Junior Cycle English focuses on improving students’ communication skills, creativity and appreciation of literary, digital and visual texts through the three inter-connected strands of oral language, reading and writing.
JC English aims to develop students’ knowledge of language and literature and to deepen their literacy skills. Students engage personally and think critically about a broad range of spoken, written and visual texts and create texts of their own. As their skills in using language expand, students’ communication skills improve and this empowers them to contribute to society as thoughtful active citizens.
What is the English Junior Cycle exam like?
The Junior Cycle exam has changed over the past number of years, - one of the main changes is that there is now just one paper (instead of 2) and it is marked differently - Distinction, Higher Merit, Merit, Achieved and Partially Achieved are the grades awarded at JC.
In the exam you may be asked to:
- write about your experience and your opinions
- write a letter or a report or a speech
- respond to a poem
- write about a novel and a play that you have studied
- talk about TV programmes or newspaper articles or advertisements
You may also be shown some short reading passages and you will answer questions on them.
You can take the exam at Ordinary or Higher level. When it comes to deciding, your teacher will help you choose the level that suits you best.
For further information click on the following links:
https://www.jct.ie/perch/resources/publications/english-information-leaflet.pdf
http://www.curriculumonline.ie/Junior-cycle/Junior-Cycle-Subjects/English