100+ Free CCEA GCSE Irish Practice Questions
Prepare for the CCEA GCSE Irish (2017) — Irish as a modern language (Northern Ireland) exam with instant access — no signup required.
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Key Facts: CCEA GCSE Irish Exam
4 × 25%
Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing each contribute one quarter of the GCSE
CCEA GCSE Irish (2017) / BBC Bitesize overview
A*–G
CCEA GCSE grades including C* (not the England 9–1 scale for CCEA awards)
CCEA / nidirect GCSE grading guidance
3 contexts
Identity & culture; local–global areas of interest; school life & work
CCEA modern language contexts for learning
F/H tiers
Foundation and Higher available for listening, reading and writing; speaking is untiered
CCEA GCSE Irish assessment structure
Not Gaeilge
GCSE Irish is modern-language Irish for learners; GCSE Gaeilge is a separate CCEA specification
CCEA subject specifications
100 MCQs
Free OpenExamPrep study bank (English explanations; Irish in language items)
OpenExamPrep
CCEA GCSE Irish (2017, NI) is modern-language Irish (not Gaeilge): four units at 25% each — listening, speaking, reading, writing — with Foundation/Higher on paper skills and an untiered speaking test. Graded A*–G. This free 100-question bank is an English MCQ study adaptation with Irish in stems/options where skill is tested — not an oral or extended-writing substitute.
Sample CCEA GCSE Irish Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your CCEA GCSE Irish exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1What is CCEA GCSE Irish (2017) primarily designed as?
2How many assessment units does CCEA GCSE Irish have, and what is each unit’s weighting?
3Which skill is assessed in Unit 2 of CCEA GCSE Irish?
4For Unit 1 Listening, which statement about tiers is correct?
5Approximately how long is the CCEA GCSE Irish speaking test (excluding preparation)?
6What does the Unit 2 speaking examination typically include?
7Unit 3 Reading at Higher Tier lasts about how long?
8Which response types appear in Unit 1 Listening?
9What translation direction is required in Unit 3 Reading?
10What does Unit 4 Writing typically require candidates to do?
About the CCEA GCSE Irish Exam
CCEA GCSE Irish (2017) is the Northern Ireland GCSE for Irish as a modern language — designed for learners of Irish, and distinct from CCEA GCSE Gaeilge. Candidates develop listening, speaking, reading and writing across three Contexts for Learning: identity, lifestyle and culture; local, national, international and global areas of interest; and school life, studies and the world of work. Assessment is four equal units (25% each). Listening and reading papers include mixed English and Irish response types; speaking is a live role-play and conversation test; writing requires Irish production including translation and extended structured writing with control of tenses. Grades run A* to G. This free OpenExamPrep bank is an English-language multiple-choice study adaptation: Irish appears in questions and options where vocabulary, grammar or comprehension skill is tested, and explanations are in English. It does not replace authentic listening practice with audio, spoken role-plays, or full writing under timed conditions.
Assessment
Four compulsory units under the CCEA GCSE Irish (2017) specification for Irish as a modern language (learners). Unit 1 Listening 25%: external exam, Foundation about 35 minutes / Higher about 45 minutes, 12 questions (selection, gap-fill, English and Irish answers). Unit 2 Speaking 25%: one tier; about 10 minutes supervised preparation then about 7–12 minutes — two role-plays from one Context for Learning and a general conversation on two topics from the other contexts; teacher-conducted, recorded, externally marked. Unit 3 Reading 25%: Foundation 50 minutes / Higher 1 hour, 12 questions including Irish-to-English translation. Unit 4 Writing 25%: answers in Irish, including English-to-Irish translation and a structured extended writing task. Content is organised through three Contexts for Learning: (1) Identity, Lifestyle and Culture; (2) Local, National, International and Global Areas of Interest; (3) School Life, Studies and the World of Work. Distinct from CCEA GCSE Gaeilge.
Time Limit
Listening: Foundation about 35 minutes, Higher about 45 minutes. Speaking: about 7–12 minutes plus about 10 minutes preparation. Reading: Foundation 50 minutes, Higher 1 hour. Writing: full external paper duration as published for Foundation/Higher each series on the CCEA subject page. Recommended session for this 100-question practice bank: about 90–120 minutes.
Passing Score
No single pass mark. Graded A* to G (including C*). Raw mark boundaries are set each series. Foundation and Higher tiers target different grade ranges; do not invent fixed unit percentages.
