The State Examinations Commission has published sample examination papers for the seven revised Leaving Certificate subjects due to be introduced in schools next September.
It has also published sample examination papers for two new subjects - Climate Action and Sustainable Development and Drama, Film and Theatre Studies - that will be introduced in an initially limited number of schools also from September.
The seven revised subjects are the first phase of a Senior Cycle Redevelopment programme that will see all subjects revamped in coming years.
The first subjects to be revised are Chemistry, Biology, Arabic, Business, Physics, Ancient Greek, and Latin. The main change is the introduction of assessment components worth at least 40% of final marks in all subjects.
Four sample papers have been provided in each subject (two Higher Level and two Ordinary Level papers). The suite of materials includes sample listening comprehension tests (papers and sound files) in Arabic and illustrations in Drama, Film and Theatre Studies.
The SEC said that as part of the roll-out of the new or revised subject specifications, it has doubled the number of sample examination papers it normally provides.
The sample papers are being made available in April of each school year prior to the commencement of the teaching of the new specifications, which the SEC says is a full 18 months earlier than was the case previously when specifications changed.
It is also more than two full years before a candidate will sit an examination in these subjects and several months before any candidate begins 5th year in one of the new or revised subjects.
The sample examination papers, illustrations and sound files are available on the SEC website - examinations.ie
