Junior Cycle Maths: the 2027 exam, the CBAs, grades and practice questions

The Junior Cycle Maths exam in 2027

The paper's length and levels are in the NCCA specification. The 2027 changes are in the Assessment Arrangements 2027: the Assessment Task isn't set, the written exam isn't adjusted, and each student must complete at least one CBA.

When is it? The 2027 dates aren't out yet (as of 7 November 2026). In 2026 the Junior Cycle written exams ran from 3 to 15 June (Department of Education and Youth).

The Junior Cycle Maths CBAs

• CBA 1, the mathematical investigation (end of second year): over three weeks you follow the problem-solving cycle, from defining a problem to interpreting your answer in context.
• CBA 2, the statistical investigation (first term of third year): over three weeks you pose a question, collect unbiased data, analyse it with suitable charts and summaries, and answer your question.

What Junior Cycle Maths covers

There's a unifying strand on mathematical thinking that runs through four contextual strands: Number; Geometry and trigonometry, including set theorems and constructions; Algebra and functions; and Statistics and probability. Most learning outcomes are shared by both levels, with some for Higher level only.

Junior Cycle Maths grades

The grade bands changed in 2025 (gov.ie, 22 April 2025):

Junior Cycle Maths practice questions

We wrote these Higher level questions for this guide. Show your working.

Question 1 (algebra): solve 2x + y = 11 and x − y = 1. Answer: add the equations to remove y: 3x = 12, so x = 4. Then 4 − y = 1, so y = 3. Check in both: 8 + 3 = 11 and 4 − 3 = 1. Try one yourself in our Algebra course and press Mark.

Question 2 (geometry and trigonometry): in this right-angled triangle, find x and write down sin A as a fraction.

Answer: by Pythagoras, x² = 13² − 5² = 169 − 25 = 144, so x = 12. The side opposite A is 5 and the hypotenuse is 13, so sin A = 5/13.

Question 3 (probability): a bag holds 3 red and 5 blue counters. Two are taken out without replacement. Find the probability that both are red. Answer: 3/8 for the first, then 2/7 for the second, since one red has gone. 3/8 × 2/7 = 6/56 = 3/28.

Question 4 (algebra): solve x² − 5x − 14 = 0. Answer: find two numbers that multiply to −14 and add to −5: −7 and 2. So (x − 7)(x + 2) = 0, and x = 7 or x = −2. Check with the Factoring Calculator.

Common mistakes

• Forgetting to subtract in Pythagoras when finding a shorter side.
• Not reducing the denominator in a probability without replacement.
• Sign errors when factorising: check by multiplying the brackets back out.
• No check: substitute your answers back into the original equations.

Use a daily paper as a short timed mock

Today's Junior Cycle Maths (Higher Level) paper covers equations, quadratics, Pythagoras and trigonometry, probability, proportion, indices, graphs and geometry. Vectors and cumulative frequency also appear, and they aren't on the Junior Cycle specification, so skip them. The Ordinary Level paper covers number, percentages, area, angles, sequences, graphs and simple equations. For when mocks happen, see our Junior Cycle mocks guide.

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