Construction Studies Predictions for Leaving Cert 2022 Higher Level

For 2022 only: Covid-19 update

*This may be subject to readjustment, so please keep updated using the original source on gov.ie

Written Examination

Candidates will answer any 5 from 10 questions, instead of compulsory Question 1 and 4 others from 9 questions.

Practical Skills Test

Candidates will complete a 4 hour practical skill test in the first week of May. (No adjustment)

Coursework

Experiments will be removed.
The artefact is now worth 50% of the coursework marks
The student’s design folio now takes up the remainder 50%

You may also like our Construction Studies study plan. More study plans are available here.

Predictions 2022

While it is impossible to be certain about what is coming up, here are areas to pay special attention to for 2022:

Question 1

Walls
Roofs
Timber Frame House

Question 2

Accessibility
Site Safety

Question 3

Redesign/Upgrading of Dwelling

Question 4

Conservation
Siteworks
Planning

Question 5

U-Value

Question 6

Low Environmental Impact

Question 7

Roofs
Stoves
Walls

Question 8

Drainage
Water Systems

Question 9

Insulation
Sound

Question 10

Passive House

Question 10*

Sustainability/Reuse/Environmental Impact

General patterns of Leaving Cert Construction Studies questions

Question 1 is usually a compulsory drawing question (Non-compulsory in 2020, 2021, 2022). Candidates can be asked to draw a large range of different structures. The most commonly asked are walls, floors, foundations, roofs, doors and timber frame houses. It is common for a part (b) to ask a candidate to include design detailing in their drawings. For example, in 2018 the candidate was asked to draw a porch, and then include a design detailing to prevent the ingress of rainwater between the roof and front wall of the house.

Question 2 is the recurring home of site safety. It comes up 50% of the time. Candidates are usually asked about a positive safety culture and best practice guidelines. Other topics fill the in between years in a seemingly random fashion.

Question 3 always comes up as a redesign/upgrading of dwelling question. This question is commonly accompanied by a front view and floor plan of a house. Candidates are asked to discuss considerations for either extensions, renovations or upgrades to a house. These considerations usually require sketches too.

Question 4 has a general pattern of either siteworks/planning or conservation. Siteworks/planning usually ask questions about a potential building site, and sometimes the documents necessary to get planning permission. Conservation requires candidates to understand the necessity and importance of keeping traditional/antique buildings in local communities.

For question 5, it always comes up as a U-Value question. Candidates are asked to do some calculations and draw up a table. It is the same format every year. Part a uses formulas for heat which can be found in the log tables. In part b you use the answer from part a to calculate an annual cost of heating a house.

The pattern for question 6 is that it asks for features that contribute to a low environmental impact. Whether finding specific features from the image provided or offering up their own ideas, candidates must use notes and freehand sketches to communicate the features.

There is no apparent pattern for question 7 other than the fact that it is another drawing question.

In recent years there has been a trend for question 8 to ask about either water systems or drainage. Two sides of the same coin, they require detailed sketches of the pipes that go into making convenient use of baths, sink, showers, etc…

Question 9 has less of a pattern compared to other years. It does have a recurring topic of insulation. These questions may be based on heat or sound insulation. For example in 2019 candidates were asked to show best practice design detailing to prevent the formation of a thermal bridge, which could be done through properly placed insulation.

Question 10 gives candidates a choice between a question on passive houses, or an alternative question to write an essay about topics such as sustainability, reuse or environmental impact. The passive house question is based on the standards of achieving a passive house, it includes areas such as airtightness, insulation, solar gain, etc.