Site
Web

Leaving Cert History

Improve your performance in History

with

services in History

General Information

History Leaving Cert

The history syllabus was recently revised and it aims to develop students knowledge of human activity in the past from varied perspectives. The course studies the history of Ireland, Europe and the world.

Students develop a range of skills in research and the course gives students an appreciation for historical evidence ,helping students to develop an appreciation for the the past and the society they live in.

Students learn to decipher and work with evidence they are given. The section of the course focussing on working with evidence is broken into three parts:

Introduction to history and the historian- this forms the framework for the other parts of the section.

Document based study - this section is based on the topic prescribed by the examining authority eah year, the documents to be studied relate to the case studies listed for each topic that year.

Research Study- students write a report about a topic they have chosen to investigate which is then submitted for assessment.

Topics for Study:

This is split into two areas:

Early Modern field of study 1492-1815

This includes the following:

Irish History 1492-1815 -Reformation, Rebellian in Elizabethan Ireland,Kingdom versus colony,Establishing a colonial ascendancy,Colony versus Kingdom, Act of Union

European History 1492-1815 -Renaissance to Reformation, Religion and Power, The eclipse of Old Europ,Europe in the age of Louis XIV,Establishing Empires, Empires in revolution.

Later Modern field of study 1815-1993

Irish History 1815-1993 - Ireland the Union,Movements for political and social reform, the pursuit of sovereignty, the Irish Diaspora, Politics and society in Northern Ireland,Government society and the economy in Ireland (1949-1989)

History of Europe and the Wider World 1815-1993 -Nationalism and State Formation,Nation states and international tensions, Dictatorship and democracy, Division and realignment in Europe, European retreat from Empire and the aftermath, The US and the World.

The new history course was introduced in 2006 and over 12,000 students sat the 2011 History exam. Students study topics from both Irish, European and global history this improves students' critical thinking. The course is expansive and requires consistent study throughout the year but good results can be obtained by way of the research study report.

Did you Know!

Did you know you can obtain up to 20pc of the final result before the actual examination!

In 2010 a total of 7722 students took History at Leaving Cert . 3392 girls took History at Leaving Certificate at higher level while 4330 boys did History at Higher Level in 2010.

13.2 % of students got an A
30.2% of students got a B
32.4% of students got a C
20% of students got a D
4.1% of students failed

Exam Breakdown

Past Exam Breakdown Higher Level

History Leaving Cert Higher
History Leaving Cert Higher Level Topics- 2 hours 50 minutes -400 marks total

Written examination: 400 marks
Pre-submitted Research Study Report: 100 marks
Section 1 (100 marks): Documents-based question (Europe and the wider world: Topic 1)
Section 2 (200 marks): Ireland: Topics 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.Answer one question on each of two topics.
Section 3 (100 marks): Europe and the wider world: Topics 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Answer one question from one topic.

YEAR	2010	2009	2008	2007	2006
Field of Study	FIELD OF STUDY: EARLY MODERN, 1492 – 1815	EARLY MODERN, 1492 – 1815	LATER MODERN 1815 – 1993	LATER MODERN, 1815-1993	LATER MODERN 1815 - 1993
Section 1	Two Bokes (Books) of the Histories of Ireland by Edmund Campion (1540-1581)	Europe	Europe and the wider world: Topic 6	Ireland	Ireland
	Grace O’ Malley	Europe from Renaissance to Reformation, 1492–1567	The United States and the world, 1945-1989	Movements for political and social reform, 1870-1914	Movements for political and social reform, 1870-1914
		The divorce of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon	The Montgomery bus boycott, 1956	The GAA to 1891	The elections of 1885 and 1886: issues and outcomes

