Leaving Cert English Paper 1 higher level: ChatGPT on the Pulse

Leaving Cert English Paper 1 higher level has been praised for its topical themes and well-chosen texts that reflect the lives of today’s students. The exam covered composition and comprehension, and included a range of themes such as following one’s heart versus following money, and the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and ChatGPT on education. The paper’s theme, Between Two Worlds, was deemed to perfectly reflect where students are in their lives. The exam rewarded writers who have developed their skills of deconstructing and analyzing texts, as well as their ability to write fluently and coherently in different language genres. Teachers welcomed the recent reversal of the decision to switch Paper 1 to the end of fifth-year, as the skills required for this exam need time to be nurtured and developed. The composition section was praised for its superb selection of formats, which included a letter, a personal reflection, and an article for a school website. Although some minor issues were raised, such as the lack of a descriptive essay, the paper was generally well-received and deemed to be a fair and balanced exam.