100+ Free CCEA GCE Irish Practice Questions
Prepare for the CCEA GCE Irish (2016) AS/A2 (Northern Ireland) exam with instant access — no signup required.
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Key Facts: CCEA GCE Irish Exam
6 units
Three AS and three A2 assessment units in CCEA GCE Irish 2016
CCEA GCE Irish (2016) specification
40% / 60%
AS contributes 40% and A2 60% of the full A level award
CCEA GCE Irish (2016) specification
4 themes
Relationships; Culture and Lifestyle (AS); Young People in Society; Our Place in a Changing World (A2)
CCEA GCE Irish (2016) specification §3
AO3 30%
Language manipulation (grammar and structures) is 30% of full A level assessment objectives
CCEA GCE Irish (2016) AO weightings table
~11 / ~15 min
Approximate AS 1 and A2 1 speaking exam lengths
CCEA GCE Irish (2016) specification at a glance
A*–E
Full A level grading scale (AS uses A–E)
CCEA GCE Irish (2016) scheme of assessment
Not speaking substitute
This bank is an English MCQ study aid; official productive assessment is largely in Irish
OpenExamPrep practice-language policy
100
Free original multiple-choice practice questions in this bank
OpenExamPrep
CCEA GCE Irish 2016 assesses AS/A2 Irish through six performance-based units (speaking, listening/reading/use of language/translation, extended writing on set works). Themes cover relationships, culture and lifestyle, young people in society and our place in a changing world. Full A level = AS 40% + A2 60%, graded A*–E. This 100-question bank is an English MCQ study adaptation for grammar, culture and themes—not a speaking or extended-writing substitute.
Sample CCEA GCE Irish Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your CCEA GCE Irish exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Which sentence correctly uses the copula for identification ('I am a teacher')?
2What does the progressive construction Tá mé ag foghlaim Gaeilge express?
3Séimhiú (lenition) typically changes an initial consonant how?
4After the possessive ár ('our'), which form shows standard urú on cat?
5Choose the best English meaning of Tá peann agam.
6Which form is the simple past of bí used in narrative ('was/were')?
7Complete with the habitual present of bí: 'He is usually at school' — ____ sé ar scoil.
8Which prepositional pronoun correctly completes Tá ocras ____ ('I am hungry')?
9What is the primary function of the síneadh fada (á, é, í, ó, ú)?
10Choose the correct comparative: 'better' after níos.
About the CCEA GCE Irish Exam
CCEA GCE Irish (2016) is the Northern Ireland Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced GCE qualification in Irish. Students develop confident communication in Irish and knowledge of society and culture in Irish-speaking communities through four themes (Relationships; Culture and Lifestyle; Young People in Society; Our Place in a Changing World), plus set film and literary study. Assessment is modular across six units combining speaking with a visiting examiner, listening and reading (including translation and summary) and extended writing essays in Irish. The full A level combines AS (40%) and A2 (60%). Official productive work is largely in Irish. This free bank is an English-language multiple-choice study adaptation testing advanced grammar and structures (Appendix 5), theme vocabulary, cultural knowledge and literature/film concepts—with Irish text in stems and options where language skill is tested. Explanations are in English. It is not an official translation of CCEA papers and is not a substitute for speaking, listening or extended writing practice.
Assessment
Six units. AS (40% of full A level): AS 1 Speaking ~11 min (30% of AS / 12% A level); AS 2 Listening, Reading and Use of Language 2 h (40% of AS / 16% A level); AS 3 Extended Writing 1 h (30% of AS / 12% A level). A2 (60%): A2 1 Speaking ~15 min (18%); A2 2 Listening and Reading 2 h 45 min (24%); A2 3 Extended Writing 1 h (18%). Themes: Relationships and Culture and Lifestyle (AS); Young People in Society and Our Place in a Changing World (A2). Assessment objectives: AO1 20%, AO2 30%, AO3 30%, AO4 20% at full A level. Practice here is an English MCQ adaptation only.
Time Limit
AS 1 ~11 minutes; AS 2 total 2 hours; AS 3 1 hour; A2 1 ~15 minutes; A2 2 total 2 hours 45 minutes; A2 3 1 hour. Units available in the summer series each year. Confirm the live CCEA timetable.
Passing Score
AS graded A–E; full A level graded A*–E via uniform marks. Boundaries set per series. A* requires grade A overall and a high mark total on A2 units. Results below E are unclassified (U).
