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What to Expect from Applied Maths in 2025
With the 2025 Leaving Cert Applied Maths paper fast approaching, we’ve analysed trends from 2020–2024, including deferred papers, to give you the most accurate predictions possible. Here’s everything you should focus on.
🎯 Section A – Uniform Acceleration, Relative Velocity, Projectiles
These questions are staples. You can nearly bank on one each year from:
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Uniform Acceleration: Expect the classic SUVAT-style question.
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Relative Velocity: Frequently involves boats, swimmers, or aircraft.
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Projectiles: Typical setups include inclined planes, horizontal launches, and angled throws.
✅ Pro Tip: Always sketch the scenario – diagrams clarify motion and boost marks.
💡 Section B – Newton’s Laws, Collisions, Impacts & Circular Motion
📌 Q4/Q5 – Newton’s Laws & Collisions
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Momentum and Impulse
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Elastic vs Inelastic collisions
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Oblique impacts and conservation principles
🌀 Circular Motion (often Q6):
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Vertical and horizontal circles
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Tension in strings, banking angles, and conical pendulums
📊 Key Themes:
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Combine F = ma with circular motion rules
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Rely on vector breakdowns and acceleration definitions
🌊 Section C – SHM, Rotational Motion, Differential Equations
🧠 Q7/Q8 – SHM & Rotational Motion
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SHM in springs and pendulums
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Moment of inertia and torque
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Energy conservation in rotational systems
🧮 Differential Equations (Q9-ish):
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Particle motion models
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Solve using separation of variables or integration techniques
✨ Expect conceptual blending – motion with rotation or forces with SHM
🛠️ Mechanics Mix – Fluids, Centres of Gravity, and Statics
📌 Expect at least one:
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Most Likely:
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Centre of gravity calculations
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Equilibrium and moments
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Bernoulli principle and pressure setups
🚨 Know your units and check dimensional consistency
🧮 Section 3 – Costing & Budgeting (80 Marks)
Answer Q8 or Q9.
📈 Q8 – Costing (Product/Job/Absorption/Marginal)
🔮 Prediction:
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Most Likely: Marginal Costing
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Least Likely: Absorption (came up last 4 years)
🧠 Best advice: Know all types – they can mix and match topics in one question.
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📊 What Came Up in 2020–2024?
What Came Up in 2020-2024?
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2024: SHM, Relative Velocity, Newton’s Laws, Impacts
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2023: Projectiles, Circular Motion, Differential Equations
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2022: Uniform Acceleration, Collisions, Centres of Gravity
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2021: SHM, Relative Velocity, Statics
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2020: Newton’s Laws, Projectile, SHM
🧠 Trend Watch: SHM, Projectiles, and Relative Velocity appear nearly every year.
🧠 Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best sections to prepare first?
Start with Projectiles, Relative Velocity, SHM, and Newton’s Laws – these are high-yield.
Do deferred papers impact the main one?
Yes, sometimes. There’s been repeat content, especially in 2022 and 2023. Check any available deferred material before the exam.
📄 Deferred Papers – Worth Reviewing?
Definitely. The SEC has occasionally reused themes or even entire question types from deferred papers in the main June exam.
👀 Watch this space: The 2024 deferred paper (if released) will be valuable revision.