Section 2		Ireland
Ireland: Topic 1	Reform and reformation in Tudor Ireland, 1494-1558	Reform and Reformation in Tudor Ireland, 1494-1558	Ireland and the Union, 1815-1870	Ireland and the Union, 1815 – 1870	Ireland and the Union, 1815 – 1871
Ireland: Topic 2	Rebellion and conquest in Elizabethan Ireland, 1558-1603	Rebellion and conquest in Elizabethan Ireland, 1558-1603	Movements for political and social reform, 1870-1914	The pursuit of sovereignty and the impact of partition, 1912 – 1949	The pursuit of sovereignty and the impact of partition, 1912 – 1950
Ireland: Topic 3	Kingdom v. colony – the struggle for mastery in Ireland, 1603-1660	Kingdom versus colony - the struggle for mastery in Ireland, 1603-1660	The pursuit of sovereignty and the impact of partition, 1912-1949	The Irish diaspora, 1840 – 1966	The Irish diaspora, 1840 – 1967
Ireland: Topic 4	Establishing a colonial ascendancy, 1660-1715	Establishing a colonial ascendancy, 1660-1715	The Irish diaspora, 1840-1966	Politics and society in Northern Ireland, 1949 – 1993	Politics and society in Northern Ireland, 1949 – 1994
Ireland: Topic 5	Colony versus kingdom - tensions in mid-18th century Ireland, 1715-1770	Colony versus kingdom – tensions in mid-18th century Ireland, 1715-1770	Politics and society in Northern Ireland, 1949-1993	Government, economy and society in the Republic of Ireland, 1949-1989	Government, economy and society in the Republic of Ireland, 1949-1990
Ireland: Topic 6	The end of the Irish kingdom and the establishment of the Union, 1770-1815	The end of the Irish kingdom and the establishment of the Union, 1770-1815	Government, economy and society in the Republic of Ireland, 1949-1989
Section 3		EUROPE AND THE WIDER WORLD
Europe and Wider World Topic 1	Europe from Renaissance to Reformation, 1492-1567	Religion and power: politics in the later 16th century, 1567-1609	Nationalism and state formation in Europe, 1815-1871	Nationalism and state formation in Europe, 1815-1871	Nationalism and state formation in Europe, 1815-1872
Europe and Wider World Topic 2	Religion and power: politics in the later 16th century, 1567-1609	The eclipse of Old Europe, 1609-1660	Nation states and international tensions, 1871-1920	Nation states and international tensions, 1871-1920	Nation states and international tensions, 1871-1921
Europe and Wider World Topic 3	The eclipse of Old Europe, 1609-1660	Europe in the age of Louis XIV, 1660-1715	Dictatorship and democracy in Europe, 1920-1945	Dictatorship and democracy in Europe, 1920-1945	Dictatorship and democracy in Europe, 1920-1946
Europe and Wider World Topic 4	Europe in the age of Louis XIV, 1660-1715	Establishing empires, 1715-1775	Division and realignment in Europe, 1945-1992	Division and realignment in Europe, 1945-1992	Division and realignment in Europe, 1945-1993
Europe and Wider World Topic 5	Establishing empires, 1715-1775	Empires in revolution, 1775-1815	European retreat from empire and the aftermath, 1945-1990	European retreat from empire and the aftermath, 1945-1990	European retreat from empire and the aftermath, 1945-1991
Europe and Wider World Topic 6	Empires in revolution, 1775-1815			The United States and the world, 1945-1989	The United States and the world, 1945-1990

Past Exam Breakdown Ordinary Level

History Ordinary Level
History Leaving Cert Ordinary Level Topics- 2 hours 50 minutes -400 marks total

Written examination: 400 marks
Pre-submitted Research Study Report: 100 marks
Section 1 (100 marks)		Documents-based question (Europe and the wider world:Topic 1)
Section 2 (200 marks)		Ireland: Topics 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.Answer one question on each of two topics.
Section 3 (100 marks)		Europe and the wider world: Topics 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Answer one question from one topic.
YEAR	2010	2009	2008	2007	2006
Field of Study	EARLY MODERN, 1492 - 1815	EARLY MODERN, 1492 – 1815	LATER MODERN 1815 – 1993	LATER MODERN, 1815-1993	LATER MODERN 1815 - 1993
Section 1	Edmund Campion (1540-1581	Europe	Europe and the wider world: Topic 6	Ireland	Ireland
	Grace O’ Malley	Europe from Renaissance to Reformation, 1492–1567	The United States and the world, 1945-1989	Movements for political and social reform, 1870-1914	Movements for political and social reform, 1870-1914
		The divorce of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon	The Montgomery bus boycott, 1956	The GAA to 1891	The elections of 1885 and 1886: issues and outcomes

