Free Practice Questions for TEG Irish A1 (Bonnleibhéal 1)

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Key Facts: TEG Irish A1 (Bonnleibhéal 1) Exam

TEG Bonnleibhéal 1 (A1) is issued by Lárionad na Gaeilge at Maynooth University and certifies CEFR A1 Irish-language proficiency.

The TEG A1 exam fee is €120 per sitting in 2026, with discounts for Maynooth University students and staff.

The pass mark for TEG A1 is 50% overall.

TEG A1 exams are held once per year, typically in April or May, at authorised centres in Ireland and internationally.

Maynooth University recommends 80–100 hours of Irish study or classes before sitting Bonnleibhéal 1.

The TEG A1 exam has four components: léamhthuiscint (reading), cluastuiscint (listening), scríbhneoireacht (writing), and labhairt (speaking).

TEG certificates are recognised for Irish civil service Irish-language requirements.

Sample exam papers for TEG A1 are freely available on the official TEG website at teg.ie.

TEG exams are administered at authorised centres in Ireland and at selected international locations.

TEG A1 certifies CEFR A1 Irish proficiency through reading, listening, writing, and speaking at authorised Maynooth University exam centres.

Sample TEG Irish A1 (Bonnleibhéal 1) Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the TEG Irish A1 (Bonnleibhéal 1) exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Léigh an abairt seo: 'Is as Éire mé.' Cad is ciall leis? (Read this sentence: 'Is as Éire mé.' What does it mean?)

A.I am from Ireland.

B.I like Ireland.

C.I am going to Ireland.

D.I live in Ireland.

Explanation: The copula sentence 'Is as Éire mé' uses 'Is as + place + pronoun' to indicate origin. 'As Éire' means 'from Ireland' and 'mé' is 'I/me', so the full meaning is 'I am from Ireland.' This is a standard A1 identification structure.

2Líon an bhearna: 'Tá mé _____ bliana d'aois.' (Fill the blank: 'I am _____ years old.' — choose the correct number for twenty)

A.fiche

B.tríocha

C.daichead

D.deich

Explanation: 'Fiche' is the Irish word for twenty. The structure 'Tá mé [number] bliana d'aois' means 'I am [number] years old.' At A1, learners must know basic cardinal numbers: deich (10), fiche (20), tríocha (30), daichead (40).

3Roghnaigh an freagra ceart. 'Conas atá tú?' (Choose the correct answer. 'How are you?')

A.Tá mé go maith, go raibh maith agat.

B.Is mise Seán.

C.Tá mé i mo chónaí i mBaile Átha Cliath.

D.Táim ag obair sa siopa.

Explanation: 'Conas atá tú?' is the standard Irish greeting 'How are you?' The appropriate response is 'Tá mé go maith, go raibh maith agat' meaning 'I am well, thank you.' This is a core A1 conversational exchange.

4Léigh an comhrá seo agus freagair: 'Cé mhéad euro atá ar an leabhar?' 'Tá sé ar fiche euro.' Cad is ciall le 'fiche euro'? (Read the dialogue and answer: 'How much does the book cost?' 'It is twenty euros.' What does 'fiche euro' mean?)

A.Twenty euros

B.Fifty euros

C.Twelve euros

D.Fifteen euros

Explanation: 'Fiche' is the Irish word for twenty, so 'fiche euro' means twenty euros. Price questions using 'Cé mhéad?' (How much?) are core A1 reading tasks. The answer 'Tá sé ar fiche euro' literally means 'It is at twenty euros.'

5Cad é an tuiseal ginideach den ainm 'cara' (friend) — fear? (What is the genitive form of the noun 'cara' (friend) — male?)

A.carad

B.cara

C.cairde

D.caraí

Explanation: The genitive singular of 'cara' (friend, male) is 'carad'. In Irish, some nouns change their ending in the genitive case. At A1, learners encounter genitive forms in common phrases such as 'teach cara' (a friend's house).

