'Should Have Taken Ordinary Level' by Geraldine McCarthy

State Examinations Commission

Leaving Certificate Mock, 2025

Paper 1

Testing the Waters: Higher Level

Monday 12th May Afternoon: 2:00-4:20

Please read the instructions carefully for each section. Answer all questions.

Section A: Life Skills

1. Make a timetable for each day of the week. Factor in: scrolling through your phone, socialising with your friends, school and study.

2. You are taking your first professional driving lesson. The instructor screams at you to brake at the pedestrian crossing. Write the rest of the story as it evolves.

3. Your parents ask you to cook dinner for the family. Make a list of the things you shouldn’t do.

4. You’re tipsy coming home from a party. Your mother suspects, but can’t prove anything. Write the conversation which ensues.

Section B: Emotional Intelligence

1. The naggin of vodka you’d hidden in your bedroom is missing. Do you (a) pretend nothing has happened (b) try to ascertain if your mother is in a funny mood (c) buy a replacement naggin, but hide it somewhere else?

2. You volunteer to cook dinner for everyone. Assess your chances of getting back into your mother’s good books.

3. The driving instructor thinks you should take a break from lessons for the time being. Do you think this is because (a) you’re doing so well (b) he has too many other clients (c)  you tend to break the speed limit on narrow country roads?

4. Your mother provides you with photographic evidence of the naggin of vodka in your wardrobe. Do you (a) feign surprise (b) say your brother must have put it there (c) own up?

Section C: Reflective Piece

You’re barred from socialising for six weeks. Write an essay on how you’ve grown as a person, and what you’ll do differently next time.