Exam Fee
No fee is paid directly by students. Entry fees for CCEA GCSE Irish units are paid by schools and registered centres; private candidates are charged by the centre that enters them. (CCEA (Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment), Northern Ireland)
CCEA GCSE Irish Exam Content Outline
Listening judgment and aural vocabulary
Recognising high-frequency Irish for family, free time, school, weather, food, travel and work; catching numbers, times, places and opinions; answering in the language the question requires (English or Irish).
Speaking strategies and interactive language
Role-play functions (ask, answer, request, complain, order, invite), conversation topics across the three contexts, prepared and unprepared talk, and useful phrases for extending answers.
Reading comprehension and Irish-to-English sense
Understanding short notices, messages, blogs and articles; selecting detail; gap-filling; and translating key Irish sentences into accurate English without inventing content.
Writing, grammar and English-to-Irish production
Building correct short sentences, translating English prompts into Irish, and planning bullet-point extended writing with present, past and future ideas, connectives and opinion phrases.
How to Pass the CCEA GCSE Irish Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: No single pass mark. Graded A* to G (including C*). Raw mark boundaries are set each series. Foundation and Higher tiers target different grade ranges; do not invent fixed unit percentages.
- Assessment: Four compulsory units under the CCEA GCSE Irish (2017) specification for Irish as a modern language (learners). Unit 1 Listening 25%: external exam, Foundation about 35 minutes / Higher about 45 minutes, 12 questions (selection, gap-fill, English and Irish answers). Unit 2 Speaking 25%: one tier; about 10 minutes supervised preparation then about 7–12 minutes — two role-plays from one Context for Learning and a general conversation on two topics from the other contexts; teacher-conducted, recorded, externally marked. Unit 3 Reading 25%: Foundation 50 minutes / Higher 1 hour, 12 questions including Irish-to-English translation. Unit 4 Writing 25%: answers in Irish, including English-to-Irish translation and a structured extended writing task. Content is organised through three Contexts for Learning: (1) Identity, Lifestyle and Culture; (2) Local, National, International and Global Areas of Interest; (3) School Life, Studies and the World of Work. Distinct from CCEA GCSE Gaeilge.
- Time limit: Listening: Foundation about 35 minutes, Higher about 45 minutes. Speaking: about 7–12 minutes plus about 10 minutes preparation. Reading: Foundation 50 minutes, Higher 1 hour. Writing: full external paper duration as published for Foundation/Higher each series on the CCEA subject page. Recommended session for this 100-question practice bank: about 90–120 minutes.
- Exam fee: No fee is paid directly by students. Entry fees for CCEA GCSE Irish units are paid by schools and registered centres; private candidates are charged by the centre that enters them.
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 GCSE Irish Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CCEA GCSE Irish and how is it different from GCSE Gaeilge?
CCEA GCSE Irish (2017) is Irish as a modern language for learners, assessed through listening, speaking, reading and writing like other modern languages. CCEA GCSE Gaeilge is a separate specification aimed at a different Irish-medium / Gaeilge pathway. Do not treat the two as the same qualification.
How is CCEA GCSE Irish assessed?
Four units each worth 25%: Unit 1 Listening, Unit 2 Speaking, Unit 3 Reading and Unit 4 Writing. Listening, reading and writing have Foundation and Higher tiers; speaking is one tier, teacher-conducted and externally marked.
What are the three Contexts for Learning?
Identity, Lifestyle and Culture; Local, National, International and Global Areas of Interest; and School Life, Studies and the World of Work. Vocabulary and tasks draw on these contexts across all four skills.
How is the speaking test structured?
After supervised preparation time (about 10 minutes), candidates complete two role-plays from the same Context for Learning and a general conversation on two topics (typically one prepared in advance from a prescribed context and one from another context). The test lasts about 7–12 minutes and is recorded for external marking.
How is CCEA GCSE Irish graded?
CCEA awards GCSE grades A* to G (including C*). Raw mark boundaries are set each series. Foundation and Higher tier entries target different grade ranges.
Are these official CCEA questions or a full exam simulation?
No. These are original OpenExamPrep English-language MCQ study adaptation questions. Official assessment includes audio listening, live speaking, open reading responses, translation and extended writing in Irish. Use CCEA past papers, audio and speaking practice separately. This bank is not a substitute for oral or writing production.