Is my Leaving Cert subject on the new specification?

See the table on this page. New specifications started with 5th Years in September 2025 (Tranche 1) and September 2026 (Tranche 2); more follow each year to 2029.

What levels are there?

Most subjects are taken at Higher and Ordinary level. Irish and Mathematics also have Foundation level. Life, Community and Work and the LCVP Link Modules are at Common level.

Do you include past exam papers?

No. Past papers and marking schemes are published by the State Examinations Commission at examinations.ie. We link to them.

Can Heapso plan Leaving Cert lessons?

Yes. Choose Transition Year, 5th or 6th Year, then add the Leaving Certificate subject you're teaching. Pip writes in its own words and never reproduces exam papers or marking schemes.

Leaving Certificate planning

Senior cycle subjects are being redeveloped in tranches from 2025 to 2029. See which version applies to your 5th and 6th Years, then plan to it.

Subjects

Subject	Levels	Version in use for 5th Year
Biology	Higher and Ordinary level	New specification from September 2025
Chemistry	Higher and Ordinary level	New specification from September 2025
Physics	Higher and Ordinary level	New specification from September 2025
Business	Higher and Ordinary level	New specification from September 2025
Latin	Higher and Ordinary level	New specification from September 2025
Ancient Greek	Higher and Ordinary level	New specification from September 2025
Arabic	Higher and Ordinary level	New specification from September 2025
Drama, Film and Theatre Studies	Higher and Ordinary level	New specification from September 2025
Climate Action and Sustainable Development	Higher and Ordinary level	New specification from September 2025
Geography	Higher and Ordinary level	New specification from September 2026
Physical Education	Higher and Ordinary level	New specification from September 2026
Engineering	Higher and Ordinary level	New specification from September 2026
Construction Technology	Higher and Ordinary level	New specification from September 2026
Life, Community and Work	Common level	New specification from September 2026
Accounting	Higher and Ordinary level	Current syllabus (new specification approved, start date to be confirmed)
Agricultural Science	Higher and Ordinary level	Current syllabus
Applied Mathematics	Higher and Ordinary level	Current syllabus
Art	Higher and Ordinary level	Current syllabus
Classical Studies	Higher and Ordinary level	Current syllabus
Computer Science	Higher and Ordinary level	Current syllabus
Design and Communication Graphics	Higher and Ordinary level	Current syllabus
Economics	Higher and Ordinary level	Current syllabus
English	Higher and Ordinary level	Current syllabus (new specification approved, start date to be confirmed)
French	Higher and Ordinary level	Current syllabus
Irish	Higher, Ordinary and Foundation level	Current syllabus
German	Higher and Ordinary level	Current syllabus
Hebrew Studies	Higher and Ordinary level	Current syllabus
History	Higher and Ordinary level	Current syllabus (new specification approved, from September 2027)
Home Economics, Scientific and Social	Higher and Ordinary level	Current syllabus
Italian	Higher and Ordinary level	Current syllabus
Japanese	Higher and Ordinary level	Current syllabus
Lithuanian	Higher and Ordinary level	Current syllabus
Mandarin Chinese	Higher and Ordinary level	Current syllabus
Mathematics	Higher, Ordinary and Foundation level	Current syllabus
Music	Higher and Ordinary level	Current syllabus
Physics and Chemistry	Higher and Ordinary level	Current syllabus
Polish	Higher and Ordinary level	Current syllabus
Politics and Society	Higher and Ordinary level	Current syllabus
Portuguese	Higher and Ordinary level	Current syllabus
Religious Education	Higher and Ordinary level	Current syllabus
Russian	Higher and Ordinary level	Current syllabus
Spanish	Higher and Ordinary level	Current syllabus
Technology	Higher and Ordinary level	Current syllabus

What's changing

New specifications started in September 2025 (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Business, Latin, Ancient Greek, and new subjects Arabic; Drama, Film and Theatre Studies; Climate Action and Sustainable Development) and September 2026 (Geography, PE, Engineering, Construction Technology, and the new Life, Community and Work).
New specifications include an Additional Assessment Component, worth at least 40% of the marks.
English and Accounting have been postponed to no earlier than September 2027.

Programmes

Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP)
Official page
Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA)
Official page
Transition Year
Official page

Questions teachers ask

Is my Leaving Cert subject on the new specification?: See the table on this page. New specifications started with 5th Years in September 2025 (Tranche 1) and September 2026 (Tranche 2); more follow each year to 2029.
What levels are there?: Most subjects are taken at Higher and Ordinary level. Irish and Mathematics also have Foundation level. Life, Community and Work and the LCVP Link Modules are at Common level.
Do you include past exam papers?: No. Past papers and marking schemes are published by the State Examinations Commission at examinations.ie. We link to them.
Can Heapso plan Leaving Cert lessons?: Yes. Choose Transition Year, 5th or 6th Year, then add the Leaving Certificate subject you're teaching. Pip writes in its own words and never reproduces exam papers or marking schemes.

Plan your next Leaving Cert unit

Heapso writes units, lessons and revision worksheets for Transition Year, 5th and 6th Year. Free to start.

Start planning free