This resource is a clear, step-by-step guide to writing a podcast response for Leaving Certificate English. It is suitable for both Higher and Ordinary Level students and is designed primarily for Question B, while also supporting broader composition skills.

Podcast tasks have appeared multiple times in recent Leaving Certificate exams, and many students struggle with the genre. This booklet focuses on helping students understand that they are writing the script of a podcast, not an essay, and shows them exactly how to meet examiner expectations.

What’s included:

A clear explanation of what a podcast task is (and what it is not)
Guidance on where podcast questions appear in the exam
A breakdown of what examiners look for, including tone, structure, and genre awareness

Clear rules for podcast writing, including:
present tense
addressing the listener directly
conversational, reflective tone

A simple planning framework students can reuse in any podcast task

Multiple Higher Level sample podcast responses based on past exam questions

A deliberately weak sample response with an explanation of why it loses marks
An exam practice task linked to recent Leaving Certificate questions
Lined pages for student responses and teacher feedback