6Roghnaigh an réamhfhocal ceart: 'Tá leabhar _____ Máire.' (Choose the correct preposition: 'Máire has a book.' — 'Tá leabhar _____ Máire.')

A.ag

B.ar

C.le

D.do

Explanation: In Irish, possession is expressed with 'ag' (at). 'Tá leabhar ag Máire' literally means 'There is a book at Máire' but translates as 'Máire has a book.' This is the fundamental Irish construction for possession at A1.

7Léigh an teachtaireacht seo: 'A Bhríd, a chara, tá mé ag dul go dtí an siopa inniu. An dtiocfaidh tú liom?' Cad atá ag teastáil ón scríbhneoir? (Read this message: 'Dear Bríd, I am going to the shop today. Will you come with me?' What does the writer want?)

A.He/she wants Bríd to come to the shop.

B.He/she wants Bríd to write a letter.

C.He/she is asking Bríd about the shop's opening hours.

D.He/she is telling Bríd the shop is closed.

Explanation: 'An dtiocfaidh tú liom?' is an invitation/question meaning 'Will you come with me?' The writer is going to the shop and inviting Bríd to accompany them. This is a typical A1 reading comprehension task involving a short informal message.

8Cad é an briathar ceart? 'Inné, _____ mé sa bhaile.' (What is the correct verb form? 'Yesterday, I _____ at home.' — past tense of 'bí')

A.bhí

B.tá

C.beidh

D.bíonn

Explanation: 'Bhí' is the past tense of 'bí' (to be). 'Bhí mé sa bhaile' means 'I was at home.' The time marker 'inné' (yesterday) signals the past tense. At A1, learners must distinguish tá (present), bhí (past), and beidh (future).

9Cad é an focal Gaeilge le haghaidh 'school'? (What is the Irish word for 'school'?)

A.scoil

B.oifig

C.ospidéal

D.eaglais

Explanation: 'Scoil' is the Irish word for school. It is one of the most important A1 vocabulary items for describing daily routines and places in a community. 'Oifig' means office, 'ospidéal' means hospital, and 'eaglais' means church.

10Léigh an comhartha seo: 'Oscailte 9:00 – 17:30, Dúnta Dé Domhnaigh.' Cén lá a bhíonn an áit dúnta? (Read this sign: 'Open 9:00 – 17:30, Closed on Sunday.' On which day is the place closed?)

A.Sunday

B.Monday

C.Saturday

D.Friday

Explanation: 'Dé Domhnaigh' means 'on Sunday' — it is the genitive form of 'Domhnach' (Sunday) with the preposition 'Dé'. The sign clearly states 'Dúnta Dé Domhnaigh' (Closed on Sunday). Reading public signs is a key A1 task.

About the TEG Irish A1 (Bonnleibhéal 1) Exam

The Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (TEG) Bonnleibhéal 1 (A1) is the entry-level Irish-language proficiency certificate issued by Lárionad na Gaeilge at Maynooth University. It certifies CEFR A1 competence in Irish (Gaeilge) for adult learners — the level of an absolute or early beginner who can understand and use very familiar everyday expressions, introduce themselves and others, ask and answer simple questions about personal details, and interact in a simple way. The exam has four components: reading (léamhthuiscint), listening (cluastuiscint), writing (scríbhneoireacht), and speaking (labhairt). TEG is recognised for Irish civil service Irish-language requirements and as evidence of Irish proficiency for a range of educational and professional purposes. Exams are held once per year, typically in April or May, at authorised centres in Ireland and internationally.

Exam sponsor: Lárionad na Gaeilge, Maynooth University (Ollscoil Mhá Nuad). Contact: teg@mu.ie.. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Questions

100 questions

Time Limit

Full exam duration varies; oral component requires arrival 5 minutes early for role-play preparation.

Passing Score

50% overall.

Exam / Certification Fees

€120 per sitting (2026); discounted fees for Maynooth University students and staff.

