What is in the SEC's Examination Material Archive?
According to the SEC's terms for the archive, it holds:
- Exam papers for the Leaving Certificate, Leaving Certificate Applied and Junior Certificate
- Marking schemes, showing how marks are awarded
- Chief Examiners' reports on how candidates did
The material is for use in learning, at school or at home. You can download or print it for your own personal, non-commercial use. You can't republish it without the SEC's written permission, which is why no ExamTime page hosts a paper.
How do I find a past paper?
- Open the Examination Material Archive on examinations.ie.
- Accept the SEC's terms of use.
- Choose the type of material (exam papers, marking schemes or Chief Examiners' reports), the year, the exam (Leaving Certificate) and your subject.
- Download the paper for your level.
The marking scheme for a paper is usually the best thing to open next: it shows what an examiner was looking for.
Which subjects are new or revised for 2027?
The Department of Education and Youth's Assessment Arrangements 2027 marks these subjects as tranche 1 of Senior Cycle Redevelopment: "revised or newly introduced".
- Ancient Greek
- Arabic
- Biology
- Business
- Chemistry
- Climate Action and Sustainable Development
- Drama, Film and Theatre Studies
- Latin
- Physics
For these subjects, older past papers were set on a different course, so they won't match the 2027 exam exactly. In 2027 they also have an additional assessment component as well as the written exam. In Biology, for example, the "Biology in Practice" investigation is worth 40% and the written exam 60%.
The Department's document links to sample papers for the new courses (for example, Biology and Ancient Greek). Use those first, then use older papers for the topics that haven't changed. Your teacher will know which ones those are.
For all other subjects, the same document lists the adjusted arrangements for 2027, including extra choice on some papers. Check your subject before relying on the layout of an older paper.
How to use past papers well
- Do a paper, then mark it with the marking scheme. The marking scheme shows how marks are given, which often matters as much as knowing the answer.
- Read the Chief Examiner's report for your subject. It's the SEC's own commentary on how candidates answered that year's paper.
- Check the year. Courses and paper layouts change, especially in the tranche 1 subjects above.
To see what your grades are worth, see Leaving Cert grades and CAO points.
Questions people ask
Where can I get Leaving Cert past papers?
From the State Examinations Commission (SEC), free, in its Examination Material Archive at examinations.ie. It has Leaving Certificate, Leaving Certificate Applied and Junior Certificate exam papers, marking schemes and Chief Examiners' reports.
Are Leaving Cert marking schemes free?
Yes. The SEC publishes marking schemes in the same Examination Material Archive as the papers, free to download for your own study.
What is a Chief Examiner's report?
A report from the SEC on how candidates did in a subject's exam. The SEC publishes them in the Examination Material Archive alongside the papers and marking schemes.
Why doesn't ExamTime host past papers?
The papers belong to the SEC. Its terms allow you to download and print them for your own personal, non-commercial use, and allow anyone to link to its website, but not to republish them without written permission. So we link to the SEC instead.
Are old past papers still useful for Biology, Chemistry and Physics in 2027?
Use them with care. Biology, Business, Chemistry and Physics are among nine subjects in tranche 1 of Senior Cycle Redevelopment, which are revised or newly introduced. In 2027 these subjects have an additional assessment component as well as the written exam, and the Department links to sample papers for the new courses.
Which Leaving Cert subjects are new or revised for 2027?
The Department of Education and Youth lists these as tranche 1 of Senior Cycle Redevelopment: Ancient Greek, Arabic, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Climate Action and Sustainable Development, Drama, Film and Theatre Studies, Latin, Physics.