Higher Level Junior Cert exam structure

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Exam Structure & Strategy

Level Higher
Time 2½ hours (150 minutes)
Marks 180
Structure Question 1: Picture Questions (15 marks)
Answer all 3 in the appropriate spaces on the exam paper
Allow 10 minutes.
Question 2: Document Questions (15 marks)
Answer 2 questions in the appropriate spaces on the exam paper
Allow 10 minutes
Question 3: Short-Answer Questions (20 marks)
Answer 10 from 20 short questions in the appropriate spaces on the exam paper if time allows try to do as many out of the 20 as possible to give yourself a better chance of getting ten right.
Allow 15 minutes
Question 4: People in History (40 marks)
Answer A and B in a separate answer book
Allow 30 minutes
Question 5: Document Question (30 marks)
Answer A, B and C in the answer book
Allow 25 minutes
Question 6: General Questions (60 marks)
Answer 2 from 4 questions
Allow 40 minutes

Exam Strategy

Timing: Allow five to ten minutes to read the paper carefully at the start. This will get your mind tuned in and help you to make the correct choice of questions. Plan the time you will spend on each question, with more time given to the questions carrying higher marks, and write down the times allocated. Be aware that even within a question there can be different marks for each part so do not spend too long on the questions worth fewer marks.

Answering style: You can structure your answer in paragraph form or in point form (provided you use full sentences). As a handy rule, assume 2 marks are allocated for each point. If part of a question is worth 20 marks, then give 10 points. Remember examiners must mark everything so, if you think you have made a mistake, then put a simple line through the error with a ruler.

Order of questions: It is a good idea to start with question six and work back to question one. In this way, the question worth the most marks gets your immediate attention. Too often, people who manage their time badly end up rushing question six (which is worth 33% of total marks).


(b) Walk-through the paper (Question by question)

Question 1 (Picture questions)
This is a good opportunity to pick up marks as the answer will be often in the picture. Examine the picture very closely - the answer will often be obvious. Fill in all the blanks as you will not be penalised for a guessed attempt.

Question 2 (Document questions)
Once again, there are handy marks available here - the answer is usually contained in the document. If you are having difficulty, simply re read the passage. You may be asked for your impression of the author or if the document is a primary or a secondary source. Be ready with words like ‘biased’ and remember there is no obligation to put the answer in your own words, so use the passage itself.

Question 3 (Short-answer questions)
There is a good choice here as you are marked on ten out of twenty, with 2 marks per question. Read through the questions and answer the ones you find easy. Then do a second sweep, answering as many as you can within the 15 minutes allocated. Make sure you attempt at least ten questions fully, as you won’t be penalised for an unsuccessful attempt.

Question 4 (People in history)
Here you are asked to write on a specific historical figure such as Columbus or Martin Luther. You must choose one of three options from A and one of three from B. It does not matter whether you write creatively in the first person or not, what matters is that you make important points of information (at least ten good points on each). Do not dwell too much on the early life of the person but get straight to the reasons why he or she had an impact on history.

Question 5 (‘Difficult’ documents) SOURCES SECTION
For many students, this is the trickiest question on the paper. You are given a source of information and asked questions relating to it. Be very careful how you allocate your time within this question as the thirty marks are not divided evenly. This question always pertains to the parts of the course covered in second year.

Question 6 (Long questions) ********
This is the most important question on the paper and your performance here will contribute greatly to your overall grade. You have a choice of two questions from four, with each worth 30 marks. Read the options (A,B,C,D) very carefully and choose the two which will maximise your marks, taking account of all the components of each question. Do not begin a section in question six unless you are happy with the entire question.

Be careful with your time allocation, as a frequent mistake is to write too many points for a section worth only a few marks. Remember that 4 marks requires two or three solid pieces of information.