Exam Fee
No separate student fee is set by CCEA for the subject alone; school/centre entry fees apply. Private candidates should confirm charges with their entering centre. (CCEA (Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment))
CCEA GCE Irish Exam Content Outline
Grammar and use of language (AO3)
AS/A2 grammar from the CCEA Appendix 5 lists: copula vs bí, mutations (séimhiú/urú), tenses and moods, verbal nouns and adjectives, prepositional pronouns, relatives, conditionals, comparative adjectives, idioms and advanced structures. Items use Irish stems and options where accuracy is tested.
AS themes: Relationships; Culture and Lifestyle
Family structures, roles and pressures, intergenerational issues, peer influence; health, risk-taking, stress, hobbies, arts, social media, holidays and festivals—vocabulary and concepts for speaking and written tasks.
A2 themes: Young People in Society; Our Place in a Changing World
Education, employment, career planning, democracy and European citizenship; equality, poverty, migration, multicultural identity, conflict and environmental sustainability.
Irish-speaking culture, Gaeltacht and community (AO4)
Cultural knowledge useful for presentations, IRP and conversation: Gaeltacht regions, language organisations, festivals, media, sport and heritage linked to Irish-speaking communities.
Literature and film concepts (AS 3 / A2 3)
Concept-level familiarity with prescribed options (e.g. Yu Ming Is Ainm Dom, Lipservice, Clare Sa Spéir, Anne; Anam na Teanga stories, Lá Fhéile Míchíl, set poems)—themes, character and style awareness, not a full essay simulation.
Assessment structure and study strategy
Unit weightings, speaking formats, listening/reading task types, set-work rules and honest use of this English MCQ bank versus official Irish-medium productive practice.
How to Pass the CCEA GCE Irish Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: AS graded A–E; full A level graded A*–E via uniform marks. Boundaries set per series. A* requires grade A overall and a high mark total on A2 units. Results below E are unclassified (U).
- Assessment: Six units. AS (40% of full A level): AS 1 Speaking ~11 min (30% of AS / 12% A level); AS 2 Listening, Reading and Use of Language 2 h (40% of AS / 16% A level); AS 3 Extended Writing 1 h (30% of AS / 12% A level). A2 (60%): A2 1 Speaking ~15 min (18%); A2 2 Listening and Reading 2 h 45 min (24%); A2 3 Extended Writing 1 h (18%). Themes: Relationships and Culture and Lifestyle (AS); Young People in Society and Our Place in a Changing World (A2). Assessment objectives: AO1 20%, AO2 30%, AO3 30%, AO4 20% at full A level. Practice here is an English MCQ adaptation only.
- Time limit: AS 1 ~11 minutes; AS 2 total 2 hours; AS 3 1 hour; A2 1 ~15 minutes; A2 2 total 2 hours 45 minutes; A2 3 1 hour. Units available in the summer series each year. Confirm the live CCEA timetable.
- Exam fee: No separate student fee is set by CCEA for the subject alone; school/centre entry fees apply. Private candidates should confirm charges with their entering centre.
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
CCEA GCE Irish Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
How is CCEA GCE Irish structured?
There are six units: AS 1 Speaking, AS 2 Listening/Reading/Use of Language, AS 3 Extended Writing, A2 1 Speaking, A2 2 Listening and Reading, and A2 3 Extended Writing. AS contributes 40% and A2 60% of the full A level.
What themes are studied?
AS themes are Relationships and Culture and Lifestyle. A2 themes are Young People in Society and Our Place in a Changing World. Content is studied through Irish-speaking community contexts.
Is the official exam multiple choice?
No. Official assessment uses speaking performance, listening and reading responses, grammar exercises, translation/summary and extended essays in Irish. This free bank uses single-best-answer MCQs as a study adaptation only.
Does this bank replace speaking and writing practice?
No. Productive speaking (AS 1 / A2 1) and extended writing (AS 3 / A2 3) are core of the real exam. Use these MCQs for grammar, culture and theme concepts, then practise live conversation, past papers and set-work essays in Irish.
What set works can I study?
AS 3 options include films such as Yu Ming Is Ainm Dom, Lipservice and Clare Sa Spéir, or Peigí Rose’s Anne. A2 3 options include Anam na Teanga (selected stories), Ó Tuairisc’s Lá Fhéile Míchíl, or a prescribed poetry selection. Centres choose from the published list.
Are these official CCEA questions?
No. These are original OpenExamPrep questions. Use CCEA past papers, mark schemes and support materials on the GCE Irish microsite for authentic task practice.