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Official sources

Lárionad na Gaeilge, Maynooth University (Ollscoil Mhá Nuad). Contact: teg@mu.ie.: official exam information

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.

25%

Léamhthuiscint (Reading)

A1-level Irish signs, notices, and short messages — MCQ testing basic comprehension of familiar text types.

25%

Cluastuiscint (Listening)

Short A1 audio dialogues and announcements — MCQ testing understanding of key information.

25%

Scríbhneoireacht (Writing)

Short written production tasks at A1 level including form completion and simple notes.

25%

Labhairt (Speaking)

Short oral role-play and guided conversation with the examiner on familiar everyday topics.

Preparing for the TEG Irish A1 (Bonnleibhéal 1) Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 50% overall.
Exam length: 100 questions
Time limit: Full exam duration varies; oral component requires arrival 5 minutes early for role-play preparation.
Exam / certification fees: €120 per sitting (2026); discounted fees for Maynooth University students and staff. Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

Work through all 100 available questions
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TEG Irish A1 (Bonnleibhéal 1): Suggested Study Strategy

1Download the official TEG A1 sample paper from teg.ie — it shows the exact text length, task format, and vocabulary level you will encounter. Work through it timed before your exam.

2Master the two Irish 'to be' verbs from the start: use 'tá' for states, locations, and ongoing actions; use the copula 'is' for identity and classification ('Is múinteoir mé' = I am a teacher). Confusing these two is the most common A1 error.

3Learn prepositional pronouns as complete units — 'agam' (at me/I have), 'agat' (at you), 'aige' (at him), 'aici' (at her), 'againn' (at us). They appear in almost every A1 reading and listening text for possession and physical states.

4Memorise the basic séimhiú (lenition) rule: 'mo' and 'do' always lenite the next word — mo theach, do charr, mo bhean. This mutation is tested in every grammar section.

5Build your A1 vocabulary with thematic word groups: days of the week (Dé Luain–Dé Domhnaigh), months (Eanáir–Nollaig), numbers 1–100, colours, occupations, family members, food and drink, rooms in a house, and transport. These are the recurring topics in A1 texts.

6For the oral component, prepare short spoken answers on five topics: who you are, where you live, your family, your work or studies, and your hobbies. Use 'Is mise…', 'Tá mé i mo chónaí i…', 'Tá mé ag obair i…' as your sentence starters.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TEG Bonnleibhéal 1 (A1) exam?

The TEG Bonnleibhéal 1 (A1) is an internationally recognised Irish-language proficiency certificate issued by Lárionad na Gaeilge at Maynooth University. It certifies CEFR A1 competence and tests reading, listening, writing, and speaking in basic everyday Irish.

How much does the TEG A1 exam cost in 2026?

The exam fee is €120 per sitting in 2026. Discounted fees are available for Maynooth University students and staff. Fees are paid at registration on teg.ie.

What is the pass mark for TEG A1?

The pass mark for all TEG levels, including Bonnleibhéal 1 (A1), is 50% overall. Candidates should check teg.ie for any component-specific requirements.

When is the TEG A1 exam held?

TEG exams at all levels including A1 are typically held once a year in April or May. Exact dates and exam centre locations are announced in January of each year on teg.ie.

What grammar topics are most important for TEG A1?

Key A1 grammar areas include: the verb 'bí' (tá/bhí/beidh/bíonn), the copula 'is' for identity sentences, initial mutations (séimhiú after 'mo'/'do'; urú after 'i'), basic prepositional pronouns (agam/agat/aige/aici), and the progressive tense with 'ag' + verbal noun.

How can I prepare for the TEG A1 exam?

Maynooth University recommends 80–100 hours of Irish study before sitting A1. Download the official sample paper from teg.ie, study the TEG A1 vocabulary lists, practise reading short Irish notices and signs, and listen to slow-speed Irish audio. Our free practice questions cover all four MCQ-testable skill areas.