Biology boggles students again

MANY biology teachers felt that higher-level students were given a rough exam after the controversy surrounding the same subject this time last year.

The question on the dissection of a frog caused outrage among last year’s Leaving Cert examinees, but the overall difficulty of yesterday’s exams angered many.

Tim O’Meara, a teacher at St Enda’s Community School in Limerick and also a TUI subject rep, said this would not encourage students to take science subjects.

“A difficult paper last year might have been unfortunate, but two years in a row is unacceptable,” he said.

“While there were one or two troublesome questions last year, all these questions asked for very specific answers. There was nowhere students could show off their knowledge, the exam seemed more interested in knowing what the student didn’t know,” said Mr O’Meara.

However, ASTI biology rep Bob Dowling was relieved that things had improved on last year.

“It was long and difficult, but most students with enough time would have been able to do a reasonable exam,” he said.

Mr Dowling added that Part I of the higher-level paper lacked diagrams and graphics, and some of the questions in Part II were very lengthy.

The ordinary-level paper was a more traditional exam, although some parts might have proved difficult for students.

Those taking Leaving Cert business should have been happier than biology students, after a fair higher-level paper. TUI rep Mary Reynolds and ASTI’s Luke Glynn both said that well-prepared candidates should have done well.

The ordinary-level business paper was considered a little difficult in places, according to Business Studies Association of Ireland spokesperson Brenda O’Donovan.

It was a long day for Junior Cert higher-level business studies candidates, with two papers to get through yesterday.

BSTAI president Norah Martyn said that, while the afternoon paper was very fair, the morning exam was quite challenging.

Ivan O’Callaghan, a TUI rep from Rosmini Community School in Dublin, said the ordinary-level paper was very clear, but some sub-questions were not listed in the order of marks available.

David Briscoe of the ASTI said both higher- and ordinary-level exams were extremely fair and well laid-out, with nothing unexpected on either of them.

Around 3,000 Leaving Cert students yesterday sat agricultural science papers, which ASTI rep Peter Keaney said were nice, apart from being a bit lengthy. He noted that the higher-level paper focused on biological parts of the course more than animal production.