The Leaving Cert English examination is demanding in many ways. Spread across two papers with a combined time allocation of over six hours, it can be a daunting prospect. Not surprisingly, much of a student’s efforts go into Paper Two, where the demands of a range of prescribed texts often monopolise available study time. While time spent on Paper Two is essential, Paper One often ends up suffering, even though it is worth the same number of marks!! A successful result can only be achieved if both papers are given the attention they deserve, and that requires some smart thinking.

Consider how much time is devoted to Studied Poetry, for example. Eight poets, with six poems for each, can certainly fill up one’s time. Yet, Studied Poetry is only worth a total of 50 marks, the same number of marks awarded for one Question 1A Comprehension section or one Question 1B task. The Composing task is worth 25% of your overall English result, yet it often gets very little attention in terms of preparation.

Students face great challenges in how they use their time, and often it seems as though there are not enough hours in the day. This is where this book comes in. Using a range of fresh and engaging examples, you will learn techniques and strategies to respond to texts, as well as learning how to write in a wide variety of styles for a range of purposes, step by step.