History
How a Leaving Cert History essay is marked
At Higher Level each essay is worth 100 marks: up to 60 for the cumulative mark, which builds paragraph by paragraph, and up to 40 for the overall evaluation of the whole essay.
The cumulative mark: up to 60
The examiner reads your essay one paragraph at a time and gives each paragraph a mark for how well it answers the question with accurate, relevant history. Under the SEC’s published marking indicators, a paragraph earns:
| Paragraph judged | Marks |
|---|---|
| Excellent | 11–12 |
| Very good | 8–10 |
| Good | 5–7 |
| Fair | 3–4 |
The cumulative mark stops at 60, so five excellent paragraphs reach the maximum.
The overall evaluation: up to 40
After the paragraphs, the examiner judges the essay as a whole: excellent 36–40, very good 28–35, good 22–27, fair 16–21. This is where a clear argument that answers the question from start to finish pays off.
Where the essays sit on the paper
At Higher Level the written paper has a documents-based question and three essays, each worth 100 marks. Your Research Study Report is the other 20% of the exam.
Ordinary Level
Ordinary Level answers are marked by core statements: significant, relevant facts that answer the question, worth 5 marks each. A Part B paragraph is worth 30 (20 cumulative, 10 overall). A Part C answer is worth 40 (30 cumulative, 10 overall).
What this tells you
- Paragraphs are where marks build. A paragraph that tells the story without answering the question has little to earn.
- True isn’t the same as relevant. A correct fact that doesn’t answer the question adds words, not marks.
- Aim for at least five strong paragraphs, then make sure the whole essay argues one answer to the question.