Questions, answered.
About somalc, IMark, what’s coming for teachers, and who makes it.
Is somalc free?
Yes. somalc is free for every student, and it stays that way. Schools will pay for the teacher view; students never pay.
Is somalc open yet?
Not yet. Leave your email on the sign-up page and we’ll tell you the day it opens.
Which subjects does it cover?
English Paper 2 and History for now. More subjects will follow once these are right.
Does it work on my phone?
Yes. It works on a phone, a laptop or a school Chromebook. Essays are easier on a laptop; revision is built for your phone.
What do I need to sign up?
Just your email.
Will it write answers for me?
No. You write the answer. somalc shows you which sentences earn marks and which don’t, and the fix is yours to write.
Does it predict my grade?
No. It shows where marks are likely to come from in one answer. It doesn’t predict a Leaving Cert or CAO result.
What is IMark?
IMark is the part of somalc that marks. It checks your answer against rules written from the Leaving Cert marking criteria and shows which sentences earned marks.
Is it AI?
No language model reads or marks your writing. IMark follows fixed rules, so the same answer always gets the same result.
What does IMark check?
Whether each sentence does a job for the question. In History that means whether a statement answers what was asked. In English it gives a range for purpose, coherence, language and mechanics. It checks structure and evidence, not how original your ideas are.
Why does English give a range?
Rules can’t be as certain as an examiner, so for each criterion IMark gives a range and shows how sure it is.
Where do the rules come from?
They’re written from the marking criteria the State Examinations Commission publishes, in our own words. We don’t copy marking schemes or exam papers.
Is it an official mark?
No. Only the State Examinations Commission awards Leaving Cert marks. IMark shows where marks are likely to come from in your answer.
Can teachers use it with a class?
Not yet. The teacher view is planned and coming soon. Leave your school email on the For teachers page and we’ll tell you when it’s ready.
Who pays for the teacher view?
Schools will. Students never pay, so a whole class can use it, not just the students who can afford to.
What do you collect right now?
Only what you type into a form: your email, and whether you’re a student, teacher, parent or something else. There are no analytics, no advertising and no cookies on this site.
Who can see what I write?
Only you. When the teacher view opens, your teacher will see your marks if you join their class.
Where’s the privacy notice?
On the Privacy page, linked at the bottom of every page.
Who makes somalc?
somalc is built by Soma Labs, an independent research lab in Ireland, and run by Vaderaa Consulting.
Is somalc connected to the SEC or the Department of Education?
No. somalc is independent. Only the State Examinations Commission awards Leaving Cert marks.
Where can I learn how marking works?
In the guides. They explain how English and History answers are marked, in plain English, with links to the official sources.
Didn’t find it? Email us.