Section 2		Ireland
Ireland: Topic 1	Reform and Reformation in Tudor Ireland, 1494-1558	Reform and Reformation in Tudor Ireland, 1494-1558	Ireland and the Union, 1815-1870	Ireland and the Union, 1815 – 1870	Ireland and the Union, 1815 – 1871
Ireland: Topic 2	Rebellion and conquest in Elizabethan Ireland, 1558-1603	Rebellion and conquest in Elizabethan Ireland, 1558-1603	Movements for political and social reform, 1870-1914	The pursuit of sovereignty and the impact of partition, 1912 – 1949	The pursuit of sovereignty and the impact of partition, 1912 – 1950
Ireland: Topic 3	Kingdom v. colony: the struggle for mastery in Ireland, 1603-1660	Kingdom versus colony - the struggle for mastery in Ireland, 1603-1660	The pursuit of sovereignty and the impact of partition, 1912-1949	The Irish diaspora, 1840 – 1966	The Irish diaspora, 1840 – 1967
Ireland: Topic 4	Establishing a colonial ascendancy, 1660-1715	Establishing a colonial ascendancy, 1660-1715	The Irish diaspora, 1840-1966	Politics and society in Northern Ireland, 1949 – 1993	Politics and society in Northern Ireland, 1949 – 1994
Ireland: Topic 5	Colony versus kingdom – tensions in mid-18th century Ireland, 1715-1770	Colony versus kingdom – tensions in mid-18th century Ireland, 1715-1770	Politics and society in Northern Ireland, 1949-1993	Government, economy and society in the Republic of Ireland, 1949-1989	Government, economy and society in the Republic of Ireland, 1949-1990
Ireland: Topic 6	The end of the Irish kingdom and the establishment of the Union, 1770-1815	The end of the Irish kingdom and the establishment of the Union, 1770-1815	Government, economy and society in the Republic of Ireland, 1949-1989
Section 3		EUROPE AND THE WIDER WORLD
Europe and Wider World Topic 1	Europe from Renaissance to Reformation, 1492-1567	Religion and power: politics in the later 16th century, 1567-1609	Nationalism and state formation in Europe, 1815-1871	Nationalism and state formation in Europe, 1815-1871	Nationalism and state formation in Europe, 1815-1872
Europe and Wider World Topic 2	Religion and power: politics in the later 16th century, 1567-1609	The eclipse of Old Europe, 1609-1660	Nation states and international tensions, 1871-1920	Nation states and international tensions, 1871-1920	Nation states and international tensions, 1871-1921
Europe and Wider World Topic 3	The eclipse of Old Europe, 1609-1660	Europe in the age of Louis XIV, 1660-1715	Dictatorship and democracy in Europe, 1920-1945	Dictatorship and democracy in Europe, 1920-1945	Dictatorship and democracy in Europe, 1920-1946
Europe and Wider World Topic 4	Europe in the age of Louis XIV, 1660-1715	Establishing empires, 1715-1775	Division and realignment in Europe, 1945-1992	Division and realignment in Europe, 1945-1992	Division and realignment in Europe, 1945-1993
Europe and Wider World Topic 5	Establishing Empires, 1715-1775	Empires in revolution, 1775-1815	European retreat from empire and the aftermath, 1945-1990	European retreat from empire and the aftermath, 1945-1990	European retreat from empire and the aftermath, 1945-1991
Europe and Wider World Topic 6	Empires in revolution, 1775-1815	Empires in revolution, 1775-1816		The United States and the world, 1945-1989	The United States and the world, 1945-1990
					The United States and the world, 1945-1989

Paper Layout

History Leaving Cert Higher Level

Marks: 400

Time Allocated: 2 hours 50 minutes

Pre-submitted Research Study Report (100 marks)

Students may have up to 20% obtained prior to even sitting the written exam.

Section 1 (100 marks)

Documents-based questions

Students must answer all parts of this section.

For the Document Question I would recommend the Coleraine University Controversy (Sunningdale came up last year and the Apprentice Boys seems too "light" a topic to be examined) but cannot guarantee anything.

Section 2 (100 marks)

Ireland: Topics 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

There are four questions on each topic and students must answer one question from one topic.

Cover the three Case Studies for each topic and the wider area surrounding them - they don't have to come up but at least one Case Study has come up for each topic since the new LC paper was formatted.

Section 3 (200 marks)

Europe and the wider world: Topics 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

There are four questions on each topic and students must answer one question on each of two topics.

For the Topics please note the following areas:

For the Dictatorship and Democracy topic: 3 Case Studies AND the Holocaust, the Home Front, Hitler's Foreign Policy, Mussolini, USSR economy in the inter-war period

For the USA and the Wider World topic: 3 Case Studies AND US Foreign Policy from 1970-1989, Domestic Factors Affecting Foreign Policy or Vice Versa, US Economy in the 1970s and 1980s.

For the Sovereignty and Partition topic: 3 Case Studies AND Cumann na nGaedheal's policies in 1920s, Fianna Fail's policies in the 1930s, Northern Ireland society and economy 1920 - 1945, Rise of Sinn Fein, 1916 Rising

When writing answers please note:

When answering the question, link your answer to the question and don’t write narrative, allowing 42 mins strictly per question,
Know the format of paper in advance so they don't waste time looking for their topics etc.

Download Past Papers

Higher Level
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004

Ordinary Level
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004

HL M.S.
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004

OL M.S.
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004

mocks.ie app now available on

Correction and Feedback

Excellent option to get personal feedback from highly experienced and qualified teachers on your History essay writing. With this service, you can improve your score and gain confidence in your writing skills.

History Notes

Improve your History by studying with the revision notes of highly successful leaving cert. students and experienced teachers. Easy to download and guaranteed useful information to help improve your History marks.

Guarantee exam success with our popular packages

See what Mary Quinn from Rathfarnham had to say about the package she bought last year for her son.

“Honestly, it was great! Joe needed more practise in Irish, French and Geography. The corrections and orals were just brilliant, he really benefited from the feedback from the teachers. The revision tool and listening comprehensions were great, he was on the computer all the time testing himself!! He got the results he wanted and is in college now so all the hard work has paid off. Thanks a million for all your help!”