Online Tutoring for the Irish Curriculum
Expert one-to-one online grinds across the Irish curriculum in maths, science and English, from Primary right through to Leaving Cert. Every tutor knows the NCCA specifications, the SEC marking schemes and what a H1 actually demands.
NCCA Aligned
Junior Cycle and Leaving Cert specifications
Recommended by parents and students for Irish curriculum tutoring
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Understanding the Irish Curriculum
Ireland runs one national curriculum, set by the NCCA and examined by the State Examinations Commission. What a student needs changes completely between Second Year and Sixth Year, which is why matching by stage matters as much as matching by subject.
NCCA
Sets the Primary Curriculum, Junior Cycle and Senior Cycle specifications
SEC
Runs the Junior Cert and Leaving Cert examinations and marking schemes
Levels
Higher, Ordinary and Foundation Level across core subjects
CAO
Points calculated from Leaving Cert grades determine third-level entry
Senior Cycle Redevelopment is changing the picture. Leaving Certificate subjects are being redeveloped in tranches, each carrying an Additional Assessment Component worth at least 40% of the marks, with Biology, Chemistry and Physics among the first group introduced for Fifth Years in September 2025.
Grinds Matched to Your Child's Stage
A tutor who does not know the specification is a tutor learning on your time. We match by stage as well as subject, so nobody is taught Leaving Cert technique when what they are actually missing is Junior Cycle foundations.
Unsure whether Higher Level is realistic for your child? That is exactly the sort of question the free assessment lesson is meant to answer honestly.
Subject Specialisms
Subject specialist grinds across the full Irish curriculum, from Primary through to Leaving Cert Higher Level. Open any subject for tutor profiles, level options and the topics covered in full.
Online Maths Grinds
- Junior Cycle number, algebra & geometry
- Leaving Cert Project Maths
- Higher Level and the 25-point bonus
Online English Grinds
- Comparative Study & studied texts
- Unseen and prescribed poetry
- Paper 1 comprehension & composition
Online Science Grinds
- Junior Cycle four strands
- Classroom-Based Assessments
- Additional Assessment Components
Online Physics Grinds
- Mechanics, electricity & waves
- Modern physics and experiments
- Higher and Ordinary Level papers
Online Chemistry Grinds
- Atomic theory & the periodic table
- Organic chemistry & volumetric analysis
- Mandatory experiments
Online Biology Grinds
- Cells, genetics & human biology
- Ecology and the ecology study
- Mandatory activities & exam technique
How the Irish Curriculum Progresses
Three stages, each with a different purpose. These are the points where Irish students most often lose ground, and what usually lies behind it.
Primary, 1st to 6th Class
Ages six to twelve. English, Irish, Mathematics and SESE, built around foundational literacy and numeracy through hands-on learning. Nothing is state-examined here, which is exactly why gaps formed at this stage go unnoticed until secondary.
Junior Cycle, 1st to 3rd Year
Ages twelve to fifteen, leading to the Junior Certificate. Classroom-Based Assessments run alongside the final exams. This is where the foundations for Leaving Cert maths are laid, and where the most valuable remedial work usually happens.
Transition Year
An optional year with no formal examination, which cuts both ways. Students who keep maths ticking over return to Fifth Year ready; students who put it down entirely often find Higher Level a struggle in September, having lost a year of fluency.
Senior Cycle, 5th and 6th Year
The Leaving Certificate. Six or seven subjects, most offered at Ordinary and Higher Level, with coursework and Additional Assessment Components now carrying real weight. CAO points from these results determine third-level entry.
Exams We Prepare Students For
Understanding a topic and answering an SEC paper well are not the same competence. Our tutors work through SEC marking schemes, timed papers, orals and practicals, alongside the coursework components that now carry a substantial share of the final grade.
The Higher Level Maths decision deserves particular thought. Students who sit Higher Level and achieve a H6 or better receive 25 additional CAO points on top of the points for the grade itself, which means a H6 can be worth more than a strong Ordinary Level result. Dropping down is sometimes right, but it should be decided on the numbers rather than on one bad Christmas test.
Book a Free Trial LessonExams & Assessments We Cover
- Junior Certificate across Maths, Science, English and Irish
- Leaving Certificate at Higher, Ordinary and Foundation Level
- Higher Level Maths, including the 25-point CAO bonus
- Classroom-Based Assessments and Additional Assessment Components
- Oral Irish and Leaving Cert oral components
- Mock exams and CAO subject planning
Specifications, levels and CAO requirements are set by the NCCA, the SEC and the CAO, and are periodically revised. Confirm anything level-related with your child's school before acting on it.
How Math Make Smart Supports the Irish Curriculum
Specification, Not Just Subject
Tutors are assessed on the SEC specification your child is examined against, at Higher, Ordinary or Foundation Level. They know the marking scheme, not just the material.
Garda Vetted, Recorded, Reviewable
Every tutor is Garda vetted before taking a student. Sessions are recorded to your account so your child can replay an explanation the night before a mock.
Progress You Can Read
A written summary after every session and a fortnightly report showing topics mastered and topics still needing work, in the language of the specification.
FAQs About Irish Curriculum Grinds
The questions Irish parents ask us most often about levels, CAO points, the AAC and getting started.
Do you follow the NCCA curriculum?
Should my child stay at Higher Level Maths?
What is the Additional Assessment Component and how should we prepare?
Do you cover Junior Cycle as well as Leaving Cert?
Can you help with Irish and subjects taught through Irish?
What is the difference between grinds and regular tutoring?
How are lessons conducted?
Is there a free trial lesson?
Ready to give your child the best academic support?
Whether your child needs Junior Cert preparation, Leaving Cert Higher Level grinds, or steady help with homework and coursework, our Irish curriculum specialists are here. Book a free trial lesson today, no credit card required.