Free Practice Questions for LC Home Economics
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Key Facts: LC Home Economics Exam
2 h 30 min
Length of the Leaving Certificate Home Economics written examination
State Examinations Commission
~20%
Typical weighting of the Food Studies Practical Coursework Journal
NCCA / SEC assessment structure
~80%
Typical written-paper weighting for Home Design or Social Studies electives
NCCA background on LC Home Economics assessment
45%
Syllabus weighting of core Food Studies
NCCA Home Economics Scientific and Social syllabus
3 electives
Home Design and Management; Textiles, Fashion and Design; Social Studies — choose one
NCCA syllabus
4 assignments
Food Studies assignments presented in the SEC coursework journal
State Examinations Commission Food Studies assignments
H1–H8 / O1–O8
Higher and Ordinary Level grade scales used for reporting results
State Examinations Commission grading scale
100
Free original single-best-answer practice questions here
OpenExamPrep
Leaving Certificate Home Economics (Scientific and Social) is an Irish senior-cycle subject assessed by the SEC at Higher and Ordinary Level. About 20% of marks come from the Food Studies Practical Coursework Journal (four assignments); about 80% from a 2.5-hour written paper with short questions, long core questions and an elective section (Textiles elective candidates also submit textile coursework). The core covers food science and nutrition, resource management and consumer studies, and the family in society, plus one elective. This 100-question bank provides original multiple-choice concept practice across those areas.
Sample LC Home Economics Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to review concepts for the LC Home Economics exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Which nutrient is the body's main source of quick energy?
2Which vitamin is mainly found in citrus fruits and is needed for healthy connective tissue?
3Which mineral is essential for strong bones and teeth and is found in milk and cheese?
4What does HBV protein mean in nutrition?
5Which cooking method uses dry heat from an oven without covering the food in fat?
6Food poisoning bacteria grow best in which temperature range known as the danger zone?
7Which Irish agency is the national body for food safety and food law enforcement?
8Which macronutrient provides about 9 kcal per gram, more than protein or carbohydrate?
9In family resource management, which step usually comes first?
10Which of the following is a human resource of the family?
About the LC Home Economics Exam
Leaving Certificate Home Economics — Scientific and Social is a senior-cycle subject in Ireland that integrates food science and nutrition, family resource management and consumer studies, and social studies of the family, with one elective from Home Design and Management; Textiles, Fashion and Design; or Social Studies. It is examined by the State Examinations Commission (SEC) at Higher and Ordinary Level. Assessment combines a Food Studies practical coursework journal (about 20% of marks) with a 2 hour 30 minute written paper (about 80% for most candidates; about 70% written plus about 10% textile coursework for the Textiles elective). The core syllabus weights are Food Studies 45%, Resource Management and Consumer Studies 25%, Social Studies 10%, and the elective 20%. Practical food work, hygiene, management skills and informed consumer decision-making are central throughout.
Exam sponsor: State Examinations Commission (SEC), Ireland. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.
Assessment
Food Studies Practical Coursework Journal (about 20%): four assignments completed under supervision and recorded in the official SEC journal. Written examination (about 80% for Home Design or Social Studies electives; about 70% if Textiles, Fashion and Design elective coursework is also submitted): 2 hours 30 minutes with Section A short questions (60 marks), Section B long questions (180 marks, including a compulsory food/nutrition question) and Section C elective (80 marks).
Time Limit
Written paper: 2 hours 30 minutes at Higher and Ordinary Level during the June Leaving Certificate examinations. Coursework is completed earlier (Food Studies journal typically due by an SEC deadline in autumn of sixth year).
Passing Score
No pass/fail mark for the subject. Results are reported on the H1–H8 (Higher) or O1–O8 (Ordinary) scale; grades at or above H6/O6 award CAO points.
