This examination booklet will be scanned and your work will be presented to an examiner on
screen. Anything that you write outside of the answer areas may not be seen by the examiner.

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Section A Appreciating language 45 marks

Suggested time for Section A: 30 minutes

Read the poem below and answer the questions that follow.

Snow Story

If I had one wish it would be

to have been born two or three
hundred years earlier in Japan.

I'd adopt a new name:

Banana Tree or Blue Ink Pot,
or even Cup of Tea

and talk to crickets and swallows

knowing that the Milky Way
was reflected in their eyes, too.

I might take to the road,

the one to the Deep North
or live in seclusion complaining of too many visitors.

I would study how a tree

stands for itself and nothing else
and try to learn from it.

I'd teach important things

like *ideograms, meaning "polite frog"
or "snail climbing Mount Fuji"

and on my wanderings fix my broken sandal thongs

or tears in my knapsack,
listening to the small songs of the insects.

At the end of my life I might find myself alone

living in a grain store with snow
falling through holes in the roof.

By Eva Bourke

* Ideogram – A sign or symbol that can be used to represent a particular

word/idea. The ideogram on this page can represent snow.

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Question 1 (10 marks)

In this poem, the speaker is reflecting on her life and wishing she lived in a simpler time. Which
part of her reflection do you find most interesting? Explain your choice.

Optional Rough Work

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Question 2 (15 marks)

Identify the following three terms as they are used in the poem. Explain how the use of each
impacted your understanding of the poem.

- Tone - Enjambment / run-on lines - Symbolism

Optional Rough Work

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Question 3 (20 marks)

Select any two poems you have studied as part of your course. Outline how each poem gave you
a broader understanding of the world. You may not use the poem on page 3.

Optional Rough Work

Name of poem 1:

Name of poet:

Name of poem 2:

Name of poet:

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 Additional writing space. Label all work clearly with the question number and part.

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Section B Writing to explain and comment 40 marks

Suggested time for Section B: 30 minutes

Consider the graphic below and read the following overview of the structure of Shakespeare’s
plays. Then answer the questions that follow.

Shakespeare’s plays broadly follow the same five-act structure:

Act 1: Exposition – Typically a central protagonist begins to take action to change the world they
are in and begin their journey of self-discovery.
Act 2: Rising Action – It is common for complications to arise, or for the protagonist to encounter
obstacles.
Act 3: Climax – This is the turning point of the play. The climax typically has the greatest amount
of suspense.
Act 4: Falling Action – The protagonist’s struggles are often resolved, and the audience can begin
to see the consequences of the protagonist’s actions.
Act 5: Resolution – The author’s opinion about the subject matter is revealed, and sometimes a
moral or lesson is learned.

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Question 4 (15 marks)

Plays are often most enjoyable because of their moments of suspense. Select a specific moment
of suspense from the Shakespearean play you have studied from the prescribed list. Describe this
moment and explain why this moment has a sense of suspense.

Optional Rough Work

Name of the play:

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Question 5 (25 marks)

Based on the same play, reflect on the resolution of the play (see page 10). What is the moral or
lesson an audience might learn from the resolution? Support your answer with reference to the
text.

Optional Rough Work

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 Additional writing space. Label all work clearly with the question number and part.

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Section C Appreciation of character, setting and story 40 marks

Suggested time for Section C: 25 minutes

Question 6 (25 marks)

Choosing a central character from either a film or novel you studied from the prescribed list, write
a short essay on how your perspective (opinion) of this character developed as you studied the
text.
Your essay may use whatever points you feel relevant but may include reference to:

• key decisions this character makes

• dialogue from this character
• how this character interacts with other characters.

Film/Novel:

Central character:

Optional Rough Work

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 Additional writing space. Label all work clearly with the question number and part.

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Question 7 (15 marks)

Using a short story that you have studied, outline how the setting has a vital influence on a
character’s actions.

Optional Rough Work

Name of the short story:

Author:

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Junior Cycle Final Examination 2025 20
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 Additional writing space. Label all work clearly with the question number and part.

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Section D Listening and writing with imaginative purpose 55 marks

Suggested time for Section D: 30 minutes

Femi Bankole and Leon Diop host The Black & Irish Podcast. On this episode of the podcast they
are talking to Nigerian-born and Dublin-based writer, actor and director Derek Ugochukwu.

Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow.

Adapted Extract:

Leon: From your experience of someone who has come to Ireland quite recently … for any kind of,
like, aspiring writer/actor/director, what would be your advice to them?

Derek: Know your voice. You know … you know, don’t be fazed by a lot of pressure in the
industry … the not knowing. The whole identity thing of not knowing how to fit in. Just know
what it is you want to say.

And train. Train. That way when you get good, people will know you for the quality of the work
you do. No one is going to come to your bedroom with a script and say ‘come act’. No. They
want to see that you are trained. Just because we are looking for diverse people doesn’t mean
like … you know? We want to be top of our game … we want to set the bar high, just so we cannot
be ignored.

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Question 8 (15 Marks)

Based on the interview to this point, what question could Leon ask next? Write the question and
explain your choice.

Optional Rough Work

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Question 9 (15 marks)

You have been asked by the RTÉ media department to write a short and creative social media
post, advertising this podcast. The post will be accompanied by a link to the episode and the
picture of Derek Ugochukwu (below). The social media post should aim to:

• attract people to listen to the podcast

• get reposts from other social media users.

Write the text of the post below.

Optional Rough Work

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 Additional writing space. Label all work clearly with the question number and part.

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Question 10 (25 marks)

The extract below comes from the graphic novel Global by Eoin Colfer, Andrew Donkin and
Giovanni Rigano. Inspired by the visual and written information supplied in the graphic novel
extract, write a diary entry from this character’s perspective just after this moment.

I’VE GOT
TO GET TO
WORK!
DON’T FORGET
TO LET LOCKY
OUT BEFORE YOU
LEAVE.
GOOD LUCK
WITH THE
COURSE TODAY,
ANYWAY, I’M BYE, MOM…
SURE IT WILL BE… Mom is always
working. She is
the busiest
person in town.

One of the only busy

people in town.

Mom is probably talking on

the phone as she drives
away. Setting up meetings.

It’s another big day

at work for my mom.

Like always.

And just for once,

that suits me fine.

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 Optional Rough Work

Diary entry

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 Additional writing space. Label all work clearly with the question number and part.

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 Additional writing space. Label all work clearly with the question number and part.

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Acknowledgements

Image credits
p.3 https://kanji-symbol.net/2011/snow-2/
p.7 https://copilot.microsoft.com/images/create
p.10 https://bookbird.io/story-structures/#Five-Act-Structure
p.19 https://www.thejakartapost.com/life/2017/05/29/short-story-a-whole-new-world.html
p. 22 https://www.rte.ie/radio/podcasts/series/33229-black-irish/
p.24 https://www.screendaily.com/features/rising-stars-ireland-2023-derek-ugochukwu-
writer/director/5179094.article
p.26 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Global-Eoin-Colfer/dp/1444951912/ref=asc_df_1444951912/?tag=googshopuk-
21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=649692225117&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5064392978476722982&hvpone=&hvptwo=
&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9040157&hvtargid=pla-1733006588817&psc=1&th=1&psc=1

Text credits
p.3 https://thegalwayreview.com/2016/11/18/1473/
p.10 https://www.storyboardthat.com/articles/e/five-act-structure
p.22 https://www.rte.ie/radio/podcasts/22219766-film-industry-profile-derek-ugochukwu/
p.26 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Global-Eoin-Colfer/dp/1444951912/ref=asc_df_1444951912/?tag=googshopuk-
21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=649692225117&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5064392978476722982&hvpone=&hvptwo=
&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9040157&hvtargid=pla-1733006588817&psc=1&th=1&psc=1

Material may have been adapted, for the purpose of assessment, without the authors’ prior consent.

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 Do not write on this page

Copyright notice
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copyright owner, and which may have been adapted, for the purpose of assessment, without the authors’ prior
consent. This examination paper has been prepared in accordance with Section 53(5) of the Copyright and
Related Rights Act, 2000. Any subsequent use for a purpose other than the intended purpose is not authorised.
The Commission does not accept liability for any infringement of third-party rights arising from unauthorised
distribution or use of this examination paper.

Junior Cycle Final Examination – Higher Level

English
Wednesday 4 June
Morning 9:30 – 11:30