Exam / Certification Fees
There is no separate fee for Home Economics alone; a single Leaving Certificate entry fee covers all subjects, with an exemption for medical-card holders. Confirm the current amount with your school and the State Examinations Commission.
Exam sponsor websiteFees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.
Our practice resources: topics covered
We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.
Food Studies
Practice covers macronutrients and micronutrients, energy balance, special diets, the Irish diet and healthy-eating guidance, cooking methods and heat transfer, preservation, additives, packaging, microbiology, HACCP and Irish food-safety agencies (including the FSAI). These topics dominate Section A and the compulsory Section B question as well as coursework investigations.
Resource Management and Consumer Studies
Practice covers the management process (planning, implementing, evaluating), needs and wants, budgeting, credit, insurance, household technology, consumer rights and redress under Irish/EU frameworks, advertising, unit pricing, energy labels and sustainable food choices.
Social Studies (core)
Practice covers family definitions and structures (nuclear, extended, blended, lone-parent), family functions, primary socialisation, gender roles, marital breakdown and family law themes, and social change affecting Irish families.
Electives (overview)
Light coverage of Home Design and Management (tenure, BER, insulation, energy-efficient design), Textiles, Fashion and Design (natural and synthetic fibres, care, properties), and Social Studies elective themes (poverty, unemployment and family impact) to support Section C awareness.
Preparing for the LC Home Economics Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: No pass/fail mark for the subject. Results are reported on the H1–H8 (Higher) or O1–O8 (Ordinary) scale; grades at or above H6/O6 award CAO points.
- Assessment: Food Studies Practical Coursework Journal (about 20%): four assignments completed under supervision and recorded in the official SEC journal. Written examination (about 80% for Home Design or Social Studies electives; about 70% if Textiles, Fashion and Design elective coursework is also submitted): 2 hours 30 minutes with Section A short questions (60 marks), Section B long questions (180 marks, including a compulsory food/nutrition question) and Section C elective (80 marks).
- Time limit: Written paper: 2 hours 30 minutes at Higher and Ordinary Level during the June Leaving Certificate examinations. Coursework is completed earlier (Food Studies journal typically due by an SEC deadline in autumn of sixth year).
- Exam / certification fees: There is no separate fee for Home Economics alone; a single Leaving Certificate entry fee covers all subjects, with an exemption for medical-card holders. Confirm the current amount with your school and the State Examinations Commission. Official sources
Using Our Practice Resources
- Work through all 100 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
LC Home Economics: Suggested Study Strategy
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Leaving Certificate Home Economics assessed?
By a Food Studies Practical Coursework Journal (about 20% of total marks) and a written examination of 2 hours 30 minutes. For Home Design and Management or Social Studies electives the written paper is about 80%. Candidates who take Textiles, Fashion and Design also submit textile coursework (about 10%), with the written paper then about 70%.
What is in the Food Studies coursework journal?
Candidates complete four food studies assignments set by the SEC (common to Higher and Ordinary Level), carry out practical work under teacher supervision, and record investigation, implementation and evaluation in the official journal. Dishes must not be repeated across assignments and work must be the candidate’s own.
How is the written paper structured?
Section A has short questions (60 marks). Section B has long questions (180 marks): Question 1 on food/nutrition is compulsory, and candidates answer two further questions from the remaining core options. Section C is the elective question (80 marks).
What are the three core areas and electives?
Core: Food Studies (45%), Resource Management and Consumer Studies (25%), and Social Studies (10%). Electives (choose one, 20%): Home Design and Management; Textiles, Fashion and Design; or Social Studies.
Is this practice bank the same as the SEC exam?
No. These are original OpenExamPrep single-best-answer concept questions covering topics from the syllabus. The SEC exam uses coursework plus short and long written answers. Always practise official past papers and marking schemes as well.
Where is the official syllabus?
On Curriculum Online (curriculumonline.ie) under Senior Cycle Home Economics, including the Home Economics Scientific and Social syllabus PDF and teacher guidelines.